Class PPT

1. Essential Question: What important principles are listed
in the U.S. Constitution?
TN Standard- 8.33
Principles of the Constution

2. Bell Ringer
• The United States
Constitution is often
referred to as the
“supreme law of the
land.” Explain what
you feel like it meant
by this description in
a short paragraph.

3. Preamble to the Constitution- “We the People,
in order to form a more perfect union…”
• The idea here is to
create a government that
is improved over the
previous Constitution
(A.O.C.)

4. Preamble to the Constitution- “establish
justice…”
• States already had
functioning court systems
• Many delegates believed the
states had used their
independence and freedom to
hurt individual liberties.
• The Constitution would set up
an independent Supreme
Court as well as a Federal
Court system to be superior to
state courts.

5. Preamble to the Constitution- “insure
domestic tranquility…”
• Americans had a long-
standing tradition of
taking up arms against
an unpopular
government (Shays’
Rebellion)
• The Constitution would
give the government
control and power to
prevent and stop
future violence

6. Preamble to the Constitution- “provide
for the common defense…”
• America had fears of
standing armies on
their home soil
because of the
British
• This showed that the
new government
would provide
military protection

7. Preamble to the Constitution- “promote
the general welfare…”
• The new government
created by the
Constitution would
make decisions for
the good of everyone
not just certain
groups.

8. Preamble to the Constitution- “secure the
Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our
posterity…”
• The new government
will protect the
liberties of
Americans and future
generations
(posterity)

9. Separation of Powers
• The new Constitution set
up a government where
powers would be divided
among three branches of
government:
− The Legislative Branch:
Congress (House of
Representatives and the
Senate)
− The Executive Branch:
The President, Vice-
President, and the
President’s Cabinet
− Judicial Branch: The
Supreme Court and other
federal courts

10. Checks and Balances
• System under the
Constitution that
prevents one branch
of government from
getting too powerful

11. Checks and Balances- The Legislative
Branch
• Makes the laws
• Checks on Executive Branch
− Can override president’s veto
− Confirms president’s appointments
− Can impeach/remove the president
− Controls the budget (power of the
purse)
• Checks on Judicial Branch:
− Can impeach/remove judges
− Can overrule judicial appointments
w/ amendments
− Approves appointment of judges

12. Checks and Balances- The Executive
Branch
• Carries out
(implements and
enforces) the laws
• Checks on the
Legislative Branch
− Can propose laws
− Can veto laws
• Checks on the Judicial
Branch
− Appoints federal judges
− Can pardon federal
offenders

13. Checks and Balances- The Judicial
Branch
• Interprets the laws
• Checks on
Legislative Branch
− Can declare acts of
Congress
unconstitutional
• Checks on the
Executive Branch
− Can declare
executive actions
unconstitutional

14. The Amendment Process

15. Federalism
• The system where
power is SHARED
between the federal
government and the
states
• Delegated Powers-
Federal Government
• Reserved Powers-
States
• Concurrent Powers-
Shared Powers

16. Bill of Rights
• These were ultimately
added due to
persuasion by
Antifederalists
• These were added as
the first ten
amendments
• Their purpose is to
protect citizens from
an unfair government

17. Amendment 1
• Protects:
− Freedom of speech
− Freedom of religion
− Freedom of the press
− Freedom of
peaceable assembly
− Right to petition the
government

18. Amendment 2
• Protects:
− The right to bear
arms
− A well-regulated
militia

19. Amendment 3
• Protects against
− The housing of soldiers in civilian homes
• This amendment was more relevant during the time
period following the American Revolution. Why?

20. Amendment 4
• Protects against:
− Unreasonable search
and seizure
− The issuing of
warrants without
probable cause

21. Amendment 5
• Protects against:
− Trial without
indictment (you must
have a chance to
come up with a
defense)
− Double jeopardy
(being tried again
after being declared
innocent)
− Self-incrimination
− Taking of property

22. Amendment 6
• Protects:
− Right to a speedy trial
− Right to be informed
of charges
− Right to be
confronted by
witnesses
− Right to call
witnesses
− Right to a lawyer

23. Amendment 7
• Protects:
− The right to have a
trial by jury

24. Amendment 8
• Protects against:
− Excessive bail
− Excessive fines
− Cruel and unusual
punishment

25. Amendment 9
• Rights listed in the
Constitution cannot
infringe on other
rights
• Citizens have other
rights that are to be
protected, even
though they aren’t
specifically listed

26. Amendment 10
• Powers not granted
to the federal
government are
given to the states
and the people