Civics Mastery Challenge Constitution

5 Freedoms

religion, speech, press, assembly, petition of the government

Due process of law

government must follow rules & established procedures

Non enumerated rights

individual’s have other rights not stated in the constitution

Amendment 1

freedom of expression

ratified: 1791

Amendment 2

right to bear arms

ratified: 1791

Amendment 3

quartering of soldiers

ratified: 1791

Amendment 4

unreasonable search & seize

ratified: 1791

Amendment 5

due process of law

ratified: 1791

Amendment 6

right to a fair trial

ratified: 1791

Amendment 7

trial by jury in civil cases

ratified: 1791

Amendment 8

cruel and unusual punishments

ratified: 1791

Amendment 9

non-enumerated rights

ratified: 1791

Amendment 10

states rights

ratified: 1791

Limited Government

government’s power is limited to protect freedoms of America

Popular Soverneignty

governments authority is sustained by the consent of the people

Checks & Balances

each branch of government checks the powers of the other branches

Separation of Powers

powers are divided between three branches of government

Article 1

Legislative branch:

\-makes laws

\-congress

House of Representatives

2 yr term 25+ years old 7+ years as US citizen

(435 members) Representation by population Power to impeach

Highest officer: speaker of the house

Senate

6 yr term 30+ years old 9+ years as US citizen

Representation 2 per state Power to try impeachments

Highest officer: vice president

Powers of Congress

collect taxes

coin money

grant patents & copyrights

declare war

President

US natural born citizen 4 yr term 35+ years old

14+ years US resident

\
Powers: -commander & chief of military -grants pardons

\-appoints supreme court justices, cabinet members and ambassadors

Article 2

Executive branch:

\-president

\-enforces laws

Article 3

Judicial Branch:

\-interprets laws

\-supreme court

Supreme Court

9 justices lifetime term no minimum age

Article 4

State:

\-each state is equal to one another

\-apply to congress for statehood

\-republic form of government

Article 5

Amendment Process:

\-can be proposed by state or congress

\-allows constitution to change

Article 6

Supreme Law of the Land:

\-supremacy clause: federal laws have priority over state

Article 7

Ratification Process:

\-9/13 states

Federalism

governmental power is divided between the national and state government

Individual Rights

people retain certain rights & freedoms

Expressed/Implied powers

\-declare war

\-print money

\-raise and support army

\-regulate trade between states

\-conduct relations

\-govern territories

\-all laws necessary and proper art. 1 sec. 8 cl. 18

\-est. post office

\-set copyrights and patents

Concurrent Powers

\-build roads

\-est. courts

\--protect wealth and welfare of people

\-make and enforce laws

\-collect taxes

\-set values & weight & measures

Reserved Powers

\-issue drivers & marriage licence

\-marriage laws

\-regulate education/run public school

\-est. local government

\-provide police and emergency services

\-borrow money

\-conduct elections

\-make rules about inside trade within a state

Constitution

a rulebook for a country's government.

Limits government by telling how a country’s laws are made 

\-  Tells how government functions  

\- Lists the rights and responsibility of citizens.

Rule of Law

laws are fair, enforced and nobody is above the law

Limits government by the law applies to everyone

\- Even the president must follow the law

\- There are procedures to make sure the law is enforced

Consent of the governed

citizens give their permission to be governed

Limits government by citizens have the right to vote

\- Citizens can use their vote to change the government

\- Citizens can even change the government by voting!

Separation of Powers

divides power among three different branches of government.

* Limits government like this: No branch gets too much control
* Each branch can “check” what the other branches can do
* Each branch is responsible for a different government function

Rights of the Minority

protects the rights of all citizens.

Limits government like this:

* Limits the power of the majority
* Makes sure everyone is treated fairly
* Protects even small or unpopular groups

Limited Government

\-Divides power among several branches of government

Limited Government

\-has a written constitution

Limited Government

\-The rights of smaller, or minority groups, are protected. 

Limited Government

\-Requires even the government to follow the law

Limited Government

\-protection of individual rights 

Limited Government

\-courts are independent of the leader

Unlimited Government

One political party

Unlimited Government

laws do not apply to the leader

Unlimited Government

Dictatorship

Unlimited Government

nobody is above the law.

Unlimited Government

Controlled or no elections

Unlimited Government

government uses intimidation and fear