The Constitution is the document that the United States is governed by. (A list of all the laws)

• Americans felt they deserved all the rights of Englishmen. • The British felt the colonies were

created to be used in the way that best suited the king and parliament.

• Colonies wanted representation in Parliament before being taxed “No taxation without representation.”

• The American Revolution began in 1775 between 13 colonies and Great Britain.

• Government “by the people” is called Democracy

Declaration of Independence• Thomas Jefferson wrote the first

draft

Declaration of Independence• Unalienable rights are "life,

liberty, and pursuit of happiness"

• George Washington was the first official president of the United States

• Articles of Confederation were the first national constitution.

• Articles of Confederation were too weak. Congress could not force states to obey the central government's policies.

• Virginia Plan- both houses of Congress based on population.

•New Jersey Plan- called for all states to have equal representation in Congress.

• Great Compromise- two houses of Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives. –Senate = two senators from each

state. –House= each state’s representatives

based off population.

Amendment

•A change to the Constitution

27• Total amount of amendments

Bill of Rights

• First 10 amendments to Constitution

• 1st amendment- Freedom of speech, press, religion, petition, assemble• 15th amendment-gave Black males

the right to vote• 19th amendment-gave women the

right to vote• 26th amendment-gave 18 year olds

the right to vote

Preamble

• Introduction to the constitution

Articles• Seven original sections of

Constitution that discuss rules and procedures

Article #2

• About the executive branch

Article #3• About legislative branch of

government

Legislative Branch

• Makes the laws• Includes Senate and House of

Representatives

Bicameral

• Means “2 houses” and refers to the House of Representatives and the Senate

Congress• Means the House of Representatives

plus the Senate• Can declare war

435

• Total amount of people in the House of Representatives

100

• Total amount of Senators–2 senators per state

2 Years

• Term of office of a U.S. Representative

6 years

• Length of a U.S. Senator’s term in office

Judicial Branch• Branch of the central government

that decides if a law is constitutional

Judicial Review• Allows the federal court system to

rule on both the constitutionality and meaning of a federal law.

Marbury vs. Madison

• Court Case that established judicial review

Supreme Court

• Has 9 judges• Serve for life• Appointed by President• Decides if laws follow the

Constitution or not.

Chief Justice

• Leader of Supreme Court–Now it is John Roberts

Executive Branch• Enforces the laws• White House/The President

Requirements of President

• 35 years of age, a resident "within the United States" for 14 years, and a "natural born Citizen."

President’s Term

• 4 years per term–May serve a maximum of 10

years–May serve a total of 2 terms

Treaties• Made by the President