version: 6

(including how they are elected/appointed to office, their job responsibilities under the Constitution, and how they work together through separation of powers and checks and balances)

1 Introduction slide (optional)
Figure out a transition - contact previous

2 Slide Rhetorical situation - us constitution
After the U.S. won independence from britain, the people were afraid of a strong central government. This fear was reflected in the U.S. Articles of Confederation, the initial framework of the nation which gave most power to the states.
The Articles of Confederation had many shortfalls. The national government was too weak to adequately lead a nation, there was infighting between the states, and general national instability.
55 Delegates set out to amend the articles, but ultimately decided to draft a new document: the U.S. Constitution. This was initially seen as treason, so the 55 delegates did this in a closed, hot building in secrecy amid lots of arguing and compromise.

3-8 Slide(s) about the sections of the constitution
There are 7 articles in the U.S. Constitution. The first three articles establish the three branches of the American government.
These are
Article 1: which establishes the legislative branch (lawmaking through congress),
Article 2: which establishes the executive branch (the presidency),
and Article 3: which establishes the judicial branch, (the supreme court).

9 Slide about Article 1
Article 1 of the constitution establishes the Legislative branch, or Congress
It contains 10 sections, which overview the two houses of congress, their responsibilities, powers, and limits, and how the national government and the states interact.

10 Slide about congress members and congress as a whole
Section 1 of Article I States that “All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives”
This establishes Bicameral legislation, meaning we have an upper house, the Senate, and a lower house, the House of Representatives.

The Senators and Representatives of these houses have many responsibilities, including:

Representation - This is a democratic republic, the people do not directly vote on all issues, but instead elect leaders to represent them in the national congress. These leaders advocate for their people in congress.

Lawmaking - they work with other reps and senators, solving national problems and proposing, debating, amending, and voting on legislation.

Community outreach - they work directly take care of issues in their districts or states, and meet with their voters to maintain a connection and understanding of what issues matter to them.

Re-election - all of this is done with the intention of being good enough to be re-elected by their local voters.

Congress as a whole has many roles in the national government. Listed in Section 8, these including some major roles such as:

Regulating commerce - between the states and foreign nations

Overseeing and authorizing National Defense and security organizations and security policy

controlling national finances by coining money, setting budgets, and appropriating funds

And, of course, lawmaking - debating and passing laws for the nation

11 Slide about lower and upper houses
Sections 2 and 3 set the number of members, terms, and requirements of the members in the upper and lower houses

Per sec 2, the house of representatives Originally only had 65 reps, but state grew so much that the number was capped it at 435 representatives. It also says that a census will be completed every 10 years, and then reps will get reapportioned. It also outlines that all representatives must be at least 25 years old, have been a US citizen for at least 7 years, and that their terms are 2 years long.

Section 3, dealing with the Senate, outlines that the senate will have 100 members, that is 2 from each of the 50 states, that all senators must be at least 30 years old, have been a US citizen for at least 9 years, and that their terms are 6 years long, with one third of the senate being elected on a rotating basis every 2 years

12 Slide about Sec 2
Specific to the house of representatives per sec 2:
Representatives are elected by the people in their states
They are tasked with impeaching officials, initiating bills for raising revenue, and electing the president in case of a tie.
Their apportionment is based on the population of their states. States with more people get more representatives. The goal is to have as equal representation as possible.

13 Slide about Sec 3

Congress
Election

Jobs
Establish lower courts

Interactions

Slide about the President

Election

Jobs

Interactions

Slide about Supreme Court

Appointment

Jobs
Appellate jurisdiction - review previous court decisions, given the case comes through the proper federal system
Origional jurisdiction - initially hears a major lawsuit or case on federal issue

Election

Limitations : No power of the Purse or Power of the sword
Court rules on issues, but cannot fund or force compliance
Final interpreter of the constitution
Only if there are proper cases that are escalated to the supreme court
So they can't just attack

https://www.senate.gov/about/origins-foundations/electing-appointing-senators.htm

https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript