Ch. 6 L2 - The Constitution

Ch. 6 L2 - The Constitution

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A Plan for Government

• So what exactly does the Constitution say anyway?

• And do we still do what it says, even though it was made over 200 years ago???

• "We the people of the United States..."

• America is a democracy = people have the power to make political decisions. But how?

• elections!

• beginning of the Constitution is Preamble = goals for our country (safety, peace, good lives)

Branches of Government

• What was the plan called that made 3 branches of gov.?

• Virginia Plan! - 1. Legislative 2. Executive 3. Judicial

• Legislative (Congress) - make laws - Congress has 2 houses - what are they?

• Senate and House of Representatives

• Every state gets two senators and the House of Representatives is based on what again?

• Population! - the more people you have in your state, the more you get to send to the House = your state gets more votes

• Did you know that California has the most representatives with 53? Some states only have 1!

• Executive Branch - President!

• Pres can suggest laws to Congress, but they can't make them

• they also carry out the laws made by Congress, enforce them

• Oh, did you know that the President is the commander of the U.S. military?

• "Commander in Chief"

• Judicial Branch - decides the meaning of laws made by Congress, and whether its being followed or not

• includes many courts, but the highest court in America is the ______ _______

• Supreme Court!

• Reminder: the problem with the Articles was that it had a weak central gov.

• The Constitution gives more power to central gov, but not too much.

• limited gov. - everyone must follow the law, even the President!

Limits on Government

• What do you think the founding father's biggest worry was

• Why do you think Madison and them made 3 branches of gov?

• To spread out the power! To make sure all the power didn't go to one person/part!

• But wait, what if one branch becomes too powerful?

• That's why they made checks and balances = system where each branch can limit the power of the other two

• Congress can make a law, but President can be veto (reject) it!

• President can choose the judges for the Supreme Court, but Congress can reject them!

• Supreme Court can say that a law is unconstitutional = does not follow the Constitution, then it's no longer a law!