The Constitution

• The Preamble is the opening statement of the Constitution. It explains how the American people have established the Constitution to achieve certain goals. There are 6 goals.
• The official motto of the United States, "e pluribus unum," meaning "out of many, one," in Latin.
• 6 Goals of the Constitution:

  
  

  Form a more perfect union,

  Establish justice,

  Ensure domestic tranquility,

  Provide for the common defense,

  Promote the general welfare,

  Secure the blessings of liberty.
• There are 7 articles in the Constitution.
• An amendment is a change to the Constitution. There are 27 amendments included in the Constitution.
• The first 10 amendments are called the Bill of Rights. It guarantees that the government may not take away the individual rights of the people.
• 2nd Amendment: The right to keep and bear arms.
• 3rd Amendment: Government may not force citizens to shelter soldiers in their homes.
• 4th Amendment: Citizens are protected from unreasonable searches of their property.
• 5th Amendment: Citizens may not be forced to testify against themselves in court.
• 6th Amendment: Citizens have the right to a fair and speedy trial.
• 7th Amendment: Citizens have a right to a trial by jury.
• 8th Amendment: Citizens are protected from cruel and unusual punishment. Bail and fines bust also not be excessive.
• 9th Amendment: Citizens may have other rights that are not listed in the Constitution.
• 10th Amendment: Powers not given to the Federal government by the Constitution belong to the state or the people.
• The Civil War Amendments were passed to protect the rights of former slaves.
• 14th Amendment: guaranteed citizenship and constitutional rights to African-Americans.
• 15th Amendment: granted African-Americans the right to vote.
• 19th Amendment: gave women the right to vote in 1920.
• 26th Amendment: set 18 as the minimum voting age in 1971.
• The Constitution does not describe in detail the powers of the President.
• Some Presidents have taken actions or made decisions that set a precedent or example for later presidents to follow.
• George Washington assumed the power on his own to appoint a Cabinet, or group of close advisers. These cabinet members are called Secretaries. Every President since has followed his lead.
• 1st Amendment: Freedom of religion, assembly, press, petition, and speech.
• The first 3 articles of the Constitution describe the 3 branches of government:

  
  

  Legislative: Includes the House of Representatives and the Senate (Congress).
• The first 3 articles of the Constitution describe the 3 branches of government:

  
  

  Executive: Includes the President, Vice President, and Cabinet.
• The first 3 articles of the Constitution describe the 3 branches of government:

  
  

  Judicial: Includes the Supreme Court and Federal Judges.
• 13th Amendment: abolished slavery in 1865
• The first 3 articles in the Constitution describe the 3 branches of government:

  
  

  Judicial: Makes sure laws are carried out fairly
• The first 3 articles in the Constitution describe the 3 branches of government:

  
  

  Executive: Enforces the Laws and carries them out.
• The first 3 articles in the Constitution describe the 3 branches of government:

  
  

  Legislative: Makes or passes the laws
• Amendments 13~15 are called the Civil War Amendments.
• There are 27 amendments in the Constitution.
• 5th Amendment: Right to remain silent
• [The second goal the Preamble lists is "Establish justice."]

  
  

  Justice requires that the law be applied fairly to every American, regardless of that person's race, religion, gender, country of origin, political beliefs, or financial situation.
• [The third goal of the Preamble is "Ensure domestic tranquility."]

  
  

  The uprising of Shays' Rebellion made it clear that the national government must have the power to ensure domestic tranquility, or peace at home.

  
  

  The Constitution gives the national government certain powers that allow it to keep the peace.
• [The fourth goal of the Preamble is "Provide for the common defense."]

  
  

  The framers of the Constitution realized that armed forces are vital for a nation's survival.

  
  

  The Constitution gives Congress the power to "raise and support armies" and to "provide and maintain a navy."
• [The fifth amendment of the Preamble is "Promote the general welfare."]

  
  

  The Constitution gives the national government the means to promote the general welfare, or wellbeing of all the people.

  
  

  Examples: safety in the workplace, Social Security, supporting education, and scientific research and development to improve the quality of life.
• [The sixth and final goal of the Preamble is to "Secure the blessings of liberty."]

  
  

  Liberty is the freedom to live as you please, as long as you obey the laws and respect the rights of others.

  
  

  The Bill of Rights lists basic rights and freedoms that the government may NOT take away.

  
  

  The right to vote is another safeguard of liberty. The people select the leaders that make the laws and can remove from office those leaders who abuse their power.
• [The first goal of the Preamble is "Form a more perfect union."]

  
  

  One of the main goals of the framers of the Constitution was to get the states to work together as part of a single, united nation.