Chapter 8 Notes

Here is section 1 and section 2 notes. I will be checking your notebook on Thursday to make sure they are in there.....10 points.

Government, Citizenship, and the Constitution
Chapter 8
Goals and Principles of the Constitution
&
How the Federal Government Works

Sections 1 & 2
Goals and Principles of the Constitution
• Preamble: opening statement
– 6 goals
1)Form a More Perfect Union
2) Establish Justice
3) Insure Domestic Tranquility
4) Provide For Common Defense
5) Promote General Welfare
6) Secure Blessings of Liberty

• Articles & Amendments
– Articles establish a framework for government
• 1-3- describe branches of government
• 4- relations between the states
• 5- process of amending the Constitution
• 6- states may not make laws that violate the Constitution
• 7- process for states to ratify the Constitution

• Amendments
– 7 basic principles
Popular Sovereignty- people have the right to change or abolish the government
Limited Government
Separation of Powers
Checks and Balances
Federalism- division of power between federal government and states
Republicanism- citizens elect representatives
Individual Rights

How the Federal Government Works
• Legislative Branch-
– 2 Bodies
• House of Representatives
– 435 members- based on state population
– 2 year terms
– Entire House up for reelection every other year
– Speaker of the House- leader of House of Representatives, 3rd in line to Presidency

• Senate
– 100 members- 2 per state
– 6 year terms
– 1/3 of senate up for reelection every 2 years
– Originally appointed by state legislature
– 7th Amendment changed that and people elected Senators
– Vice President rules over Senate, breaks tie votes

• Powers of Congress
– Make’s laws for the Nation
– Elastic Clause- “Congress can make laws which shall be necessary and proper”
• This clause allows congress to stretch its power to deal with a changing nation
• What is necessary and proper?
– Committees
• 10,000 bills a year. Not all could be heard by every Legislator. They break them down by topic. Agriculture, Banking, Business, Defense, Education, Science, and Transportation

• Executive Branch
– Most misunderstood position in our government
– Role of President
• Represents the nation around the world
• Sign bills into law
• Commander and Chief of Military
– Only Senate can declare war
• Welcome foreign leaders
• Make speeches on holidays and give out medals to heroes
• Electing a President
– Every 4 years
– 2 terms allowed
– People vote for Electors that cast their vote for them
– Can become President but lose the popular vote (2000 election)

• Judicial Branch
– 2 court systems
• State
– Trial Court -> Appellate Court-> State Supreme Court -> Federal Supreme Court
• Federal
– District Court -> Court of Appeals -> Federal Supreme Court
– Supreme Court
• Highest court
• 9 Supreme Court Justices
• Appointment for life
• Reviews lower court decisions
• Decide cases involving the Constitution

• Checks and Balances
– 3 branches of government limit powers of each other
– President checks Legislature by vetoing bills
– Senate checks President through impeachment and “power of the purse”
– Judicial checks both through declaring laws unconstitutional