A summary of major points, articles, and sections within this historic document. Student X– US History I – Period 7

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common Defense, 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.

Section 1: All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives. Section 2: House of Representatives -A member may be elected for 2 year terms. -This group may elect its own leaders. -Must be at least 25 years old to be in this group. -1 member for every 30,000 citizens in state. Section 3: The Senate -A member may be elected for 6 year terms. -Must be at least 30 years old to be in this group. -2 members from each state.

Procedures of Operations highlighted in Sections 4-6. Section 7 – Law making procedures. Section 8 – Gives Congress the power to establish and maintain a navy. Also to establish post offices, to create courts, to declare war, and to raise money.

Section 9 – Can’t pass laws that make thing illegal starting yesterday, last week, etc. No law can “play favorites” towards one state in particular. Also makes it impossible to spend money without permission.

Section 10 – States can’t make their own money, declare war, or tax goods from other states.

Section 1 – Establishes office of the President and Vice- President. Both serve for 4 years. Required to be 35 years old and born in the USA. Salary cannot change while he [President/Vice-President] is in office.

Section 2 – President leads the armed forces (Commander in Chief). Has a Cabinet to advise him. Is allowed to make treaties with other nations (2/3 of Senate must approve). Selects Supreme Justices and other government officials.

Section 3 – President MUST give a yearly speech to the nation. Can give suggestions to Congress (like that makes a difference… ). Ensures that US laws are carried out.

Section 4 – Highlights how to “kick” the President out of office. Otherwise known as impeachment.

Section 1 – Establishes the Supreme Court. Supreme Judges or Justices serve for life or until retirement.

Section 2 – Decides which cases the Supreme Court must hear. Also guarantees trials by jury in criminal court.

Section 3 – Defines what the crime of Treason is. “the crime of betraying one's country, esp. by attempting to kill the sovereign or overthrow the government.” TREASON!

Section 1 – All states will honor the laws of all other states.

Section 2 – Citizens of one state are treated equally in a different state. If a person is accused of a crime and flees to another state, the state they fled to will return said person to the state they were accused in.

Section 3 – Describes how new states may enter the Union. Section 4 – Ensures a “Power by the People” type government.

2/3 of Representatives must vote on change. 2/3 of Senators must vote on change. ¾ of the States must vote on change.

Guarantees that the Constitution, all laws, and all treaties of the United States is to be the Supreme Law of the Land. Requires all officers of the United States to swear an oath of allegiance to the United States and to the Constitution when taking office.

Of the 13 original states, 9 had to accept the Constitution before it could officially go into effect.

FIN.