The Preamble and The Constitution

• Read the Preamble • Circle any words that you do not know• Partner up with someone else and discuss what those circled words might mean•Write your own translation of the Preamble at the bottom of the page

DO NOW

• The Preamble is the introduction to the Constitution

• Like a commercial / “selling an idea”

• It explains the goals that Constitution intends to achieve

QUICK RECAP

WHAT ARE THE GOALS LISTED IN THE

PREAMBLE TO THE CONSTITUTION???

“TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION”

– A. o. C. ???–Need a better gov’t

GOAL #1

“TO ESTABLISH JUSTICE”

– laws must be fair for everyone

GOAL #2

“TO ENSURE DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY”

– Domestic = Here at Home– Tranquility = Peace– Making sure that people are safe

and there is peace in their own country

GOAL #3

“TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON DEFENSE”

–Military –Protecting the country from being

attacked

GOAL #4

“TO PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE”

–General Welfare = Common Good–Making sure that the government

does what is best for everyone

GOAL #5

“TO SECURE THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY”

–The gov’t should protect / keep safe the freedom of the people

GOAL #6

“posterity” = future generations“ordain and establish” = enact as a law“domestic tranquility” = peace at home“union” = country

OTHER WORDS?

Without looking at your notes,

please list the six goals of the

Constitution that are found in the

Preamble…

DO NOW

Please write down the three branches of our

federal government and

what each branch does…

DO NOW

FEDERALISM

SHARING POWERS BETWEEN THE STATES AND THE

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT =

NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

HOW DO THE STATE GOVERNMENTS AND

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHARE

POWER???

• Known as “DELEGATED POWERS”

• Granted by the Constitution– Coining money– Control trade with other

nations– Defending the country

• THESE POWERS ARE GIVEN TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BECAUSE ALL AMERICANS BENEFIT FROM THEM

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT POWERS

• Known as “RESERVED POWERS”

• Allows states to keep their own identities

• “Any power not given to the Federal Government belongs to the States”– Trade from state to

state–Marriage Laws– Local Laws

STATE GOVERNMENT POWERS

• Also known as “concurrent powers”

• Powers that both the Federal Government and State Governments share– Power to tax– Power to

establish courts

SHARED POWERS

SUPREMACY CLAUSE

IF A STATE LAW EVER DISAGREES WITH A FEDERAL LAW OR THE CONSTITUTION, THE STATE LAW MUST GIVE WAY TO THE FEDERAL LAW. THIS IS BECAUSE IT IS “HIGHER LAW.”

What do you think it means when someone says that our

Constitution is a “living

document”?

QUESTION

“The Times Are A Changin’”

HOW DOES A 225 YEAR-OLD DOCUMENT STILL WORK TODAY?

• Our Constitution is a “living” document• This means it is

flexible and can change• An AMENDMENT

is a written change to the Constitution• Propose / Ratify

(approve)

ROOM FOR CHANGE

TWO WAYS A. Both Houses in

Congress get 2/3 vote in favor of proposing the amendment

B. 2/3 of state legislatures ask Congress to call a “national convention”

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT

TWO WAYS

A.3 / 4 of State Legislatures (38 out of 50) pass the proposed Amendment

B.3 / 4 of special State Conventions elected by the people pass the proposed Amendment

RATIFYING AN AMENDMENT