The CONSTITUTION

THE PREAMBLE (SECT.1)

• PREAMBLE: introduction to the Constitution.
• Was written by Gouverneur Morris, begins "We the People".
• It lists 6 goals for the United States government.

6 GOALS OF THE PREAMBLE (SECT.1)

• To form a more perfect union
• To establish justice
• To insure domestic tranquility
• To provide for the common defense
• To promote the general welfare
• To secure the blessings of liberty.

TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION

• To create a nation where states work together.
• States needed to agree to operate a single country and cooperate on major issues.

TO ESTABLISH JUSTICE

• To make laws and set up courts that are fair and equal to all.
• To protect the people's rights.

TO INSURE DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY

• To keep peace among all people of all nations.

TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON DEFENSE

• To protect the country from attacks.
• The power to maintain armed forces to protect the country and its citizens from attacks.

TO PROMOTE THE GERNAL WELFARE

• To promote the well-being of the people by maintaining order, protecting individual liberties, regulating commerce and bankruptcies, and promoting science and technology by granting patents.

TO SECURE THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY

• The Constitution guarantees that no American's basic rights will be taken away now or for posterity.

10 AMENDMENTS SUMMARIZED (SECT.1)

• Guarantees freedom of religion, speech, assembly, and press, and the right of people to petition the government.
• Protects the rights of states to maintain a militia and of citizens to bear arms.
• Restricts quartering of the troops in private homes.
• Protects against "unreasonable searches and seizures".

10 AMENDMENTS SUMMARIZED 2 (SECT.1)

• Assures the right not to be deprived of "life, liberty, or property, without due process of law".
• Guarantees the right to a speedy and public trail by an impartial jury.
• Assures the right to a jury trail in cases involving the common law.

10 AMENDMENTS SUMMARIZED 3 (SECT.1)

• Protects against excessive bail, or cruel and unusual punishment.
• Provides that people's rights are not restricted to those specified in the first eight amendments.
• Restates the Constitution's principle of federalism by providing that powers not granted to the national government nor prohibited to the states are reserved to the states and to the people.

3 BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT

• The Legislative Branch
• The Executive Branch
• The Judicial

THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

THE JUDICIAL BRANCH

• The Supreme Court and a number of lesser courts make up the judicial branch.