1. U.S. Constitution

2. Preamble To the whole Constitution
-An Introduction
To the whole Constitution
-Gives the purposes and goals of government
-We, the people of the United States, in Order to from 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. Describes the Legislative Branch -Divides Congress into two Houses
Article 1
-Describes the Congress and its powers
Describes the Legislative Branch
-Divides Congress into two Houses
Bicameral: House of Reps., Senate
-Sets qualification and terms of members
-Describes law making process
-Specifically denies certain powers to Congress – does not give it too much power
-Delegates certain powers to Congress – enumerated powers
Ex.: taxation, borrow money, regulate commerce, coin money, declare war, establish military, do anything “necessary and proper”
Article I describes U.S. Congress
The House of Representatives is based on population
The Senate is based on equal representation, with two Senators from every state (today)

4. -Describes the Executive Branch President and Vice President
Article 2
-Describes the Executive Branch
President and Vice President
-Term and Qualifications
-Electoral method described (later amended) – Electoral College
-commander in chief
-make treaties, appoint officials upon approval
-Execute the laws of the United States
-Impeachment process
Removed from office for illegal actions (President/VP)
Article 2 describes how the Executive Branch will be set up, including the qualifications, method of election, and term limits for the President and Vice President. It also defines the impeachment process, which will remove an official from office for wrong doing. The most recent President to be impeached was Bill Clinton.

5. Article 3 describes how the U.S. Courts will work.
-Describes the Judicial Branch
Describes the Court system
-Term and qualification of judges
-Jurisdiction of Federal Courts
-Right to Trial by Jury in Federal Cases
-Crime of Treason is defined
Going against your country
Espionage: spying
Only crime defined in the Constitution
Article 3 describes how the U.S. Courts will work.

6. Article 4
-Describes the relationship of states to one another and the central government
Describes federalism: multiple levels of government working together
-Full Faith and Credit clause describes the legal relationship between states
States will recognize and follow each other’s laws
-Extradition process described
Sending prisoners back to state to have trial
-Addition of new states and territories
-Guarantee of Federal protection from invaders for all states
Criminals who break a law in one state, try to flee to another state, and get caught in another state, will be sent back to the original state for their trial. This process is called extradition.

7. Article 5
-Describes the amendment process
Amend means to change
Describes how to change the Constitution
-sets up the two methods of proposing an amendment
How to get a change to the Constitution heard
-sets up the two methods of ratifying a new amendment
How to get that change approved and added to the Constitution

8. National State Local Article 6
-Describes the supremacy of the Constitution and the national government
National government more powerful than any other level
-Statement that the Constitution is the Supreme Law of the nation (Supremacy Clause)
States cannot challenge national laws, national always wins
-requirement of an oath of office in all State and Federal positions to support the Constitution

9. -Describes the process of ratification of this Constitution
Article 7
-Describes the process of ratification of this Constitution
Describes how this new Constitution will be approved
-Set up the approval method for the Constitution
9 out of 13 must ratify
“The Tenth Pillar of Ratification”
~appeared in South Carolina newspaper after ratification

10. Changing the Constitution

11. Constitution is over 200 years old
Constitution still functions because of its flexibility
(A Living Document)
The Constitution was only meant to be a blueprint or framework

12. Proposing Amendments -Described in Article 5 -Must first be proposed
-two methods of proposing an amendment
2/3 of Both Houses of Congress
2/3 of the members of the House of Reps. and Senate must agree to propose (ask for) a change
National Convention called by 2/3 of states
33 states must call a convention
-only method ever used is 2/3 of Congress

13. Ratifying Amendments -Must first be proposed
-must be ratified by 3/4 of the states
38 states must approve the new Constitutional amendment
-Two methods of ratifying
by state legislatures
Let the Congress of the state vote as representatives for the people
by state conventions
Invite citizens themselves to vote
-Difficult process
only make changes when really needed – only been amended 27 times in over 200 years

15. Necessary and Proper Clause
-Necessary and Proper Clause- Statement in Article I of the Constitution that allows Congress to stretch its enumerated powers to do almost anything in the best interests of the citizens---Elastic Clause
-Article 1 describes the power but does not define the power specifically
Caused many arguments about what Congress can/not do
-most interpretation occurs with this phrase
-Implied Powers
-Powers that are not specifically written in the Constitution but are interpreted to exist
-Constitution is a flexible document
The Constitution’s “necessary and proper” clause, also known as the “Elastic Clause” allows Congress to stretch its powers to do what they feel is what the country needs at the time. For example, after WWII, Congress used these powers to begin an Air Force.

16. Interpretation -Three types of Interpretation
strict—based on actual wording of Constitution
If it does not specifically say you can, then you cannot
loose—based on implied meanings of passages
If it does not specifically say you cannot, then you can
original intent —based on what founding fathers meant the Constitution to say
-Final Interpretation of the Constitution
- Handled by the Supreme Court
Judicial review
-This opinion changes over time also
Some people believe the Constitution should be interpreted strictly, meaning that unless the document specifically says Congress or the federal government can do something, then they cannot. Others believe the opposite is true, saying that unless the Constitution specifically says you CANNOT do something, then you can. Still others believe in interpreting the document exactly as the writers intended it to be. The final interpretation today is handled by the Supreme Court.