1. Legislative power 2. Executive power 3. Judicial power 4. States' powers and limits 5. Amendments 6. Federal power 7. Ratification
4
Legislative Power
8
Amendments
• Article Five sets out the different ways in which Amendments can be made.
• Any new amendment may be approved by twothirds of both houses of Congress, then sent to the states for approval. To be adopted it must be approval by three-quarters of the states.
• Article One describes the Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government. This has two co-equal houses:
– the House of Representatives to represent the people, and
judgments and orders can be reviewed by the Supreme Court. • Article Three also creates the right to trial by jury in all criminal cases and defines the crime of treason.
• It is a living document whose interpretation has changed over time.
• When necessary, US citizens are able to make amendments to the constitution.
2
Bill of Rights
out in the Twelfth Amendment.
6
Judicial Power
• Article Three describes the court system (the judicial branch.
•The article establishes the Supreme Court. • Congress can create lower courts, whose
• No amendment may deprive a state of equal representation in the Senate, without that state's consent.
9
Federal Power
• Article Six establishes the Constitution, and the laws and treaties of the United States made according to it, to be the supreme law of the land,.
– the Senate to represent the States.
• This is known as Representative Democracy.
5
Executive Power
• Article two creates the presidency. • Executive power is vested in a President. • The presidential term is fixed at four years. • A President can only serve for two terms. • The method of electing the President is set
• Both require jury trials, include a right to keep and bear arms, and forbid "cruel and unusual punishments.“
3
Seven Articles
• The seven articles of the constitution cover the following areas:
7
States' Powers & Limitations
• Article Four describes the relationship between the states and the federal government and between the states themselves.
• State governments cannot discriminate against citizens of other states in favour of their own citizens.
• It also lays down a legal basis for freedom of movement and travel between the different states.
• The Bill of Rights consists of the ten amendments added to the Constitution in 1791.
• The English Bill of Rights (1689) was an inspiration for the American Bill of Rights.
US Political System
1
The Basis
• The government of the United States is based on a written constitution, which is the shortest in the world.
• From this document, the entire federal government was created.