The Principles of the United States Constitution

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The Principles of the United States
Constitution
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I. Popular Sovereignty

• The people hold the ultimate authority
• A representative democracy lets the people elect
  leaders to make decisions for them.
• Patty Murray, Maria Cantwell and Jay Inslee are
  our elected officials in Congress

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II. Limited Government

• Framers wanted to guard against tyranny
• Government is limited to the power given them in
  the Constitution.
• The Constitution tells how leaders who overstep
  their power can be removed
• Government must adhere to the law

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III. Federalism

• The division of power between State and National
  Governments
• Some powers are shared
• The National Government has the supreme power

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IV. Separation of Powers

• No one holds too much power
• Legislative branch makes the laws
• Executive branch carries out the laws
• Legislative branch interprets the laws

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Legislative Branch

• Senate and House of Representatives
• Make our laws
• Appropriate Money
• Regulate Immigration
• Establish Post Offices and Roads
• Regulate Interstate Commerce and Transportation
• Declare War

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Executive Branch

• The President of the United States
• Chief Executive
• Chief of State
• Chief Legislator
• Commander in Chief

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Judicial Branch

• Supreme Court and other Federal Courts
• Preserve and protect the rights guaranteed by the
  Constitution
• Considers cases involving national laws
• Declares laws and acts unconstitutional

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V. Checks and Balances

• Prevents the abuse of power in government
• Each branch can check each other branch

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Executive Checks

• Propose laws to Congress
• Veto laws made by Congress
• Negotiate foreign treaties
• Appoint federal judges
• Grant pardons to federal offenders

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Legislative Checks

• Override presidents veto
• Ratify treaties
• Confirm executive appointments
• Impeach federal officers and judges
• Create and dissolve lower federal courts

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Judicial Checks

• Declare executive acts unconstitutional
• Declare laws unconstitutional
• Declare acts of Congress unconstitutional
• The Supreme Court holds the final check

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Article II Section 1

• Which branch of the government is established by
  Article II?
• Executive
• The Presidents term in office is ______ years?
• 4
• Which amendment regulates the Presidents term in
  office?
• 22

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Article II Cont.

• How many consecutive terms can a President serve?
• 2
• Maximum number of years a President can serve
• 10
• Who actually votes for the President?
• Electoral College

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Article II

• How many electors is each state granted?
• Equal to the number of representatives plus two
  senators
• How many electors does Washington state have?
• 12 for the first time! (2012 election)

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Article II

• http//www.270towin.com/

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Article II

• Name three qualifications that must be met in
  order to be elected President
• Natural born citizen
• Resident of the US for at least 14 years
• At least 35 years old

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Article II--Presidential Succession

• Vice President (Joseph Biden)
• Speaker of the House (John Boehner)
• President ProTempore (Daniel Inouye)
• Secretary of State (Hilary Clinton)
• Secretary of Treasury (Timothy Geithner)
• Secretary of Defense (Leon Panetta)

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Article II--Presidential Succession

• How is this order determined?
• In the order the department was established
• Attorney General
• Secretary of the Interior
• Secretary of Agriculture
• Secretary of Commerce
• Secretary of Labor
• Secretary of Health and Human Services

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Article II Presidential succession

• Secretary of Health and Human Services
• Secretary of Energy
• Secretary of Education
• Secretary of Transportation
• Secretary of Veterans Affairs
• Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
• Secretary of Homeland Security

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Article II

• According to the 25th amendment, what happens if
  the office of Vice President becomes vacant?
• President names a new VP
• Both houses of Congress must approve

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Article II

• What two processes are set up to allow the
  President to temporarily step aside?
• Pres. sends note to Speaker of the House and
  Pres. Pro Tempore stating he/she is unable to
  perform duties
• VP and majority of cabinet address Congress and
  say President is unable to perform duties

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Article II

• On what date is the President sworn into office?
• January 20th
• What was the date before the 20th amendment
  changed it?
• March 4rth
• This is called the LAME DUCK amendment

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Article II Section 2

• The President is the Commander in Chief of ____
  ?_____
• All armed forces
• The President has the power to grant reprieves
  and Pardons for offenses
• Legal forgiveness
• Delay the execution of a sentence

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Advice and Consent

• President has the power with advice and consent
  of Senate to do the following
• Make treaties
• Appoint ambassadors and public ministers
• Appoint justices to the Supreme court
• Appoint other officers not provided for in the
  constitution

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Senatorial Courtesy

• If the President is making an appointment, he
  will first talk to the senators from that state
  to get approval

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Article II

• What fraction must approve a treaty?
• 2/3
• What fraction must approve all other
  appointments?
• Simple majority (51)

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Duties of the President

• State of the Union address propose new
  legislation
• Call congress together in emergencies, convene
  and adjourn Congress
• Receive Ambassadors and Public Ministers
• Execute the laws of the US

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Article II

• On what charges can a President be impeached?
• Treason, bribery, federal crimes and misdemeanors

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Article III

• Which branch is established?
• Judicial
• Judicial power is vested in one supreme court and
  in lower (inferior) courts as Congress shall
  ordain and establish
• Judges serve for how long?
• Life in good behavior
• Highest court in the land?
• US Supreme court

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Article III

• How many justices on the Supreme Court?
• 9
• Who determines this?
• Congress
• Current Chief Justice
• John Roberts (Bush 2005)
• First African American
• Thurgood Marshall

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Article III

• First female Justice?
• Sandra Day OConnor
• Newest Justice
• Elena Kagan (Obama 2010)
• Who appoints Justices?
• President
• How long do they hold office?
• For life

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Court System

• Jurisdiction
• The power to hear a given case (area of
  authority)
• Original jurisdiction
• The lowest level at which a case may be heard. It
  is a trail court where facts and evidence are
  decided.

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Court system

• What court has original jurisdiction in most
  federal cases?
• US district court
• Appellate Jurisdiction
• A higher court that can decide whether the law
  was correctly applied in a given case.

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Article IV

• Full faith and Credit Clause
• Each state must honor and accept legal
  proceedings of every other state
• For example
• Marriages
• Divorces
• Court orders

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Extradition

• Legal order requesting one state to turn over a
  fugitive wanted in another state

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Article V

• Whenever 2/3 of Congress thinks it is necessary,
  they may suggest changes to the Constitution.
  When 2/3 of states asks them to , Congress shall
  call a convention to suggest amendments. Proposed
  amendments nmust have approval of ¾ of states
  legislatures or conventions of ¾ of states to
  become part of the Constitution.

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Article VI

• National Supremacy
• The Constitution, the laws passed by Congress and
  our treaties shall be the Supreme law of the
  land.
• Judges in every state must make their decision
  according to this law, even if their own
  constitution and laws disagree.