US Constitution: The Preamble

(Essay) Using complete sentences, explain three ways that the goal of securing the blessings of liberty is reflected today. How does the United States try to pass liberty on to future generations?

- the US has added a Bill of Rights to the Constitution to make sure all citizens are aware of their rights and to guarantee that those rights are protected - the Constitution is open to amendments, which means that with time more rights can be added with the changes in beliefs; this includes voting and citizenship rights - citizens in the United States have the ability to protest against injustice. When Americans believe that the government is doing something wrong, they have the ability to protest and petition against it without the fear of suppression from higher authorities.

(Essay) Using complete sentences, list four of the six principles outlined in the Preamble and give an example of each.

1. The principle of forming a more perfect union is how the country tries to maintain a strong united national government. 2. The second principle is establishing justice. An example of establishing justice includes creating federal courts and the supreme court. 3. The nation tries to insure domestic tranquility by creating peaceful environments to live in and establishing organizations like the national guard and the FBI. 4. The United States provides for the common defense by creating and maintaining a military to protect against foreign and domestic enemies. 5. The principle of promoting the general welfare is met with public services provided to the citizens of the country. These include programs like health care and education. 6. The last principle is securing the blessings of liberty, which is how the nation will guarantee the rights and freedoms for the citizens. The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution to make sure the rights of citizens are recognized and protected.

How many principles are outlined in the Preamble? 10 6 3 5

6

________ is an example of forming a more perfect union. Abolishing the national government and allowing each state to operate independently A nation with no problems Each state having more strength than the national government All the states working as a single nation

All the states working as a single nation

Which of the following events is an example of forming a more perfect union today? citizens in Arizona supporting a new immigration law people in Oklahoma uniting together after the Oklahoma bombing occurred people in New York declaring war on terrorism after the 9/11 attacks took place Americans singing patriotic songs after the 9/11 terrorist attacks took place

Americans singing patriotic songs after the 9/11 terrorist attacks took place

An introductory statement; particularly the introductory part of a constitution or statute that states the reasons for and intent of the law.

Preamble

What was the cause of Shays' Rebellion? Daniel Shays was opposed to the Articles of Confederation and led riots. Land was not available for new farmers so Daniel Shays led a rebellion against the national government. British soldiers were attacking farmers in Massachusetts so Daniel Shays led a rebellion against the king. Riots broke out after Daniel Shays requested help from the state government to keep his farm and was refused.

Riots broke out after Daniel Shays requested help from the state government to keep his farm and was refused.

What was one of the main problems with states controlling their own currency? States always had to pay the national government more money than they were able to produce. States could make their own money and assign it a specific value. Paper money would only last a few months and had to be replaced. State produced currency made interstate trade easier to control.

States could make their own money and assign it a specific value.

__________ created an ineffective government system in the United States. The Preamble The Constitution The Articles of Confederation Shays' Rebellion

The Articles of Confederation

Which of the following was NOT a reason the United States needed a stronger national government system? States maintained control over their own currency. The Articles of Confederation based the number of votes a state had in Congress on the size of its population. Western settlers needed protection from Native Americans that the United States could not provide. Shays' Rebellion proved the United States needed a national military for protection.

The Articles of Confederation based the number of votes a state had in Congress on the size of its population.

(essay) Pick one federal agency discussed in the lecture and describe what it does to promote the general welfare in the United States today.

The Food and Drug Administration tries to promote the general welfare by testing food to make sure it is safe before humans consume it.

_________ are the political leaders of the United States who helped in creating its system of government. The followers of Shays' Rebellion Congress The Supreme Court justices The Framers

The Framers

_______ is an example of providing for the common defense today. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) The Food and Drug Administration Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance FEMA

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

(Essay) Using complete sentences, summarize the purposes of the Preamble of the Constitution.

There are four main purposes of the Preamble. 1. to serve as an introduction for the Constitution. 2. The function of the Preamble is to outline the goals of a united government as originally designed by the Framers. 3. It also explains the purpose of the Constitution. 4 The Preamble also establishes that power of the government comes from the people who live in the country and not from the people who are in power.

Under the Articles of Confederation, the federal government was made up of __________. an executive, legislative, and judicial branch an executive branch a legislative branch a judicial branch

a legislative branch

Federal is defined as __________. the administration of law a union of states under one national government enthusiastic support for one's country and way of life the doctrine that citizens have power to decide how country should operate

a union of states under one national government

Money

currency

Patriotic is defined as __________. the administration of law a union of states under one national government enthusiastic support for one's country and way of life future generations

enthusiastic support for one's country and way of life

The federal government __________ is an example of establishing justice. establishing federal courts providing a national military providing freedom and rights to citizens establishing public programs for citizens

establishing federal courts

Pertaining to a union of states under a central government.

federal

Maintaining order in society is an example of __________. providing for the common defense establishing justice insuring domestic tranquility promoting the general welfare

insuring domestic tranquility

The Preamble is the __________. introduction to the Constitution conclusion of the Constitution introduction to the Articles of Confederation conclusion of the Articles of Confederation

introduction to the Constitution

The administration of law; esp the establishment or determination of rights according to the rule of law.

justice

To order by law, to enact.

ordain

Marked by enthusiastic support for one's country and way of life.

patriotic

The doctrine that citizens have the power to decide how the country should operate.

popular sovereignty

When citizens have the power to decide how a country should operate it is known as __________. domestic tranquility providing for the common defense popular sovereignty a federal government

popular sovereignty

All future generations.

posterity

The United States Constitution is a finely crafted document that was written to last, for the sake of _____________. currency preamble ordainment posterity

posterity

Encouraging trade is an example of __________. insuring domestic tranquility promoting the general welfare securing the blessings of liberty establishing justice

promoting the general welfare

Raising and collecting taxes is an example of __________. providing for the common defense establishing justice insuring domestic tranquility promoting the general welfare

promoting the general welfare

In Westside Community Schools v. Mergens, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the __________, stating that it was a violation of __________. principal . . . church and state students . . . their First Amendment rights students . . . their patriotic rights principal . . . school policy

students . . . their First Amendment rights

Which of the following is the BEST example of insuring domestic tranquility? the US government working to ensure domestic peace. the US establishing a Supreme Court the US promoting trade between itself and China the Framers adding the Bill of Rights to the Constitution

the US government working to ensure domestic peace.

Justice is defined as __________. the administration of law a union of states under one national government enthusiastic support for one's country and way of life an order by law

the administration of law

Under the Articles of Confederation, justice and law enforcement are left to __________. the nation the states the people Congress

the states

(Essay) "We the people" are the first words of the Preamble. What do these words mean and how are they reflected in the United States government system today?

to establish that the American government system is led by its citizens. Citizens have the power to decide how the country will operate. This is known as popular sovereignty, which is one of the foundations of American government. The concept of popular sovereignty is reflected in the United States today because people have the right to vote. They can elect representatives and the president. If they are unhappy with elected officials, they have the right to replace them.