The United

States
Constitution

What is the Constitution?

The SUPREME LAW of the
United States.
The framework for the
organization of the U. S.
government and;
The relationship of the federal
government with the states,
citizens, and all people.

FUN FACTS
The US Constitution is 224
Years Old.
It took 116 days to write
the original Constitution.

How the Constitution is Organized

The Preamble
The Articles
Articles are broken into Sections
Sections are broken into Clauses

Amendments
27 Amendments

PREAMBLE
Describes the PURPOSE of the
document and government.

Meaning behind the

Preamble
We the people of the United
States All the people of our country
In order to form a more perfect
union to come together in a better
way
Establish Justice To make things
fair, through a legal system
Insure Domestic Tranquility To
make sure we all have a nice life and
get along with each other.

Continuing the Meaning of the

Preamble
Provide for the common defense To
protect us from other people or countries
who try to harm us.
Promote the general welfare To help
make life good for everybody. Like having
enough food, a place to live, being safe,
etc.
And Secure the Blessing of Liberty to
protect our rights and freedoms and not let
anyone take them away.

Continuing the Meaning of the

Preamble
To ourselves and our posterity For
kids, parents, other grown ups and all the
people born in our country after we are.
Do ordain and establish the
constitution To write down and live by a
list of rules and promises for our
government to keep and our people to
obey.
For the United States of America For
our country where we live.

ARTICLES
Establish how the government is
structured and how the Constitution
can be changed (Amended).
There are 7 articles.
Articles are broken into Sections.
Sections are broken into Clauses.

Article 1 - LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

Elected
representatives who
make laws; at the
federal level it is the
Congress (Senate and
House of

Article 2 Executive Branch

Elected and
appointed individuals
who enforce laws;
at the federal level
the President heads
this branch.

Article 3 Judicial Branch

Justices and judges

who interpret laws
through the court
system; at the
federal level it is the

Branches of Government
Video
Brain Pop Branches of Government

Remaining Articles
4 addresses relations among
Article

individual states.
Article 5 discusses the Amendment
process
Article 6 Supremacy Clause - when
federal laws conflict with state laws, the US
Constitution and federal laws are more
powerful than the state laws
Article 7 Explains the ratification process
(approval of Congress and States.)

AMENDMENTS
There are 27 amendments (or
changes) to the Constitution.
The first 10 amendments are
called the Bill of Rights
Bill of Rights Brain Pop Video

Amendments
1 Freedom of religion, assembly,
press, petition, and speech

2 Right to bear arms

3 No quartering in homes during
times of peace

4 Protection from unreasonable

search and seizure

5 Rights of accused persons; no

double jeopardy, no self-incrimination,
guarantees due process of law

Amendments
6 Rights to a fair and speedy trial
7 Trial by jury guaranteed in federal cases
8 Guarantees reasonable bail if arrested and
protection from cruel and unusual punishment

9 Powers are reserved to the people if not

delegated to the United States by the
Constitution

10 Safeguards the powers of the states by

stating that all powers not delegated to the
US by the Constitution nor prohibited by it to
the states are reserved to the states.

Principles of the US
Constitution
Federalism Power is shared between
the states and federal government
Checks and Balances Each branch
of the federal government has the
ability to check, or control, the power
of the other 2 branches
Popular Sovereignty the people
are the final authority in government.
The government receives its authority
from the People.

Principles of the US
Constitution
Individual Rights Unalienable rights of
the people that the federal government
must protect.
Separation of Powers The power of the
federal government is separated in to 3
branches.
Representative Democracy The people
rule through elected representatives.
Limited Government Government is
limited to the power given to it by the
Constitution.

The Living Document

Because of its adaptability
(amendments)
Because of its flexibility
(elastic clause)