1. Constitution

2. Breakdown Preamble Seven Articles Twenty-Seven Amendments –1-10 are the Bill of Rights –13-15 are the Civil War Amendments –15, 19, 23, and 26 deal with extending suffrage rights.

3. 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 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.

4. Article I (Legislative) Establishes legislative authority. Discusses how a bill becomes a law. Gives all enumerated powers (expressed and implied) Forbids certain powers Denies certain powers to states.

5. Congress House of Reps. –25 yrs. Old –US citizen for 7 years –Resident of state Special powers Impeach Raise appropriations bills Senate –30 yrs. Old –US citizen for 9 years –Resident of state Special Powers Impeachment trials Approve treaties (2/3) Approve all presidential appointments

6. Article II (Executive) Calls for a president and vice-president elected every four years by the electoral college. Process was modified by the 12 th amendment. Qualifications –35 years old –Resident of the US for 14 years. –Native-born US Citizen

7. Article III (Judicial) Establishes a Supreme Court. Allows Congress to establish all other inferior courts. Establishes the instances of Federal Jurisdiction (Exclusive). Establishes the instances of Supreme Court Original Jurisdiction. Defines Treason

8. Article IV Relations of States Full-Faith and Credit Extradition by state executive authority (Governor) Calls for new states to be admitted by Congress. Guarantees a Republican form of Government

9. Article V Amending Process Proposal –2/3 vote of both houses of Congress –National Convention called by 2/3 of state Legislatures. Ratification –Vote of ¾ of state legislatures. –Vote of ¾ of ratifying conventions. Congress chooses the method.

10. Article VI National Supremacy US Constitution, National laws, and treaties are supreme. All US officials must swear an oath, but not religious test is required.

11. Article VII Ratification 9 out of 13 states must ratify the Constitution.

12. Bill of Rights 1: Speech, Press, Religion, Assembly, Petition. 2: Right to bear arms. 3: No quartering soldiers 4: Search and seizure 5: Due process, no double jeopardy, no self-incrimination

13. Bill of Rights Continued 6: Speedy and public jury trial, Right to an attorney. 7: Common law suits can have jury trial. 8: No excessive bail or cruel and unusual punishment 9: Implied rights that are not stated. 10 Reserved powers.

14. Later Amendments 11: Lawsuits against a state take place in state courts. 12: Current way of voting for President and Vice-president 13: Outlawed slavery 14: Due process clause and equal protection clause. Grants citizenship. 15: Suffrage can’t be denied based on race.

15. Later Amendments 16: Congress can levy an income tax. 17: Direct election of senators. 18: Prohibition. 19: Can’t be denied suffrage based on gender. 20: Presidential inauguration of Jan 20 th and Congressional session begins on Jan. 3 rd.

16. Later Amendments 21: Repeals the 18 th amendment. 22: Two-terms for a president. 23: Three electoral votes for Washington DC. 24: Outlawed poll taxes as a voting requirement. 25: Officially makes VP president if the president is incapicitated.

17. Later Amendments 26: 18 year olds have the right to vote. 27: Congressional salaries.