CIVICS IN PRACTICE

HOLT

Chapter 3

The U.S. Constitution

Section 1:
Section 2:
Section 3:

Ideals of the Constitution

The Three Branches of Government
An Enduring Document

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Section 1: Ideals of the Constitution

The Main Idea
The Constitution is an agreement between the citizens of the
Untied States and the government that the people will grant
powers to the government. In return, the government is to
carry out the goals of the Constitution.
Reading Focus
How did the Pilgrims influence the framers of the
Constitution?
What are the goals of the U.S. government as outlined in the
Constitution?
What are the powers the Constitution gives to the federal and
state governments?
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Section 1: Ideals of the Constitution

The pilgrims influenced the framers

of the Constitution:
November 21, 1620The Mayflower Compact
was written to create a new government of
popular sovereignty for the colonists.

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Section 1: Ideals of the Constitution

Goals of the U.S. Constitution

To form a more perfect union
Establish justice
Insure domestic tranquility
Provide for the common defense
Promote the general welfare
Secure the blessings of liberty
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Section 1: Ideals of the Constitution

The Constitution establishes federal

and state powers.
Delegated powers give the federal government

strength to protect and serve the country.

Reserved powers are kept for the states to
manage their own affairs and to balance the
power of the federal government.
Concurrent powers are held by both state and
federal governments.
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Section 1: Ideals of the Constitution

The Constitution establishes federal

and state powers. (continued)
The federal government is the supreme law of

the land that all states must defer to.

Limited government checks the powers of the
federal and state governments.
The Bill of Rights protects the powers of the
people.
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SECTION 1

Question: Why did the Constitution establish

separate powers for the state and federal
governments?

state
government

to keep each
from getting
too strong

federal
government

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Section 2: The Three Branches of Government

The Main Idea
The Constitution prevents any person, or any part of the
government, from taking too much power. It does this by
creating three separate branches of the federal government
and distributing power among them.
Reading Focus
Why does the Constitution provide for the separation of
powers?
What are the main responsibilities of each of the three
branches of government?
How does the system of checks and balances work?
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Section 2: The Three Branches of Government

The Constitution provides for the

separation of powers.
Ensures no person or branch of government is too

powerful
Distributes power among three branches of
government:
Legislative
Judicial
Executive
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Section 2: The Three Branches of Government

Responsibilities of the three

branches of government:
Legislativethe lawmaking branch
Executiveexecutes the countrys laws
Judicialinterprets laws and punishes law

breakers

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Section 2: The Three Branches of Government

The system of checks and balances:

Each branch has powers no other branch can

assume.
Each branch has powers that limit the powers
of the other branches.

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SECTION 2

Question: Why does the Constitution provide

for the separation of powers?
Executive

to ensure that no one branch of the U.S.

government becomes too powerful

Legislative
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Judicial
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Section 3: An Enduring Document

The Main Idea
The Constitution is an enduring document that has met
the needs of a changing country for more than 200
years.
Reading Focus
How did the framers envision change when writing
the Constitution?
What are two ways in which the Constitution may be
changed?
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Section 3: An Enduring Document

The Constitution is a living document.

It was designed to adapt to a growing, changing nation.
There are three ways the Constitution can be adapted to

changing needs:
Amendmenta written change to the Constitution
Interpretationwhen the Constitution is interpreted in a new

way
Customtraditions often referred of as the unwritten
Constitution
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Section 3: An Enduring Document

The flexible Constitution benefits

the United States.
The government adapts to the changing

conditions and needs of the country.

The people can repeal constitutional
amendments if necessary.
Minimum wage laws are an example of
flexible interpretation of the Constitution.
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Section 3: An Enduring Document

Amendments to the Constitution

Proposal by two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress, or

by two thirds of state legislatures calling for a national

convention to propose the amendment
The proposal must be ratified by three fourths of the states.
Proposals may be sent to the state legislatures or to state
conventions for ratification.
Approved amendments may be repealed by new
amendments.
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SECTION 3

Question: Why is the Constitution called a

living document?
Why the Constitution
Is Called a Living
Document
because its provisions
enable government to
change to meet changing
conditions

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Chapter 3 Wrap-Up
Whatarethesixgoalsofgovernmentasstated
inthePreambleoftheU.S.Constitution?
Whatarethethreebranchesofthefederal
government,andwhataretheirprimary
responsibilities?
Howdoesthesystemofchecksandbalancesin
thefederalgovernmentwork?
WhatmakestheConstitutionoftheUnited
Statesalivingdocument?
HowcantheConstitutionbeamended?
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