The document provides an overview of the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and U.S. Constitution. It describes the purpose and key aspects of each, including that the Declaration announced independence from Britain, the Articles established the first government but had weaknesses, and the Constitution established a stronger federal government with executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

1. PID Live Class 5 U.S. Government Structure & Function Declaration, Articles of Confederation & U.S. Constitution

2. Unit 2 Lesson 1 & 2: a history and outline of the US Constitution Outcomes: Know the purpose and general outline of the Declaration of Independence Know the purpose and the general outline of the Articles of Confederation Know the purpose and general outline of the U.S. Constitution

3. The Declaration of Independence Purpose: The declaration and intent to separate from Great Britain Grievances against Great Britain, specifically the King, King George Appeal for equality, freedom, and to “the opinions of all mankind” Officially signed on June 28, 1776, presented to the Continental Congress, revisions and editing occurred on July 2, 1776 and the final version was passed on July 4. 56 members signed the embossed version

4. Format of the Dec. of Indep. The first sentence of the Declaration asserts as a matter of Natural Law The next section, the famous preamble, includes the ideas and ideals that were principles of the Declaration The next section is a list of charges against King George The next section represents disappointment that attempts made to have the King stop his disputed actions had been unsuccessful In the final section, the signers assert that there exist conditions under which people must change their government. Full text of the Declaration of Independence link here

5. Articles of Confederation 1777-1781 Our 1st form of government Established the name of the united states Had many problems Unicameral (one house) legislature called Congress created from representatives of the 13 states One vote per state Weak central government No national courts No power to tax No money meant no army Important laws had to be approved by at least 9 states

6. Articles of Confederation No executive officer to enforce laws No way to control trade between states No way to settle quarrels between states States had more power They could tax They had courts States could make currency

7. U.S. Constitution A quick review…. For the full text version of The U.S. Constitution (click here)

8. Constitutional Convention 1786 Annapolis, MD 1787 Philadelphia Independence Hall George Washington – president Not all agreed Compromises made Virginia plan-large state plan James Madison New Jersey plan-small state plan Ratified 1788

9. Preamble “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union , establish Justice , insure domestic Tranquility , provide for the common defense , 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.”

10. Article 1 Legislative Branch Purpose Make laws 2 houses or bodies of Congress House of Representatives Senate

11. House of Representatives 435 members Based on population (about 1 for every 500,000) Each state gets at least one representative Term- 2 years Unlimited terms Qualifications 25 US Citizen- 7 years Resident of state Male or female

12. House of Representatives Leader is called the Speaker of the House currently Nancy Pelosi (D-California) Check & Balance Power of Impeachment: The House of Reps brings charges against government official - usually the President - if enough there is enough evidence U.S. House of Representatives for the State of Hawai’i Maize Hirono Neil Abercrombie

13. Senate 100 Total Senators 2 from each state Term 6 years, 1/3 every of Senators up for re-election every 2 years Unlimited terms Qualifications 30 years old Citizen for 9 years Resident of the state Male or female

14. Senate Leaders of the Senate Vice President - Currently V.P.-Joe Biden Senate pro-tempore - Currently Harry Reid (D., Nevada0 Checks & Balance Senate has Power of impeachment They are the Jury in the impeachment trial U.S. Senators for the State of Hawai’i Daniel Inouye Daniel Akaka

15. General information about Congress Congress (with a capital C) is the name for both the U.S. House of Representatives and The US Senate Both meet in: Capitol Building in Washington DC Paid the same, approximately $174, 000 a year.

16. Lawmaking process Job of Congress is to get laws passed to make sure our country is running smoothly How pass laws An idea in the form of a “bill” is introduced either in the House of Reps or the Senate Revenue laws (money laws like taxes, or refunds, etc must start in the House of Representatives It goes to a committee where it is heard, fixed, and voted on If it is approved in committee it goes to the floor of the whichever house it started in and gets voted on. If it passes the first house, then it goes to the next house Example: Bill introduced in the House of Reps, goes to a House of Reps committee, is voted on in committee and passes, then it goes to the “floor” of the House of Reps and is voted on. If it passed then it is sent to the Senate and the same process starts over again.

17. Lawmaking Process Bill must be passed by both houses of Congress Sent to President to sign or veto If President veto’s, need a 2/3 vote in both houses to over rides a veto If President doesn’t act in 10 days, bill automatically becomes law Judicial Branch interprets laws to ensure they are within the limits of the Constitution

18. Duties of Congress, not states, Article 1, Section 8 Money-power to raise, borrow, coin money Defense-power to declare war, to raise and support military Ex post facto law Congress can’t convict someone of an act that does not have a law making that act illegal Postal duties Make treaties

19. Federal system (federalism0 Delegated Powers- Powers only belonging to the federal gov’t Ex.-military, postal system, standards, copyrights, commerce, immigration, declaration of war Concurrent Powers- shared federal and state powers Ex.- general welfare, courts, levy taxes, banks, borrow money Reserved Powers-Powers belonging only to state gov’ts Ex.-schools, local gov’t, marriage regulations

20. General information about Article 1 – The Legislature Congress can’t tax goods exported from any state Each citizen must treat citizens of other states the same as their citizens Webpage to get specifics on the Constitution: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/const/const.html

21. Article 2 – The Executive Branch Purpose to Enforce laws Consists of President Vice President 15 cabinet members

22. President Takes office on Jan. 20 following an election year Term Limits 4 years 2 terms – set by the 22 nd amendment Office located - White House Current President: Barack Obama

23. Qualifications & General information Age at least 35 Natural born citizen Live in US for 14 years Male or female General Info: Only 1 resigned from office - Richard Nixon Only 1 appointed to office - Gerald Ford 1 st African American – Barack Obama

24. How President Elected Candidate announces running for office If more than one person running in a political party then there is a primary election Primary election is where the political party chooses a candidate that will represent them in the general election General election when political party nominee’s run against each other for President Most elections are determined by popular vote – each person eligible to vote casts one vote and their vote counts individually. When you vote for president, you are really voting for an elector who has pledged to represent that candidate. The electors chosen by each state are called the electoral college. They are a group of people who officially elect the president and vice president. Each state has as many votes in the electoral college as it has senators and members of the House of Representatives.

25. Election of President Electoral college 538 total electoral votes Need 270 to win If no candidate gets a majority of electors House of Reps decides Each state gets 1 vote Inauguration Jan. 20

26. Presidential duties Can call both houses into special session Veto power Makes appointments for ambassadors, judges, 15 cabinet members (they must be confirmed by the Senate) Commander-in –chief Prepares annual budget Ready by Jan., presented to Congress 2 biggest expenditures Defense and Social Security

27. Order of succession Vice President Speaker of the House President pro-tempore Cabinet- Sec. of State

28. Cabinet - 15 Sec. of State – foreign affairs Attorney General – chief legal officer Sec. of Defense – defense Sec. of Agriculture – farm programs Sec. of Treasury – coinage and printing of money and secret service Sec. of Health and Human Service – health and social security Sec. of Energy – energy programs Sec. of Interior – natural resources and parks Sec. of Labor – settles strikes, working conditions Sec. of Homeland Defense – oversees protection of U.S. Sec. of Education – education Dept. of Transportation – transportation and Coast Guard Sec. Commerce – industry and business

29. Article 3 - Judicial Branch Purpose-to interpret laws and decide on the constitutionality of laws Federal court system has 3 courts U.S. Supreme U.S. Appellate or Court of Appeals U.S. District

30. Judicial Branch Judges are appointed by the President Approved by Senate Term for life No qualifications Supreme court 9 justices Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. (conservative) Supreme Court Building in Washington DC

31. Checks and Balances Executive Branch- Vetoes Legislative Branch -passes by 2/3 vote in each house Judicial Branch– declares law unconstitutional

32. Articles 4 - 7 4 rights of the states 5 how to amend the constitution 6 powers of the constitution 7 how the constitution would be ratified (approved)

33. Amendments-27 1-10 Bill of Rights 1 speech and press 2 bear arms 4 privacy 6 speedy trial 9 enumeration 12 election of president 13 no slavery

34. Amendments-27 14 citizenship for blacks 15 black men the right to vote 16 income tax 18 prohibition 19 women right to vote 21 repeal 18 22 president’s term 26 vote at 18

35. Flag 13 stripes – colonies 50 stars – states Flag hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously Procession in front Treated with respect

36. All Unit 2 Assignments Declaration Of Independence Q & A Declaration of Independence Preamble Q & A Articles of Confederation Check for Understanding Quiz Constitutional Convention Q & A The Basic Principles of U.S. Government Q & A Outlining The Constitution Understanding The Bill of Rights Activity Legislative Branch Quiz Can We Justify The Implied Powers of Congress Activity Executive Branch Quiz Role of the President Quiz The Judicial Branch Quiz Federalism - The Sharing of Powers Activity Constitution Test