Just a Little Bit of Government

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Just a little bit of government


Chapter 1 Introduction The Constitution is an important document because it is the highest law of our land and we still use it to this day. American freedoms are guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.


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The preamble (beginning) of the Constitution is very famous. It goes like this:

"We the people of United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."


Chapter 2 federalism


Federalism is the United States system of government that divides the amount of power that local government, national government and state government has. National government has granted powers state government has reserved powers and there is concurrent powers with is for both national and state government. The constitution keeps the amount of power between national and state government.


Chapter 3 Separation of Powers


The reason we have separation of power is so one of the three branches don't over power the other branches. These are the three branches of government the legislative branch makes the laws the executive branch in forces the laws and is commander in chief of the military the judicial branch are in charge of the courts. All three branches have to work together to make our government work.


Chapter 4 Checks and balances


Checks and balances is not like the checks your parents write to pay for stuff. A check in government is like a law that the government has to follow for example congress can write a check to impeach the president to impeach means to take out of office. Checks and balances also keep the three branches of government from over powering one another.


Chapter 5 legislative branch


The legislative branch makes up the laws and can tax the people. The legislative branch can also declare war against a country. The legislative branch is made up of the House of Representatives and the senate. The house of representatives is 435 elected members that are divided equally through out the 50 states. Members if the House of Representatives are elected every to years and they have to be 25 years old to become a member.


Chapter 6 Executive branch


The Executive branch is the president. They have to qualify for presidency. They have to be 35 years of age. Commander and chief of our military. Can sign a bill into law, can also veto bills. The presidents veto can be overturned by 2/3 vote by the senate and House of Representatives


Chapter 7 judicial branch


The judicial branch is made up of judges. Also is made up of all courts and the highest court is the Supreme Court. Once appointed you're there in till death or retirement.


Chapter 8 Bill Of Rights


The Bill of Rights was written in 1791 and a formal list of citizens rights and freedoms. The Bill of Rights is the most debated and discussed topic section of the U.S Constitution. The first amendment is freedom of speech which means you can say what you want. The second amendment is you have the right to bare arms which means you have the right to own a gun. The third is the quartering amendment, you don't have to allow anyone into your home. The fourth is search and seizure the police can't come in to your house without a search warrant and take your property. The fifth is due proces, you don't have to take the witness stand against yourself. The sixth amendment is you have the right for speedy public trial if your accused for a crime and the right to have a lawyer. Seventh amendment is you have the right to a jury trial. The eighth amendment is


Chapter 9

The amendments


The thirteenth amendment- banding slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States. It was the reason the civil war happened the north fought against slavery and the south fought with slavery. The fourteenth amendment passed in 1868, made all people born or naturalized in the untied states including former slaves. Republicans were not satisfied with the passing laws that ensured equal rights. The fifteenth amendment citizens could not be stopped from voting on account of race, color or pervious condition of serivitude.


The sixteenth amendment gave the congress the power to create income taxes. The next amendment is the seventeenth it provided for the direct election of the U.S. Senator. the nineteenth amendment gave women the right to voting rights. The twenty-sixth amendment lowered the voting right from 21 to 18


Chapter 10 Student rights


Everyone had rights like you have the right to privacy. Let's say your teacher wants to go through your locker they can't without your permission but the principle can because it's school property and they can go through your backpack without permission if they have a good reason. You can also say what you want out of school on your device at home but if you did it on a school laptop or iPad, then they might give you a punishment.


You have freedom of speech. Let's say you get accused for bringing drugs to school you have the right to pled your case and if they want to do a strip search you can ask for a parent or guardian to come in and be there with you. Another example of freedom of speech is clothing like an offensive T-shirt if it was something about religion they can make you change your shirt inside out. Just because you have rights doesn't mean you don't have rules.


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