1. The Constitution Supreme Law of the Land
Fairly brief document-about 7000 words
3 basic parts
Introduction-Preamble-last part written
7 numbered articles
27 amendments
survives because of built in provisions for accommodating change

2. Preamble
Sets forth 4 elements that form the foundation of the American political tradition
it creates a people (We, the people)
it explains the reason for the Constitution (in order to form a more perfect union)
it articulates goals (establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, etc)
it fashions a government (do ordain & establish this Constitution)

3. Articles I-III 3 different branches
Article I-Legislative Branch (Congress)
Article II-Executive Branch (President)
Article III-Judicial Branch (Courts)

4. Article IV
the States & their relationship to the National government

5. Article V
how to amend but no amendment may deprive a state of equal representation in the Senate

6. Article VI
supreme law of the land

7. Article VII
requirements for ratification

8. 6 basic principles popular sovereignty rule by the people
limited government only power given by the people
separation of powers among the branches
checks & balances of each other
judicial review by the courts
federalism division of power between national & state governments

9. Formal Amendments Proposal
amendment may be proposed by a 2/3 vote in both the House & the Senate or
by a national convention summoned by Congress at the request of 2/3 (34) of the state legislatures
All amendments have been proposed by the 1st method.

10. Formal Amendments Ratification
can be ratified by the legislatures of ¾ (38) of the states or
by a vote of constitutional conventions held in ¾ of the states
Congress chooses the method of ratification; has used the convention method only once (21st amendment to repeal the 18th amendment)

11. Amendments
Amendments are not sent to the president. Example of the principle of federalism-proposal by the national government and ratification by the states
The Framers purposely made it difficult to propose & ratify amendments-they wanted only the most significant issues to lead to constitutional change-requires extraordinary majorities.

12. Informal Amendment
Informal amendments are changes in the Constitution that are made without any change in its written words-this is the most common way to change the Constitution

13. Basic legislation by Congress
-departments & offices of the Executive branch
-regulation of foreign & interstate commerce
-Judicial Act of 1789-set up the lower courts

14. Actions of the president
-War by president without declaration by Congress
-Executive agreements with heads of foreign states-this is not expressly stated in the Constitution

15. Key decisions of the Supreme Court

16. activities of political parties
-never mentioned in the Constitution
-electoral college acting as a “rubber stamp” for the popular vote

17. Custom
-the 15 executive departments of the Cabinet; informal process of the President
-Senatorial courtesy-Senate will only approve appointees that are acceptable to the Senator(s) of the state involved (i.e. federal judges, US marshal)