1. Building Blocks of…

2. Constitution
• The Constitution was written in 1787.
• It is the “Supreme law of the land”.
– No Law may contradict it
– No person is exempt from following it
• The Constitution establishes a federal
democratic republic
– We have a union of 50 states, the people
govern themselves, people choose the
representatives, and the government gains its
power from the people.

3. Important Parts
• Inherent rights
• Self Government
• Separation of powers

4. • Inherent rights: Rights that anyone living in
America has
• Self Government: Government by the
people.
• Seperation of Powers: Branches of
governments with different powers
(Checks and Balances)

5. Inherent Rights

7. Self-Government

8. The Three Types of Government

9. Three types of Government
• Executive
• Legislative
• Judicial

10. Executive
Commander in Chief.
President
Commander of Armed forces in
America
Can sign bills into laws

11. The US President
• Can pardon people and/or “animals”.
• Can convene or adjourn (call or close) the
Senate or House of Representatives.
• Power with the Presidents have grown in
recent years.
• President can “over ride” Congress in
certain circumstances in regards to war.
• The President can serve _____ years as
President.

12. Legislative Branch

13. Supreme Court and the House of
Representatives both reside in the Capital
Building

14. Judicial Branch

15. The US Supreme Court
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•
•
•
Highest federal court in the United States
It has jurisdiction over all courts in the US
Final interpreter of Constitutional Law
Consists of eight judges and one chief
Justice- 9 judges total
• Once appointed, the Supreme Court
judges stay for life…UNLESS

16. The US Supreme Court
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•
•
•
They die
They retire
Take senior status
Or can be impeached (This has never
happened).
• And the judges are categorized by being
conservative, moderate, or liberal in terms
of the law.

17. The Roberts Court