1. The Articles

2. Article 1: The Legislative Branch
Primary focus: Make laws
Congress composed of:
House of Representatives - Senate -
435 members members
2 year terms year terms
25 years old years old
7 year citizen year citizen
Represent a congressional district Represent a state
Reside in district Reside in state
Number determined by population 2 per state
Senate
100 members, 6 year terms

3. Article 1: The Legislative Branch
Powers include:
Delegated Powers: Those powers assigned to Congress
Collect taxes
Set rules for naturalization
Declare war
Make all laws necessary and proper
Regulate trade with other nations

4. Article 1: The Legislative Branch
Elastic Clause: power to make all “necessary and proper” laws
If the country needs a law, Congress has power to create it
Flexibility to change with the times
Power limited by stating specific actions forbidden to Congress

5. Article 2: The Executive Branch
Primary focus: Carry out the laws
Power held by one person: the President
Some of the authority of a monarch
Governs with the consent of the people
President’s job: execute (carry out) laws
Constitution is less specific on the job of the President compared to Congress

6. Article 2: The Executive Branch
*President—needs to be natural born citizen, 35 years old, 14 year resident
*4 year term
*Elected by electoral college
*President is commander in chief, makes treaties and appointments

7. Article 3: The Judicial Branch
Primary focus: Interpret laws
neither Congress nor the President should control
both have power in process of appointing judges
judges serve for life, condition: good behavior
Supreme Court
Final say in cases involving Constitution
Nine Justices, one is Chief Justice
Currently Chief Justice John Roberts

8. Article 3: The Judicial Branch
*Supreme court and other lower courts
*Jurisdiction: the right to hear a case
*Supreme Court has original jurisdiction (hear a case first) with cases with diplomats and between states
*Appellate jurisdiction: right to hear an appeal, decide-- was the original case fair?

9. Article 4: The States Each state must honor laws of the other states
helps preserve state’s rights
reduces the possibility of conflicts between states

10. Article 4: The States
Federalism: division of power between federal and state governments
Gives federal government the authority it needs
protects states rights
Maintained by states: schools, local police

11. Article 4: The States
Concurrent powers: powers shared by state and federal government
Reserved powers: powers not given to Congress or denied to the states, states have these powers

12. Article 5: Amending the Constitution
Constitution might need to change with the times
Instructions provided to amend
High standard for passage
Why?

13. Article 6: Supremacy of Constitution
No state or federal law can violate the Constitution
If state law conflicts with federal law, federal law takes priority

14. Article 7: Ratification
Procedures provided for ratification (approval) of the Constitution

15. Amendments First 10 are the Bill of Rights
Provide list of protections of citizens
Limits authority of the government

16. Limited Government Federalism Separation of Powers Checks and balances
between states, local and federal government
between branches of government
wanted to prevent abuse of power
Checks and balances
Powers given to one branch of government to provide checks on power of other branches