preamble Introduction Lays out 6 goals for government: Form more perfect union Establish justice Insure domestic tranquility Provide for common defense Promote general welfare Secure liberty for ourselves and posterity Concepts/principles include popular sovereignty (self- government) and social contract (consent of the governed)

Article 1 – Legislative branch Primary role to make laws for the country Organizational structure bicameral (two house) Congress House of Representatives with representation based on population (proportional) Senate with equal representation (2 per state) Membership and qualifications 435 Representatives serve for 2 years; must be 25 years old, citizen for 7 years, reside in state; can be re-elected to unlimited terms 100 Senators serve for 6 years; must be 30 years old, citizen for 9 years, reside in state; can be re-elected to unlimited terms Directly elected by the people of their district and/or state Example powers Collect taxes Borrow money and pay debts Make rules for how to become a citizen Regulate commerce (trade) with other nations, between the states, and with Indian tribes Coin money and punish counterfeiters Establish post offices Give patents to new inventions Create the lower federal courts Punish pirates Declare war and support an army and navy Make any other laws that are “necessary and proper” to carry out the powers in this list

Article 2 – Executive branch Primary role to carry out/enforce laws for the country Organizational structure President 15 executive “Cabinet” departments Many executive agencies and regulatory commissions Membership and qualifications President and Vice President must be 35 years old, natural born citizen, reside in U.S. for previous 14 years Serve for 4 years; can serve 2 terms (no more than 10 years) Elected through the Electoral College process Example powers Act as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces Maintain a cabinet of advisors who run the 15 executive departments Grant pardons in all federal criminal offenses, and reprieves (postpone punishments like executions) Negotiate treaties with other countries Appoint ambassadors, Supreme Court Justices and federal court judges, and Cabinet members Make a State of the Union address to Congress Represent the United States when dealing with foreign countries Make sure that laws are carried out (executed)

Article 3 – Judicial Branch Primary role to interpret constitutionality of laws for the country Organizational structure Supreme Court (highest) Trial and appeals courts Membership and qualifications 9 Supreme Court justices Numerous federal judges Nominated by President, approved by Senate; no specific qualifications; (most) serve for life Example powers Judicial review – the authority to determine the constitutionality of a law or executive action (although this was not expressed in Article 3, through court cases like Marbury v. Madison, this has come to be the primary – very important – power of the judicial branch)

Article 4 – The States Describes how states should interact with one another Full Faith and Credit Clause - each state has to respect the laws and court decisions of the other states. Extradition - if a criminal flees from one state to another, the state where the crime was committed can request that the criminal be returned to face charges. New states can be admitted to the Union with the authorization of Congress and the president. All states must have a republican, or representative, type of government. The federal government will protect states from outside invasion and assist with internal problems when requested by the states.

Article 5 – Amendments to the constitution 2 steps to the amendment process: Proposal and/or approval in the U.S. Congress AND Proposal and/or approval by the states Amendments may be proposed by 2/3 vote of both houses of Congress OR 2/3 state legislatures ask Congress for Constitutional Convention (never been done) Amendments may be ratified by 3/4 vote of state legislatures 3/4 of special state conventions (only been done once) Only 27 total amendments (changes) have been made to the Constitution so far!

Article 6 - Debts, Supremacy, Oaths New U.S. government assumed the debts of the old U.S. government under the Articles of Confederation Supremacy Clause Constitution is the “supreme law of the land” States and local governments cannot make laws to contradict it Government officials must swear an oath to uphold the Constitution and the laws of the country. Officials would not be bound by any religious restrictions

Article 7 – Ratification Constitution could not take effect until 9 of 13 states approved it. Each state held convention to discuss and vote Anti-Federalists thought the seven articles weren’t enough to guarantee rights of people. After debate, it was decided 10 amendments would be added to the Constitution. Called Bill of Rights Listed specific rights not already in the Constitution. Constitution became “law of the land” in March 1789. Bill of Rights added in 1791.