Impeachment

A charge of misconduct (bad

or illegal behavior) against
someone who works for the
government
Impeachment can result in a
government official being
removed from their job
What could cause a
President to be impeached?

Declaring War
The Executive Branch
(President) can ask the
Legislative Branch for a
declaration of war
The Legislative Branch must
vote to declare war
Why do you think the
President cannot declare
war whenever he/she wants?

Treaties
A treaty is a formal,
written agreement
between two countries
Only the President can sign
treaties
Why would the U.S. want
to sign treaties with other
countries?

Veto
A veto is a rejection of a
law
The President can veto
laws
What might cause the
President to veto a law?

Judicial Review
Judges on the Supreme
Court can review laws,
treaties, and actions of the
President to decide if they
are unconstitutional
Why might the Supreme
Court choose to review a
law?

What is the Constitution?

It is the framework or
plan for our countrys
government.
The people who wrote
it became known as
framers

Why create a constitution?

The United States of America needed a
more efficient way to run the country.
efficient = maximum work, minimum wasted effort

Under the Articles of Confederation the

states had most of the power.
The Articles of Confederation gave little
power to the federal (central)
government.
This was NOT efficient! Nothing got done!

Influences on the Constitution

No other country had really done anything like this before (you know, win
a war against the most powerful country on Earth and set up their own
country with their own rules and laws), so the Americans looked for ideas
from other places on how to write the Constitution

The Magna Carta: Written document that limited the

power of the king and protected rights of people in
England.
English Bill of Rights: Gave rights to people in England.
Articles of Confederation
Declaration of Independence: All men are created
equal
Mayflower Compact: laws

Ideas From People

John Locke

Baron de Montesquieu

English philosopher
The government is based
on an agreement (or
contract) between the
people and the ruler.
Natural rights: life,
liberty and property.

French writer
Separation of Powers
Three parts or
branches of the
government should have
equal powers
Gov. would be balanced
because no one would
have too much power.

Articles of Confederation
Characteristics
Weak national
government
Strong state
government
No president
No courts
National
government couldnt
tax
Each state had one
vote in Congress.

Pros
No strong central
government, so
states got to keep
their power and
independence
Gave Congress
power to create a
military to protect
states

Cons
State
governments
didnt work
together
Money problems
because the
government
couldnt tax
people
Soldiers didnt
get paid
Businesses
failed
People began to
rebel- Shays
Rebellion