The Supreme Law of the LandThe US Constitution

Structure of the US ConstitutionThe Preamble (written over a period of 6 weeks): Lays out goals“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.”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMoyH1uLhRk

ArticlesArticle I: The Legislative BranchArticle II: The Executive BranchArticle III: The Judicial BranchArticle IV: Relations among the StatesArticle V: The Amendment ProcessArticle VI: National SupremacyArticle VII: Ratification of the Constitution

Principles of the US Constitution1. Popular Sovereignty2. Federalism3. Republicanism4. Separation of Powers5. Checks and Balances6. Limited Government7. Individual Rights

Principle 1: Popular Sovereignty“We the People”… gives the ultimate authority of the government to the government from the people. For example, we elect representatives in Congress to make laws that we will abide by and agree to because we have given them the power to do so.

There is power in numbers

Principle 2: FederalismShould the state or national government have more power over the people? Federalism is the balance of power between the state governments and the federal governments.

Principle 3: RepublicanismIn the 18th C., Franklin was referring to a government in which the ultimate authority resides in the people and in which elected officials and representatives are responsible to the people, and must govern accordingly. Basically… the right of the people to vote for representatives.In Article IV, Section 4, it begins, "The United States shall guarantee to every state in this Union a republican form of government."When asked what type of government the Constitutional Convention had created, Benjamin Franklin replied, “a republic, if you can keep it.”

Principle 4: Separation of PowersSeparation of powers referenced in Articles 1, 2 and 3 is the belief that a government should have divided power to limit government power. The U.S. Constitution divided our government into three branches: executive, judicial, and legislative.

Principle 5: Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances are written about in Articles 1, 2, and 3. This principle was established so  each branch of government has the power to check or limit the actions of the other two.                     "Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a law, be presented to the President of the United States" - Article 1, Section 7, Clause 2 Separation of Powers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bf3CwYCxXw

Principle 6: Limited GovernmentImagine that the bone that the dogs are fighting over represents people and their rights.One dog represents liberty while the other one represents authority.The idea of limited government is to try to provide individuals with their individual freedoms and rights while trying to keep authority in balance. It’s virtually impossible, or at least, a constant struggle.Should the government take certain rights away from people in order to maintain authority?For example, if a state allows open carry in public and a person walks into a school carrying a weapon, should that be allowed or should there be government regulation on that?This principle of Limited Government gives the Americans security and freedoms because the fear of being controlled by one person or body is not present in this democratic government.

Principle 7: Individual RightsThe Bill of Rights protects individual rights FROM THE GOVERNMENT overreaching. These rights are not unlimited and they strive to balance the government’s need to provide for the common good.

The US ConstitutionEstablished America’s national government and fundamental laws and guarantees certain individual rights.Signed on September 17, 1787, ratified in 1791, with the Bill of Rights added it paved the way for an amazing country that became a leader in the world.The End!