constitution
DESCRIPTION
Constitution. Preamble – main goals of Constitution Form a more perfect union Establish justice Ensure peace at home (domestic tranquility) Defend the country Promote good for all (general welfare) Ensure freedom now and in the future. Articles 1 – 3. Main body of the Constitution - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Constitution
• Preamble – main goals of Constitution– Form a more perfect union– Establish justice– Ensure peace at home (domestic tranquility)– Defend the country– Promote good for all (general welfare)– Ensure freedom now and in the future
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHp7sMqPL0g
Articles 1 – 3
• Main body of the Constitution
• Establish the framework of government
ARTICLE 1 - LEGISLATIVE
• Makes laws
• Two houses = CONGRESS
Welcome to the 114th Congress!
US House of Representatives
HOUSE OF REPS DISTRICTS
“Gerrymandering”
Original cartoon of "The Gerry-Mander", this is the political cartoon that led to the coining of the term Gerrymander. The district depicted in the cartoon was created by Massachusetts legislature to favor the incumbent Democratic-Republican party candidates of Governor Elbridge Gerry over the Federalists in 1812.
Bell Ringer!• Grab a handout from the front chair
“Does Congress Look like America?”
• Review the data with a partner and record 2 observations
• Answer the question above and give at least 1 piece of evidence from the worksheet to support your answer
Country : 51% female
49% male
Americas population by “race”Race / Ethnicity Number
Percentage ofU.S. population
Americans 308,745,538 100.0 %
White American (non – Hispanic)
196,817,55263.7 %
Hispanic American or Latino Black or African American
37,685,848 12.2 %
Asian 14,465,124 4.7 %
American Indian or Alaska Native
2,247,098 0.7 %
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
481,576 0.2 %
some other raceTwo or more races
604,2655,966,481
0.2 %1.9%
50,477,594 16.4%
US Congress – House of Representatives
•US House Rep. SCHWARTZ District 13•http://schwartz.house.gov/legislative-work
US Senate
US CONGRESS - SENATORS
• Casey, Robert P., Jr. - (D - PA)
• Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-6324
• www.casey.Senate.gov/contact/
• Toomey, Patrick J. - (R - PA)
• Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-4254 www.toomey.Senate.gov/?p=contact
Committees (Do the day to day work of Congress)
Main job of Congress – WRITE LAWS!
How do bills become laws?
President signs
Video!
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFroMQlKiag
Executive BranchOffice of the President
4 year terms (2 max), 35 years old, 14 years residing in US, natural born citizen
Vice President of the United StatesJoseph R. Biden
1 - Department of StateSecretary John Kerryhttp://www.state.gov
2 - Department of the TreasurySecretary Jack Lewhttp://www.treasury.gov
3 - Department of DefenseSecretary Chuck Hagelhttp://www.defense.gov
4 - Department of JusticeAttorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr.http://www.usdoj.gov
5 - Department of the InteriorSecretary Sally Jewellhttp://www.doi.gov
6 - Department of AgricultureSecretary Thomas J. Vilsackhttp://www.usda.gov
7 - Department of CommerceSecretary Penny Pritzkerhttp://www.commerce.gov
8 - Department of LaborSecretary Thomas E. Perezhttp://www.dol.gov
9 - Department of Health and Human ServicesSecretary Kathleen Sebeliushttp://www.hhs.gov
10 - Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentSecretary Shaun L.S. Donovanhttp://www.hud.gov
11 - Department of TransportationSecretary Anthony Foxxhttp://www.dot.gov
12 - Department of EnergySecretary Ernest Monizhttp://www.energy.gov
13 - Department of EducationSecretary Arne Duncanhttp://www.ed.gov
14 - Department of Veterans AffairsSecretary Eric K. Shinsekihttp://www.va.gov
15 - Department of Homeland SecuritySecretary Jeh Johnsonhttp://www.dhs.gov
Main Powers/Jobs of President• Commander in Chief of US military• Chief Executive – like a business exec. the
president tries to solve problems and makes key decisions
• Chief diplomat - foreign policy negotiator• Legislative leader – can propose
laws, sign bills into law or veto
(cancel proposed law)• Leader of his political party
How much power does the President actually have?
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6X28byZZbI
Electing the President:
• When you cast your popular vote, you are really casting a vote for the party’s electors – they cast the final vote for president
• # Senators + # of Representatives = Electors for your state
• So if Pa has 19 members in the House, then how many electors do we get?
So you want to be President?
Class Mock Election Voting on reward treats:
Chocolate or Candy
Period 1 – #students 25 = #electoral votes: 6
Period 3 – #students 18 = #electoral votes: 4
Period 5 – #students 24 = #electoral votes: 6
Period 7 – #students 28 = #electoral votes: 7
Period 8 – #students 29 = #electoral votes: 7
1 electoral vote for every 4 students
Choosing the President - Electoral College
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyIFqf3XH24
(SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK)
270 to win!“It’s not a popularity contest”
• www.270towin.com
Judicial Branch• Interprets the laws• Supreme Court – Highest court in country• Ability to overturn lower court decisions
(power of Judicial Review)
– Rule on hotly debated issues
Goss v. Lopez
• 1975
• Does a public school have to conduct a hearing before suspending a student?
• 14 amendment – due process clause
• YES! – suspension without a hearing is a violation – the ruling was overturned
New Jersey v. T.L.O.
• 1985• Should school officials be required to have a
warrant to search a student’s property in a public school?
• 4th amendment – protection against search and seizure without a warrant
• NO! In a 6-3 ruling the court held that the search was reasonable because there was probable cause and it involved the well-being of the student body. Student lockers are school property and can be searched at any time.
Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe
• 2000
• Can a school district have a policy that permits student-led prayer at high school sporting events?
• 1st amendment – freedom of religion
• No! 6-3 decision, even though it is student led the policy is still unconstitutional
• Remains a very controversial topic
Other “hot button” cases
• Tinker v. Des Moines 1969– Student protest in schools – do kids in school
have the right to express political views?– YES!
Your responsibilities as a Citizen
• Receive an education – stay informed!!
• Be responsible for your behavior– Obey the laws!
• Vote
• Serve on a jury
• Serve in the military (men can be drafted)
• What else do you think makes someone a responsible citizen?
Checks and Balances
