Posted: January 2nd, 2024

The Foundations of American Democracy: the U.S. Constitution

Part I Instructions

Create a PowerPoint or Prezi presentation with 13 slides, providing information about the United States Constitution. to educate a group of students or adults about the core tenets listed below for an upcoming Constitution Day celebration in a school setting.
You may select a grade level 1-12, teachers, or parents as your audience. Please specify your intended audience and include other pertinent information within the speaker notes. Your presentation should be engaging and appropriate for your chosen audience.
Include speaker notes below each content-related slide that represent what would be said if giving the presentation in person. Expand upon the information included in the slide and do not simply restate it. Please ensure the speaker notes include a minimum of 50-100 words in your speaker notes per slide.
Provide slides on the following topics:
Title Slide
Basic Structure of the Constitution
The Rationale to create the United States Constitution
The Primary ‘Architect’ of the Constitution
The Powers of Congress
The Powers of the President
The Powers of Judiciary
The Concept of ‘Limited Government’
Federalism
The System of Checks and Balances
The Bill of Rights
The Constitutional Amendment Process
Reference Slide
While APA format is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and in-text citations and references should be presented using APA documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are not required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite.

Slide 1:
Title: The Foundations of American Democracy: An Overview of the U.S. Constitution
Speaker Notes: Good afternoon everyone. Thank you for joining me to learn more about the Constitution that forms the basis of our democratic system of government. Over the next 30 minutes we will cover the key elements and principles enshrined in this important document. I hope this presentation provides useful context as we approach Constitution Day next month.
Slide 2:

Basic Structure of the Constitution
Speaker Notes: The U.S. Constitution establishes the framework for the federal government through its seven original articles. Article I creates Congress and outlines its powers and processes. Article II establishes the executive branch headed by the President. Article III creates the Supreme Court and federal judiciary. The remaining articles address other structural issues like the process for ratifying constitutional amendments.
Slide 3:
The Rationale to Create the United States Constitution
Speaker Notes: After gaining independence from Britain, the original 13 colonies operated under the weak Articles of Confederation which gave the central government very little power. This led to economic and political instability which threatened the unity of the new nation. In response, the Constitutional Convention was convened in 1787 to draft a new governing document that would strengthen the federal government while protecting individual liberties.
Slide 4:
The Primary ‘Architect’ of the Constitution
Speaker Notes: While many delegates contributed to the final Constitution, James Madison is widely considered the primary author and driving force behind its creation. As a member of the Virginia delegation, Madison kept detailed notes during the convention and later played a pivotal role getting the document ratified. His contributions to The Federalist Papers further articulated the principles of republican government and separation of powers central to the Constitution.
Slide 5:
The Powers of Congress
Speaker Notes: Article I outlines the powers granted to Congress, which is divided into the House of Representatives and Senate. Congress has the power to tax and spend, regulate interstate commerce, coin and borrow money, declare war, and make all laws necessary to execute its constitutional authorities. However, Congress cannot pass ex post facto laws or laws impairing contracts.
Slide 6:
The Powers of the President
Speaker Notes: Article II establishes the executive branch led by the President, who serves as both head of state and government. The President is commander-in-chief of the armed forces, makes treaties with approval of the Senate, appoints ambassadors, federal judges, and principal officers, and can veto legislation. The President must also provide information to Congress regarding the state of the union and recommend policies to consider.
Slide 7:
The Powers of the Judiciary
Speaker Notes: Article III creates the Supreme Court and federal judiciary, whose role is to interpret the Constitution and federal law. The courts have the power of judicial review to determine the constitutionality of laws and acts of Congress and the President. Over two centuries, the Supreme Court has established itself as a co-equal branch that can strike down policies and precedents through binding legal decisions.
Slide 8:
The Concept of ‘Limited Government’
Speaker Notes: A core principle of the Constitution is that it establishes a system of limited government with separated powers. This was a reaction to the tyrannical abuses by the British monarchy. The federal government has only those powers delegated to it in the Constitution, with all other authority reserved to the states and people. This concept is reinforced by the 10th Amendment in the Bill of Rights.
Slide 9:
Federalism
Speaker Notes: Federalism refers to the division of power between the federal and state governments. The states retain sovereignty in all matters not delegated to the national government. They have authority over local concerns like criminal justice, education, family law, and economic regulation. However, federal law is supreme in areas explicitly granted to Congress like national defense, foreign policy, and interstate commerce.
Slide 10:
The System of Checks and Balances
Speaker Notes: To prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful, the Constitution incorporates a system of checks and balances among the three branches. For example, the President can veto legislation but Congress can override a veto. Congress funds the government but the President proposes a budget. The courts can strike down laws as unconstitutional. This diffuses power and requires cooperation and compromise.
Slide 11:
The Bill of Rights
Speaker Notes: The first 10 amendments to the Constitution comprise the Bill of Rights, which places restrictions on the powers of government to protect individual liberties like freedom of speech, press, religion, and the rights to bear arms, fair trials, and protection from cruel and unusual punishment. These civil liberties form the bedrock of our democratic system and way of life.
Slide 12:
The Constitutional Amendment Process
Speaker Notes: Article V outlines the rigorous process for formally changing or adding to the Constitution through amendments. Amendments may be proposed by a two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress or a national convention called for by two-thirds of state legislatures. But an amendment must then be ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures or special ratifying conventions. This high threshold ensures stability but also responsiveness to the will of the people over time.
Slide 13:
References
Speaker Notes: Thank you for your time and attention today. I hope this overview provided a useful foundation and context for further study and discussion of our nation’s founding principles as we approach Constitution Day. Please feel free to ask any other questions. For more information on the sources used in this presentation, see the reference slide or speak with me after.

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