The Constitution of the United States of America
Mrs. Campos US History I Mother Seton Regional High School
The Constitution of the United States of America
Our government’s framework Historical background
Articles
Amendments
Constitutional Convention
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania May to September, 1787
Preamble: We the People...
Goals of the Founding Fathers FEIPPS
Article 1: The Legislature
“All legislative power herein
granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States…”
SENATE
• 100 members • 6 year term
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
• 435 members
• 2 year term
Article 1: Powers of Congress
Lawmaking powers Delegated powers Reserved Powers Powers denied Congress Powers denied the states
Elastic Clause
Powers of Congress
Declare War, raise an army and navy Coin money, establish punishment for
counterfeit Establish Post Offices Patent Laws Naturalization Laws Return
Powers Denied Congress
Taxes on exports Granting titles of nobility Bills of Attainder Ex Post Facto Laws suspending writ of Habeas corpus
Powers Denied the States
Entering treaties or alliances Coining money Waging war return
Article 2: The Executive Department
The executive power shall be
vested in a President of the United States of America.”
Article 2: The Presidency
Four year term Qualifications Vice President
State of the Union Address Powers and duties Cabinet
Impeachment
Powers of the President
Commander –in-Chief of armed forces With consent of 2/3 of the Senate:
• Appoints federal judges • Makes treaties • Appoints ambassadors
Regulates foreign Affairs
Duties of the President
Carries out or enforces laws Commissions military officers Receives ambassadors from foreign
nations
Article 3: The Judicial Department
“The judicial power…shall be
vested in one Supreme Court and in such inferior courts as the Congress may…establish.”
The Supreme Court
Chief Justice 8 Associate Justices Life Term during good behavior
Article 3: Federal Courts
Supreme Court Jurisdiction • Original
– Cases involving ambassadors,
consuls and states
Trial by jury Treason defined
• Appellate – Cases appealed from lower courts
Article 4: Relations among states
State acts and records Rights of Citizens Territories and New States
Article 5: Amending the Constitution
Proposing Amendments
Congress State Legislatures
Two thirds
Ratifying Amendments
State Conventions State Legislatures
Three Quarters
Article 6: Supremacy of the Federal Government
“This Constitution and the laws
of the United States…shall be the Supreme Law of the Land.”
Loyalty Oath
Religious test
Article 7: Ratification
State Conventions 9 of 13 States Required July, 1788 - 11 states ratified April 30, 1789 - Constitution went into effect
An Enduring Document
From 1789 to 2005
• small agricultural nation to world power World War
Cold War
Challenges
Civil War
Territorial Growth
Amendments
Bill of Rights 11-27
Immigration
Depression