The story of

the U.S.
Constitution

Liberty Tree

Liberty Tree
U.S. Constitution
Continental
Articles of
Congress
Confederation
Town Hall
House of
Meetings
Burgesses
Fundamental
Orders of
Connecticut
Magna Carta

Mayflower
Compact
English Bill of
Rights

Structure
and
Function

At the
Constitutional
Convention, the
delegates created
a new plan for
the U.S.
government that
focused on two
things.

Structure
Structure is the framework of
our government.

What do you notice about

the structure of a tree?
limbs

branches

leaves
tree bark

root system

The government structure has

three
three branches.

Legislative

Executive

Judicial

Legislative
Branch:
Structure
Senate
Bicameral = made
of2
two
perhouses
state
6-year terms
House of Representatives
based on population
2-year terms
Elected by the people

Executive
Branch:
Structure
Structure
President (4-year term)
Vice-President
Cabinet Members
Appointees

Executive Branch:Structure
Structure
ViceVice
President

Joe Biden

President

Barack Obama

Secretary of
State

John Kerry

Judicial
Branch:
Structure

U. S. Supreme Court
(life-terms)
District Courts
(appointed)
County and Local Courts
(elected)

function of a tree?
What is the function
home
for
some
animals

provides
shade

holds soil in place

The preamble to the Constitution

tells the function or WHAT the
government does for the people.

ensure
domestic
tranquility

promote the
general welfare

provide for the

common defense

establish
justice

secure the blessings of liberty

ourselves, and our

to

posterity

Legislative Branch:
Function
Makes laws
Idea
People
Bill
becomes
may
discuss
become
a ideas
law aif and
bill
tell (proposed
approved
representatives
by both
law) houses
in
Congress
and
signed
in
House
ofby the
President
Representatives
or
Senate
Elected by the people

U.S. Congress

Executive Branch:
Function
Ensures that the
laws are carried
out
Elected by the
people and
electoral college
system

The White House

Judicial Branch:
Function
Interprets the laws (decides if laws are fair)
Tries civil and criminal cases in lower courts
Nine justices on U.S.
Supreme Court
Appointed by President
and approved by Congress
Supreme Court

Each branch checks and

balances the other branches.

Congress

President

Supreme
Court

Checks and Balances

Judicial branch can declare
Legislative branch can
a law unconstitutional
Legislative
branch
makes
laws
Legislative
branch
can
remove
override
presidential
veto
Executive branch can veto law
judges
office
withfrom
a 2/3
vote

Executive branch appoints

Supreme Court justices
Legislative branch has to approve
the appointment of the justices

Legislative branch
can remove president
from office
House of Representatives
brings charges against the
President (impeach)
Senate holds a trial and
2/3 vote needed to
remove President from
office

The structure
and function of
our government
are based on
seven basic
principles.

Seven Basic Principles of

the Constitution
Federalism
Republicanism
Individual rights
Checks and balances
Popular sovereignty
Separation of powers
Limited powers of government

Since King George III

had unlimited power, the
writers of the U.S.
Constitution wanted we
the people to put limits
on the government.
The Constitution outlined
exactly what the
government could do.

Separation of powers
divides the operation
of government into
three equal branches.

Popular means people..

Sovereignty comes
from sovereign which
means ruler.
Popular
sovereignty
In other
words =
people choose

Popular sovereignty is
the belief that the
people hold the final
authority in
government.

Each branch of
the government
checks and
balances, or
monitors, the
power of the
other two
branches.

Individual rights are the basic

liberties and rights that are
guaranteed in the first 10
amendments to the Constitution,
the Bill of
Rights.
These
Examples
individual rights have been
Freedom of speech
Freedom of press
extended through subsequent
Freedom
of religion to the
Right
to a trial by
amendments
Constitution.
jury

Republicanism is a philosophy of
limited government in which
elected representatives serve at
the will of the people.
Examples
State legislatures

Congress

Federalism is the division and

sharing of powers between the
state and national government.
State
Powers
National
Powers
forarmed
education
provide
forces
maintain
elections
conduct
coin money
provide
war safety
declarepublic
regulate
trade in
policy
make foreign
state

Powers Shared by National and

State Governments
raise taxes
administer criminal justice
provide for public welfare
charter banks
borrow money

The U.S. Constitution

has seven articles that
explain the structure
and function of the
government.

Article 1: Legislative Branch

Article 2: Executive Branch
Article 3: Judicial Branch
Article 4: Relations Among States
Article 5: Amending the Constitution
Article 6: National Supremacy
Article 7: Ratification

Rooted in these
seven principles,
the U.S.
Constitution has
endured since
1787.
This living document protects the
rights of the individuals by limiting the
power of the government.

Visual Metaphor:
How is the U.S. government like a tricycle?
Handle bars = Constitution

Platform = Separation of powers

Label the parts of the tricycle

with these other words.
The People

President

Executive Branch

Congress

Legislative Branch

Supreme Court

Judicial Branch

Checks and Balances

The foundation of our

government and the supreme law
of the land