Principles of the United States Constitution

Principles of the United States Constitution

Background to 1787 Convention

•______of ______creates a toothless, ineffective national gov’t

–High ______, no power to ______or raise ______

•______press for convention to repair “embarrassments which characterize the present state of our national affairs”

•______agrees to preside only after ______

–Henry Knox’s letter scares states out of their complacency

Philadelphia Convention ‘87

•Created between ______–______, 1787

•Intense debate between men w/radically different ______–______, ______, ______, ______owners

•Issues: How to grant national ______AND respect______Rights; SLAVERY

•Delegates signed secrecy oath

–______, ______did not attend (out of country)

•Had no plan but knew what they didn’t want

•Roger Sherman’s ______combined Virginia + New Jersey Plans

•States ratify 1787-1788 but demanded a ______of ______

•Originals displayed at ______in Washington, DC

Organization of the Constitution

•______– Lists goals of the gov’t (“______the ______…”)

•Seven ______

•Created three branches: ______(President), ______(Congress), ______(courts)

•Each Article divided into______+ ______

•Can be changed with ______

Organization of the Branches

•______- ______, Vice-______(makes the laws)

•______- Congress (535)– carries out the laws

•House of ______(435)- ______; ______(100)- __ PER STATE

•______- ______Court (______justices) – interprets the laws

Elements Protected by the Constitution

•______: the ability for a country to control its own affairs

•______: people elect leaders to make decisions for them

•______Government

•______–division of power between State & National Governments

•______(Shared) Powers

•______of Powers– No ______holds “too much”power

Executive Branch (President)

•______laws made by Congress

•Serves ______4-year- terms + can hold office for up to ______years

•______presidents; only “nationally”elected ______

Qualifications & Duties

•______years old; ______-born citizen living in the US for ______years

•Administrative head of nation - Makes important policy decisions

•______-in-Chief– leader of the ______

•Chief ______– vetoes/approves ______

•Chief of ______– Meets w/Congress during “State of the Union” or during wartime

•Chief of ______– becomes head of party

Terms of Office

•The ______Amendment now limits presidents to ______four-year terms or a total of ______years in office.

–Changed after death of ______– served almost 4 terms (12 years)

Removal (Impeachment)

•The president can be removed by ______

–House conducts investigation and drafts Articles of Impeachment for ‘______,______, or high crimes and ______.'

–______tries case with Chief ______of Supreme Court presiding.

–If ______of the Senate votes for the Articles, the president is removed from office.

–Only ______Presidents have Been Impeached: ______Clinton– neither were removed from office

Succession

•______presidents have died in office or left early.

•Congress passed ______Act of 1947 that stated order of succession if president died, fell ill, or left:

–______;______of the House;President Pro ______, Secretary of ______, ______, ______, and other Cabinet heads in order of the creation of their department

Evolution of the Office

•President’s role has changed greatly– most of it not clearly defined

•Depends upon large staffs to help

–The ______

•15 specialized ______that advise the president (______, Defense, ______, etc.); appointed by ______, confirmed by ______

–Office of Management and Budget (OMB); National Security Council (NSC)

Judicial Branch

•______Court and other ______Courts

•______+ ______rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights

•Considers cases involving ______laws – can declare laws and acts ______

•Uses ______and ______to render decisions

Supreme Court Facts

•1 ______Justice, 8 ______Justices w/lifetime status

–Selected by ______/confirmed by ______

•Sessions begin 1st Monday in ______; listens to arguments in 7 two-week sessions

•Court not required to listen to every case – listens only to fraction of those received

–On average, SC receives ______“petitions for certiorari”; hears______

Important Court Cases

•______vs. ______(1803) – gave courts right of ______

•______vs. Board of Education (______) – made ______in schools illegal; paved way for greater civil rights for blacks

•______vs. ______(______) – officers had to inform people of their ______at time of their ______