Week 5

The United States Constitution, the

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Week 5

The United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the First Amendment

Bill of Rights and the First

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Week 5

The United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the First Amendment
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Amendment
Week 5
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The United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the First Amendment
The US Constitution- History
 James Madison
Founding Father
• “The Father of the Constitution”

• Main writer of the Constitution

• Writer of the Federalist Papers

(helped get it accepted)

• Fourth President of the U.S

Constitutional Convention

• May 25th – September

• 17th, 1787

• The Founding Fathers

met in Philadelphia.

• The Constitution was

written in 1787.
 Federalists
Anti-Federalists
• Supported the • Against the
Constitution Constitution
• Wanted a weaker
central government
• Wanted a strong central
government ( power for states)

9 of 13 states needed to
ratify (officially
approve) the
Constitution
 Federalist Papers

A series of articles written

to:
• defend the
Constitution.
• support the passage
of the Constitution.
• help people
understand the
Constitution.
 Federalist Papers
The 3 writers of the Federalist papers:

Alexander James John

Hamilton Madison Jay
The US Constitution- Parts
 What is the US Constitution?
• The supreme law of the land.

• Sets up the government

• Forms the government

• Defines the powers and parts of the government

• Protects Americans’ rights

 We the People
The Constitution starts with
these 3 words.

What do these words mean?

• Self-government
• Popular Sovereignty
 What are the basic principles of the
Constitution?
• Popular Sovereignty
– Government power resides in
the people

Separation of Powers or Checks

and Balances
– Helps prevent one branch from
becoming too powerful

• Limited government
– Government power is restricted.

• Federalism
– Division of power between federal
and state government
 Federalism
(the division of power between federal and state governments)

Federal Powers State Powers

• To print money
• To declare war
• To create an army
• To make treaties
• Schooling and education
• Protection (police)
• Safety (fire department)
• Driver’s licenses
 What is an Amendment?

• A change or addition to the Constitution

• There are 27 amendments in the Constitution.
• The first 10 amendments are called the Bill of
Rights.
 Amendments Guaranteeing
Voting Rights
• 15th Amendment
– guaranteed the right to vote to African American
men (1870)
• 17th Amendment
– gave voters power to elect
their senators (1913)
• 19th Amendment
– granted suffrage to women
(1920)
 Other Amendments about Voting
• 23rd Amendment
– gave citizens of Washington, D.C.,
the right to vote for president and
vice president (1961)

• 24th Amendment
– forbade poll taxes (1964)

• 26th Amendment
– lowered the voting age to 18
(1971)
What are the 4 amendments to
the Constitution about
Americans’ voting rights?
• Male citizens of any race can vote.
(1870)
• Any citizen can vote. (1920)
• People don’t have to pay to vote.
(1964)
• Citizens 18 and older can vote.
(1971)
The Bill of Rights and
the First Amendment
 The Bill of Rights

• It became part of the

Constitution in 1791.

• It protects personal
freedoms of all people
living in the U.S.
 The Bill of Rights

1. Freedom of religion, of 6. Right to a fair and speedy public

speech, of the press, to trial, Notice of accusations,
Confronting one's accuser,
assemble, and to petition Subpoenas, Right to counsel
the government 7. Right to trial by jury in civil cases
2. Right to bear arms 8. No excessive bail & fines or cruel
3. No quartering of soldiers & unusual punishment.
4. No unreasonable search 9. There are other rights not written
in the Constitution.
and seizure
10. All rights not given to Federal
5. Indictments; Due process; Government belong to states and
Self-incrimination; Double people.
jeopardy, and rules for
Eminent Domain.