Week 13 - Constitution- Texas USA Studies Weekly

The Preamble of the United States Constitution

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

In your own words, explain the purposes of the U.S. Constitution, as listed in this quote from the Preamble.

The Constitution of the United States

The people in this image were creating a document for which of the following purposes?

Select THREE that apply.

• to create a unified country

• to settle conflicts between the states

• to protect people’s rights

• to declare war

Three Branches of Government

Each branch of government has specific job functions, as stated in the Constitution. Match each characteristic to the correct branch of government.

• enforce laws, commander in chief of the military

• legislative

• write laws, declare war, coin money

• judicial

• ensure laws are constitutional

• executive

The Constitution of the United States

Which group is responsible for the laws that should govern us, what taxes citizens should pay, and impeaching a president?

• the legislative branch

• the executive branch

• the states

• the judicial branch

The Constitution of the United States

Which group is responsible for how laws should be carried out, recommending laws, and creating treaties with other countries?

• the legislative branch

• the executive branch

• the states

• the judicial branch

The Constitution of the United States

Which group is responsible for what the Constitution means, determining whether a law passed by Congress is constitutional, and resolving disputes between states?

• the legislative branch

• the executive branch

• the states

• the judicial branch

The United States Government

Which group is responsible for educating students in our community, taking care of local streets and sewers, and paying local police and fire departments?

• the legislative branch

• the executive branch

• the states

• the judicial branch

Relations of the States to Each Other

What does each state constitution need to be?

• an independent government

• a representative democracy

• a confederation government

• a republican government

Amending the Constitution

How is the public involved in changing the Constitution?

• They are part of the writing, reviewing and ratification process.

• They are part of the creation and then they leave.

• They are only part of the voting process.

• They let the elected officials do it all.

Article 6

What was the purpose of Article 6?

• to incorporate the Articles of Confederation Congress

• establish the Constitution and the peaceful transfer of power from the Articles of Confederation

• to establish a military as a separate part of the government

• to establish the election of Supreme Court justices