Business and American Law Unit 1 Constitutional Rights

Business and American Law Study Guide Unit 1: Constitutional Rights Key documents that formed the United States of America: ● Declaration of Independence ● Articles of Confederation ● U.S. Constitution ● The Bill of Rights The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson and was formally adopted on July 4, 1776. The frustrated citizens of the British colonies believed that the power should come from the people which is displayed in a democratic society. ● Citizens should have the ability to control what happens in the government. In the Declaration of Independence, it states that all men are created equal and all citizens have an unalienable right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. Articles of Confederation was the document written after the American Revolution. It is considered the first Constitution. It was a temporary solution to some serious long-term problems. It was able to unite the original colonies under the federal government. The document eventually failed due to the freedom given to the states. ● There was no balance between the federal and state government. The central or federal government was very weak and could not conduct their business. They were unable to collect taxes from the people, and the states had so much power that they could conduct forgein policy. Each state had their own monetary system and it was chartered in 1781. Due to the failure of the Articles of Confederation, the U.S. Constitution had to be written. The Constitution is the most important document in American history. It protects the rights of citizens and ensures that the powers of the states and the federal government are separated and protected. ● There are reserved powers which protect the power of the states. The states can control elections, management of their governments, and states can control education systems and institutions. ● Delegated powers are only for the federal government. Federal government can print money, maintain a postal system, and regulate commerce. ● Concurrent powers is the area where responsibilities overlap. An example is taxation. Taxation falls under both the federal and state government, and the Constitution is the framework of the U.S. government. The Bill of Rights are the first ten amendments to the Constitution. The Bill of Rights addresses issues like human rights and equality under the law. The Bill of Rights: ● 1st Amendment: Freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition ● 2nd Amendment: Right to bear arms. ● 3rd Amendment: Soldiers cannot be quartered in private homes without the consent of the owner. ● 4th Amendment: Protection against search and seizure. ● 5th Amendment: Due process of the law, protection against double jeopardy, protects you from incriminating yourself. ● 6th Amendment: Right to a lawyer and right to a speedy trial with an impartial jury. ● 7th Amendment: Jury trial for a civil case that exceeds $20. ● 8th Amendment: Protection against cruel and unusual punishment. ● 9th Amendment: The rights not specifically stated are nevertheless given to the people. ● 10th Amendment: The powers not given to the United States (federally) are reserved to the states. Important Amendments: ● 13th Amendment: Abolished Slavery in the United States. ● 14th Amendment: Birth or naturalization for citizenship in the United States. Equal protection under the law. ● 15th Amendment: All men are allowed to vote. ● 19th Amendment: Women were given the right to vote. Checks and Balances: Legislative Branch-Congress ● House of Representatives- Seats are allocated to the state population and have the power to impeach. ● Senate- 2 members of each state (Sole power to try impeachment cases.) Both can block each other’s actions. For bills to pass, they have to be passed by both the House of Representatives and Senate. Executive Branch ● The President is the head of the Executive branch, and the Vice President is the secondin-command. They control all matters related to the country. Judicial Branch ● The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States. Nine judges sit on the bench and deal with cases that impact the country as a whole. Sovereignty of the States: ● States have the power to govern their own citizens within their borders. ● The Constitution is still the “Supreme Law of the Land” and can overpower state laws. ● States govern within their state. ● Federal government governs between states. Unit 1 Review: MULTIPLE CHOICE: 1. What does the first amendment NOT protect? a. Speech b. Press c. Assembly d. Slander 2. What amendment talks about citizenship? a. 15th Amendment b. 17th Amendment c. 14th Amendment d. 2nd Amendment 3. Which two amendments protect your right to vote? a. 14th and 15th Amendment b. 14th and 17th Amendment c. 15th and 16th Amendment d. 2nd and 15th Amendment SHORT ANSWER: 4. What is the main job of the Judicial Branch? 5. One example of Checks and Balances between the three branches of government. TRUE OR FALSE 6. 12 judges currently sit on the Supreme Court’s bench.