1. Formation of Government
What is A Constitution
TEKS Objective 7A

2. A written constitution defines purpose, powers,
rights, and responsibilities of citizens, and
describes the operation systems of government.

3. Purposes of a Constitution
Establishes ideals that people bound by the Constitution believe in and share
Establishes the structure of government defining it’s powers and duties
Provides the supreme law for the country

4. Sets forth the goals and purposes to be served by the government
Preamble
Sets forth the goals and purposes to be served by the government
“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”

5. Framework of the Constitution
Describes the relationship between the national government and the state governments
Describes the procedures for amending or changing the Constitution
It is divided into 7 articles, 21 sections, and many, many clauses
It is built on the principal of limited government, that is, constitutional government establishing higher or fundamental law that must be obeyed by everyone, including those in power
It draws its authority from those who create it

6. Preamble & Articles
Preamble: states the goals of government Article I: Legislative Branch (House of Representatives and the Senate) Article II: Executive Branch Article III: Judicial Branch Article IV: Actions Among States Article V: The Amendment Process Article VI: Supremacy Clause Article VII: Ratification We will discuss the specifics of Articles 1-3 in different Chapters

7. Article IV
Explains the relationship between the states and the between the states and the national government
Requires every state to give citizens of this country the same rights as their own citizens
Prior to the Constitution, documents (like a marriage certificate, or more currently a driver’s license) might not be valid in a different state unless the states had a treaty with one another. So without this Article, you could have a Texas driver’s license and not be allowed to drive in Oklahoma or Louisiana, or anywhere else.
It also guarantees that the national government will protect the states from foreign invasion (i.e. the Mexican-American War)

8. Article V Discusses the processes for Amending the Constitution
2/3 of Congress proposes and ¾ of the states approve
Second method is for a national
convention to be called and ¾
of the states approve
(never passed an Amendment
this way)

9. Article VI
The US incurs all debts of the states from before the Const.
US Const is the supreme law (Supremacy Clause)
Any law passed by a state, that contradicts the federal law will be voided
Oaths of office – no religious test

10. Article VII Ratification – required only 9 of the 13 states
Same number required to pass a law under the AoC but all 13 were required to amend the AoC
Was signed by 39 of the 55 delegates
Was finished in September 1787
Went into effect in June 1788

11. Principles of Government
There are 7 principles of Government found in the US Constitution
Popular Sovereignty
Federalism
Separation of Powers
Checks and Balances
Limited Government
Republicanism
Individual Rights
Your book lists Judicial Review, but that is not found in the Constitution, it is added with the Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison