1	U.S. Constitution
2	Articles of Confederation 1777-1781 Our 1^st form of government Had many problems Congress from 13 states
3	Articles of Confederation 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
4	Articles of Confederation No executive officer to enforce laws No way to control trade between states No way to settle quarrels between states
5	Articles of Confederation States had more power They could tax They had courts States could make currency
6	Constitutional Convention 1786 Annapolis, MD 1787 Philadelphia Independence Hall George Washington - president
7	Constitutional Convention Not all agreed Compromises made Virginia plan-large state plan James Madison New Jersey plan-small state plan Ratified 1788
8	Preamble We the people…… Union Justice Tranquility General welfare Liberty posterity
9	Article I Legislative Branch Purpose Make laws 2 houses or bodies of Congress House of Representatives Senate
10	House of Representatives 435 members Based on population (about 500,000) Each state gets at least one representative Term- 2 years Unlimited terms
11	House of Representatives Qualifications 25 Citizen- 7 years Resident of state Male or female
12	House of Representatives Leader Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert Power of impeachment Brings charges against Reps Jerry Costello or John Shimkus
13	Senate 100 2 from each state Term – 6 years, 1/3 every 2 years Unlimited terms
14	Senate Qualifications 30 years old Citizen for 9 years Resident of the state Male or female
15	Senate Leaders Vice President Senate pro-tempore Power of impeachment Jury Senators Richard Durbin and Peter Fitzgerald
16	General information Both meet in: Capitol Washington DC Paid the same
17	Lawmaking process Pass bills into law Starts in House or senate In committees Revenue starts in House Must pass each house
18	Lawmaking Process Sent to President to sign or veto 2/3 over rides a veto If President doesn’t act in 10 days, bill becomes law Judicial Branch interprets
19	Duties of Congress, not states 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
20	Duties of Congress, not states Postal duties Make treaties
21	Federal system Delegated Powers- only federal gov’t Ex.-military, postal system, standards, copyrights, commerce, immigration, declaration of war Concurrent Powers- shared federal and state Ex.- general welfare, courts, levy taxes, banks, borrow money Reserved Powers-state gov’t Ex.-schools, local gov’t, marriage regulations
22	General information Congress can’t tax goods exported from any state Each citizen must treat citizens of other states the same as their citizens Webpage: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/const/const.html
23	Executive Branch Article II Purpose Enforce laws President Vice President 15 cabinet members
24	President Takes office on Jan. 20 following an election year Term 4 years 2 terms – amendment 22 White House George W. Bush, Dick Cheney
25	Qualifications 35 Natural born citizen Live in US for 14 years Male or female
26	General information Only 1 resigned from office Richard Nixon Only 1 appointed to office Gerald Ford
27	Election Nominating process Campaigning Primary elections Popular vote Electoral votes
28	Election of Electoral college 538 total electoral votes Need 270 to win If no majority House of Reps decides Each state gets 1 vote Inauguration Jan. 20
29	Presidential duties Can call both houses into special session Veto power Makes appointments for ambassadors, judges, cabinet Commander-in –chief
30	Presidential duties Prepares annual budget Ready by Jan., presented to Congress 2 biggest expenditures Defense and Social Security
31	Order of succession Vice President Speaker of the House President pro-tempore Cabinet- Sec. of State
32	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
33	Cabinet - 15 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
34	Cabinet - 15 Dept. of Transportation – transportation and Coast Guard Sec. Commerce – industry and business
35	Judicial Branch Article 3 Purpose-to interpret laws and decide on the constitutionality of laws Federal court system 3 courts Supreme Appellate or Court of Appeals District
36	Judicial Branch Judges are appointed by the President Approved by Senate Term for life No qualifications Supreme court 9 justices Chief Justice William Rehnquist Supreme Court Building in Washington DC
37	Checks and Balances Exec.- Vetoes Leg.-passes by 2/3 vote in each house Jud. – declares unconstitutional
38	Articles 4 state’s rights 5 amending the constitution 6 powers of the constitution 7 ratification
39	Amendments-27 1-10 Bill of Rights 1 speech and press 2 bear arms 6 speedy trial 9 enumeration 12 election of president 13 no slavery
40	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
41	Flag 13 stripes – colonies 50 stars – states Flag hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously Procession in front Treated with respect