The Preamble & Articles Unit 3: Mr. Schwarz

The Preamble to the United States Constitution Preamble – a preliminary statement; an introduction The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America expresses the reasons the constitution was written.

6 Purposes of U.S. Government What it actually says What it actually means To form a more perfect union To establish justice To ensure domestic tranquility To provide for the common defense To promote the general welfare To secure the blessings of liberty To create a better Country (Nation) Create Courts Create and Enforce Laws Military Public Education The freedoms we have The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America begins, “We the People,” thereby establishing that the power of government comes from the people.

Organization of the U.S. Constitution After the Preamble, the U.S. Constitution has 7 articles: Article I: Legislative Branch Article II: Executive Branch Article III: Judicial Branch Article IV: The States Article V: Amendments Article VI: Debts, Supremacy, Oaths Article VII: Ratification

Article I: Legislative Branch Describes how Congress will be set up, how laws will be made, and what powers Congress will have. Congress broken up into two houses The House of Representatives The Senate Bicameral – consisting of two houses (or groups)

Rotunda

House of Representatives

Senate

Article II: Executive Branch Describes how the president will be elected, who can run for president, and what powers and responsibilities the president has.

Article III: Judicial Branch Describes the powers of the Supreme Court and other federal courts

Article IV: The States Describes how the states will relate to each other, how new states can be added to the Union, and how the federal government will protect the states.

Describes how to make changes to, or amend, the Constitution. Article V: Amendments Describes how to make changes to, or amend, the Constitution.

Article VI: Supremacy & Oaths States that the Constitution is the law of the land and that all senators and representatives must swear to support the Constitution.

Article VII: Ratification States that at least nine states must accept the Constitution before it can become law.