1. United States Constitution September 17, 1787
Articles I - VII

2. Preamble- states the broad purpose
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

3. Preamble- states the broad purpose
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
Write the Preamble… Answer the following: 1. Why did they call themselves the “United States”? 2. What are the 6 “goals” mentioned in the Preamble? 3. What is meant by, “liberty to ourselves and our posterity”? 4. Rewrite the Preamble…in your own words

5. Importance of Article I - III
Set up governmental branches and powers: three branches and separation of powers
Legislative
Executive
Judicial
Modeled on Montesquieu's idea
Divided into Articles, Sections, Clauses

6. Article I – Legislative Branch
Bicameral Congress composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives
Lists qualifications for Congress
Lists the enumerated or expressed powers of Congress
Allows implied powers
“necessary and proper”– those powers that are needed to carry out expressed powers
Names powers denied to States

7. Power given, and reserved…
Expressed: Specifically written in the Constitution – also called enumerated powers
Implied: Congress is allowed to use these powers to carry out the expressed powers. Aka “necessary and proper”
Reserved: Powers given to States like holding elections, education or issuing marriage licenses.
Concurrent: Powers shared by both the national and State governments like taxing.
Inherent: Powers a government has because it is a sovereign nation.

8. Congress Congress has 535 voting members
 435 Representatives and 100 Senators.
The members of the House of
Representatives serve two-year terms
representing the people of a single
constituency, known as a "district".
Senators serve 6 year terms and are
reelected on two year rotating cycles

9. Powers Denied
Habeas Corpus: Not allowed to hold a person without charging him
Bill of Attainder: Can not put a person in jail without a trial
No one may have or be given a title of nobility.

10. Article II Executive Branch
Sets qualifications and term of the President and Vice President
Originally had no limit – 22nd Amendment changed
Lists duties
Two conflicting views of Article 2
Powers of the President are limited to those enumerated (listed) in the article (strict)
President is given executive power are not limited by the provisions of the rest of the article (loose)

11. Electoral College Electoral College Proposals
Members of Congress should choose the President
People should choose the President
Decision
Each state legislature would choose a number of electors; these electors known as the Electoral College would select the President in December after the popular election

12. Article III Judicial Established one Supreme Court
Congress can create other inferior courts as needed
Defines treason: aiding or helping enemies of, or making war against the United States
Specifies original and appellate jurisdiction
Judicial Branch was weakest branch until John Marshall became Chief Justice

13. Article IV – Relations among States
Full Faith and Credit Clause
Must allow citizens of other states the same rights as their own citizens and they must recognize the legal documents of other states.
Establishes extradition (returning an accused at the request of a State’s governor)
How to admit new States
Gives Congress authority over territories
Each State will be protected

14. Article V Amending the Constitution
Establishes four methods of amending the Constitution

15. Amending the Constitution
Proposals
2/3rds vote of both houses of Congress propose an amendment – only one used so far
2/3rds of the States request a convention that proposes an amendment
Ratification
3/4ths of States legislatures approve
3/4ths of States call special conventions that approve
How many states is 3/4ths? 38
Only the 21st Amendment used this

17. Article VI National Supremacy
Congress would repay all debts of the US
National laws are always superior to State or local laws
Requires loyalty oath of public officers
No religious qualification can be required

18. Article VII - Ratification
Nine of the thirteen States could ratify (approve) the Constitution
Ten months for the first nine states to approve the Constitution
Delaware (1st) on 12/7/1787
New Hampshire (9th)
Rhode Island was the last

19. State
Date
Order
Votes For
Votes Against
Delaware
December 7, 1787 1 30
Pennsylvania
December 12, 1787 2 46 23
New Jersey
December 18, 1787 3 38
Georgia
January 2, 1788 4 26
Connecticut
January 9, 1788 5
128 40
Massachusetts
February 6, 1788 6
187
168
Maryland
April 28, 1788 7 63 11
South Carolina
May 23, 1788 8
149 73
New Hampshire
June 21, 1788 9 57 47
Virginia
June 25, 1788 10 89 79
New York
July 26, 1788 27
North Carolina
November 21, 1789 12
194 77
Rhode Island
May 29, 1790 13 34 32