1. The Constitution
7 ARTICLES
Lazy: Legislative
Elephants: Executive
Jump: Judicial
Slowly: States
And: Amending
Sleep: Supremacy Clause
Regularly: Ratification

2. Active Note-taking
RED: STOP and pay close attention.
Anything in RED is critical information.
Copy the exact information.
YELLOW: Pay attention. Anything in
YELLOW is useful information.
Paraphrase in YOUR OWN WORDS.
GREEN: Read and GO on to the next point.
You do not have to write anything in green.

3. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/com mons/thumb/e/e4/Charles_Montesquieu.jpg/200px-Charles_Montesquieu.jpg
CHECKS & BALANCES
We must LIMIT
the powers of
the government.
Government
works for the
people.
eu
Mon tesqui her
losop
Fren ch Phi
• Separate power
• Balance the different
branches (parts) of that
government
• Checks on power = limits
on power

5. Legislative branch
Article 1, Section 1: …which shall consist of a Senate and House of
Representatives.
The US has a bicameral legislature
Bicameral = 2 houses/chambers
CONGRESS:
House of Representatives
Senate

6. Salary House of
Senate $141, 300
Representatives
6 Years 2 Years
Term
30 Years Old 25 Years Old
Age Minimum
Live anywhere in state Live in district
Residency
Requirement
9 year US citizen 7 year US citizen
Citizenship
Requirement
100 Total # 435
2 per state PROPORTIONAL– based on
EQUAL population
2 From NJ 11
New Jersey (NJ) Plan: favors small More Like: Virginia (VA) Plan – favors big states
states 650,000 people in each congressional
district

7. Legislative Branch
Primary Job = Make Laws
Article 1, Section 7: Law Making Process
HABBAL: How a Bill Becomes a Law

9. Congressional Officers V ISIT
FACT FI ND & ps &
TH E H
Re
o u se of i te to House of Representatives
e bs
Sen ate’s w u r re nt
the c
re c o rd c e rs SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
of f i 2nd in line of presidential succession
Salary $181,400
f the H o use
Sp e a ke r o
SeNaTe
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
1st in line of presidential succession
salary $181,400 po re
e n ate nt Pro Te m
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE of t h e S e
P re s ide
nt
e n (D) P re s id
3rd in line of presidential succession J o e Bid
Salary $156,900

10. Leadership of the Senate
Article 1, Section 3, Clause 4: The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall
have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.
The Vice President has another job!
He “leads” the Senate as…
The President of the Senate
• only votes to break ties
• acts as a “presence” to remind the Senate
of the President’s wishes and power
Article 1, Section 3, Clause 5: The Senate shall choose their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the Absence of the
Vice President, or when he shall exercise the Office of the President of the United States.
president pro tempore (for the time being)
• formally takes charge in the absence of VP

11.
QUESTION
:
What
shou
ld
Imagine...
happen
ne
xt?
…you’re at the movies and
someone yells, “FIRE!” There
is a rush to leave the theater
and several people get hurt.
Several witnesses identify
you. You are arrested and
taken to jail
For this activity, let’s assume you are not guilty.

12. POWERS DENIED TO CONGRESS
Congress CANNOT:
suspend a writ of habeas corpus
A Writ of habeas corpus means “you may
have the body.” It is a legal mandate
stating your right to be brought before a
court. This protects against unlawful
imprisonment.
pass ex post facto laws (“after the
fact”)
Ex post facto laws change the legal consequences
of actions committed before enactment of the law.
Ex post facto laws could criminalize an action that
was legal when committed.

13. Legislative Language!
How does the US determine how many representatives each
state gets?
Census: population count taken every 10 years since
1790 Last Census:_______
Next Census:_______
Enumerated Powers (18): listed powers delegated (assigned)
to Legislative Branch (i.e., declare war, impose taxes, “power of
the purse”)
Quorum: minimum amount of members needed to be present in
order to conduct business
Elastic Clause: ability to make laws that are necessary and
proper for carrying out its powers

14. EXECUTIVE Benefits
PRESIDENT BRANCH
POTUS ENFORCES
THE LAW
4 years HUGE WHITE HOUSE
2 term limit Term
22nd Amendment Benefits
35 Years Old Salary of $400,000 per year
Age Minimum (taxable)
Live anywhere in US for 14 Expense Account of $50,000 per
years Residency year (taxable)
Requirement
Natural born citizen A personal airplane
Citizenship AIR FORCE ONE
Requirement
Electoral College Elected by A place in the country: Camp David
“Winner Takes All”
Barack Obama Current A fine chef
Joe Biden VPOTUS
Cabinet Advisors Succession (25th amendment):
VP>Speaker of the House>Pro

15. EXECUTIVE Benefits
PRESIDENT BRANCH
ENFORCES
THE LAW
4 years HUGE WHITE HOUSE
2 term limit 22nd Term
Amendment Benefits
35 Years Old Salary of $400,00 per year
Age Minimum (taxable)
Live anywhere in US for 14 Expense Account pof $50,000 per
years Residency year (taxable)
Requirement
Natural born citizen A personal airplane
Citizenship AIR FORCE ONE
Requirement
Electoral College Elected by A place in the country: Camp David
“Winner Takes All”
Barack Obama Current A fine chef
Cabinet Advisors Succession (25th amendment):
VP>Speaker of the House>Pro
Tempore>Cabinet

16. RESPOND IN MARGIN NEAR PRES SLIDE
• Define natural born citizen.
• Who was the only president elected to 4
terms?
• Why are there limits on presidential terms?

18. How do you WIN…
the WORLD
SERIES?

21. Judicial Branch
Interprets Laws – determines if laws are constitutional or unconstitutional
Nominated by the President
QUALIFICATIONS FOR SUPREME CT
• NONE…but…Senate must confirm the
presidential nomination.
TERM OF OFFICE
• LIFE…but…can be impeached (to
bring formal charges against)
Only crime mentioned in Constitution…
Treason: levying war, or in adhering to their
enemies, giving them aid or comfort. This
offense is punished with death. No
person shall be convicted of treason,
unless on the testimony of two
witnesses to the same overt act, or on
confession in open court.

22. SCOTUS
Alito
Sotomayor Breyer
Kagan
Chief Justice
Roberts
Thomas Kennedy
Salary $175, 400
Scalia
Ginsberg
Salary: $167, 900

24. The Three Branches and
Levels of Government
Legislative Executive Judicial
(Makes Laws) (Enforces Laws) (Interprets Laws)
Congress President Supreme Court (9)
House of Representatives Vice-President/Cabinet 1 Chief Justice
Federal (435)
Senate (100)
Commander-in-Chief of
armed forces.
8 Associate Justices
District Courts (13)
Legislature Governor: Supreme Court (7)
General Assembly (80) Christie 1 Chief Justice
State Senate (40) Cabinet (22) 6 Associate Justices
New Jersey
Local Town Council Mayor: Randy Municipal Court
Debbie Hackman, John Brown
Evesham McKenna, Kurt Croft Municipal Court Judge
Deputy Mayor: Joe
Township Howarth

25. or
Se n ato r Go ve r n
ez ie
Me n e n d C h r ist
r
S e n ato e rg
b
L a u te n
or
m May l
Eve s h a C o u n c i
n
& To w

26. Who’S GoT THe PoWeR?

27. Checks and Balances

28. Article IV
States
Citizens are entitled to all
the privileges in each
state (I.e., driving,
marriage, etc)
Extradition: cannot escape
punishment by fleeing to
another state; must be
returned to the 1st state
to stand trial

29. List 2 privileges that citizens hold in
this state.
1.
2.

30. Article V
Amending the Constitution
The Constitution is a “living,
breathing, document” that can be
amended = flexible to meet the
needs of our ever-changing
society
Amendment:
addition to, deletion from or
change

31. What is the literal meaning of the figurative phrase
“living, breathing document?”
We live in an ever changing society. In what ways has
our society changed since 1787?

32. Article VI
Supremacy clause
• The Constitution is the “Supreme Law of
the Land”
Article VII Ratification
• 9 out of 13 states needed to ratify
(confirm)

33. The Constitution guarantees freedom of religion.
Wisconsin outlaws religion.
Explain why Wisconsin cannot outlaw
religion.

34. BAIL
Arraignment:
court appearance where
defendant is formally
charged & enter a PLEA

35. Sentencing
Trial

36. Ask to Speak
with your
attorney
Interrogation

37. Plea
Preliminary
Hearing:
determine if there is
enough evidence to
proceed to trial