The Constitution - Part 2

Reminder: Federal system is where the central gov and state gov have certain powers.

Federal has more power than under the Articles.

Federal has power over things that has to do with the whole country - defending, printing money, Post Office, trade between states.

States have power over local issues - education

Shared powers - both collect taxes and have court systems

So who technically has more power?

Federal! (or central, or main, or national)

If a state law and federal law clash, or don't agree, the federal law must be obeyed.

So how are federal laws made?

Look on pg. 315

Bill - Congress votes - President approves = a law!

What if president vetoes?

Wait, can we really change the Constitution? Would the founding fathers want that?

Yes! They knew America would grow and change so they made it possible to add things through amendments = change to the Constitution

How? - 2/3 of Congress propose it - 3/4 of states must ratify - then it's official

Remember how people wanted a Bill of Rights? They wanted guaranteed rights where the gov couldn't take away!

States had it, so the country should! Right?

Thomas Jefferson want it "to guard the people against the federal government"

James Madison agreed! So in 1791 he wrote 10 amendments = Bill of Rights

Anyone know any of the 10?

First Amendment = freedom of speech and religion

Tenth Amendment = federal gov. only has the powers given to it by the Constitution, all other powers below to the people! (states)

Look on pg. 316 for more amendments

Guys, remember... it's 1790

There was still slavery - not everyone had rights

Some states only allowed white men who owned land or were rich to vote.

Women, African Americans, Native Americans, and poor people didn't have equal rights.

Today, thanks to amendments, different groups have more rights.

Rights have been added. Good thing the founding fathers saw this and allowed changes to be made to the Constitution!

But wait... when and how did George Washington become President? Stay tuned...