The Constitution of the United States of America: We the People…

Preamble We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. Learn it, Love it, Live it. This will be part of the final.

Why we have a Constitution

Why we have a Constitution

Parts of the Constitution There are 7 parts (Article/’pieces’) Article I (Article 1 - Legislative) Article II (Article 2 - Executive) Article III (Article 3 - Judicial) Article IV (Article 4 - States' Relations) Article V (Article 5 - Mode of Amendment) Article VI (Article 6 - Prior Debts, National Supremacy, Oaths of Office) Article VII (Article 7 - Ratification)

Article I (Article 1 - Legislative) There are 10 sections Section 1 All Legislative powers (House & Senate) Section 2 Requirements for election to House Section 3 Requirements for election to Senate Section 4 Requirements for how to hold elections Section 5 Each ‘House” sets its own rules Section 6 Legislators are to be paid and cannot be arrested Section 7 How to write bills Section 8 Congress’ powers (18 items, the biggest!) Section 9 Limits on Congress’ power (8, the 2nd biggest!) Section 10 Limits States’ powers (cannot contradict)

Article II (Article 2 - Executive) There are 4 sections Section 1 Requirements “I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Section 2 Powers Commander in Chief, grant pardons Make treaties (with 2/3 approval in Senate), nominate judges Fill vacancies (temporarily – ‘recess appointments’) Section 3 Other duties State of the Union Receive Ambassadors, Execute the laws, Commission Officers in the military Section 4 May be removed/Impeached for Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors

Article III (Article 3 - Judicial) There are 3 sections Section 1 Power One supreme Court, and any other lesser courts that Congress sets up Will be paid Section 2 Responsiblities Between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects, to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers In all the other Cases the supreme Court shall have appellateJurisdiction Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed Section 3 Treason Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason

Mr. C What’s an ‘attainder’? A bill of attainder (also known as an act of attainder or writ of attainder or bill of pains and penalties) is an act of a legislature declaring a person or group of persons guilty of some crime and punishing them without a trial. It would typically nullify the targeted person's civil rights, most notably the right to own property (and thus pass it on to heirs) or life. Why did people hate them? Obvious potential for abuse and the violation of several legal principles, most importantly separation of powers, the right to due process, and the precept that a law should address a particular form of behavior not a person or people.

Article IV (Article 4 - States' Relations) There are 4 sections Section 1 Full Faith & Credit Section 2 Privileges and Immunities of Citizens Extradition Return of runaway slaves Section 3 Requirements for new states Cannot be a piece of one or more states Unless okayed by that state Congress will make the law for how it happens Section 4 Guarantees a Republican Form of Government in each state & Protection

Article V (Article 5 - Mode of Amendment)

Article VI (Article 6 - Prior Debts, National Supremacy, Oaths of Office) “All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.” Contentious Big Deal Alexander Hamilton fought very hard to have this included Why?

Article VI (Article 6 - Prior Debts, National Supremacy, Oaths of Office) “This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land.” Federal Law trumps State Law/Courts

Article VI (Article 6 - Prior Debts, National Supremacy, Oaths of Office) “The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States..” All elected officials must make an oath to defend and uphold the Constitution. No ‘religious test’ as England had. (Barred Catholics from office)

Article VII (Article 7 - Ratification) “The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.” 9 states makes it official!

How we’re organized (little kid edition)

How we’re organized

Quick Graphic – Copy this!

Works Cited http://constitutionus.com/ http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.html thisnation.com