1. THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
Format and Function

2. FORMAT - REVIEW
The United States Constitution is written in nine sections:
Preamble
Article I – Legislative Branch
Article II – Executive Branch
Article III – Judicial Branch
Article IV – Full Faith and Credit
Article V – Amendment Process
Article VI – Previous Debts & Supremacy Clause
Article VII – Ratification
27 Amendments

3. Physical Format
Each Article of the Constitution is set up in the same outline fashion where needed
ARTICLE (Main overriding topic – i.e. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH)
SECTION (Specific subtopic – i.e. SENATE)
CLAUSE (Specific item to be addressed – i.e. METHOD OF ELECTION)
Each part has a purpose, and they become more specific as they go down the line, just like an outline

4. WHAT DOES IT MEAN? We have already discussed the Preamble…
“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.”
What about the rest of the document?
Simply put – the Constitution is the BLUEPRINT/FORMAT FOR THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

5. ARTICLE I The Legislative Branch Sets up a bicameral legislature
House of Representatives
Senate
First article, because the founders felt it would be tied the closest to the people.
There are ten sections in the Article regarding the Legislative Branch
Longest Article of the Constitution by far
Article 8 is the most specific (and maybe important) as it lists 18+ specific powers (ENUMERATED) granted to Congress
Necessary and Proper Clause – Article I, Section 8, Clause 18

6. ARTICLE II The Executive Branch
Establishes an executive position (President) for the United States Government
Four sections
Important points
Article II, Section 1, Clause 1 – Grant of power
Article II, Section 1, Clause 2 – Electoral College
Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 – Qualifications
Article II, Section 2 & 3 – Presidential Powers & Appointments
Article II, Section 4 - Impeachment

7. ARTICLE III The Judicial Branch
Establishes the Supreme Court and such inferior courts as Congress deems necessary
Section 1 – Terms of Office
Section 2 – Jurisdiction
Exclusive Jurisdiction
Appellate Jurisdiction
Concurrent Jurisdiction
Section 3 – Treason
Only crime specifically mentioned in the US Constitution
The case of Marbury v. Madison (1803) establishes the idea of Judicial Review

8. ARTICLE IV Full Faith and Credit Four Sections
Establishes the idea that legal proceedings in one state are valid in all states
Other sections discuss the idea and process for admitting new states to the Union and the protections the states will be afforded by the National Government
Examples of protections – guaranteed form of republican government, protection from invasion, both by people in and out of the State or Country.

9. ARTICLE V Provisions or Amending the Constitution Propose an Amendment
2/3 both chambers of Congress
National Convention called by the request of 2/3 of state legislatures
Ratify an Amendment
3/4 of the state votes
3/4 of the states in convention

10. ARTICLE VI Validity of Debts
All debts previously garnered by the US government are still valid
Supremacy Clause
The US Constitution is the final say in laws in the United States – nothing can contradict it
Oath of Office
Elected people can be required to take an oath of office to support the Constitution, but a religious promise CANNOT be part of that oath.

11. ARTICLE VII
Ratification (acceptance) of the Constitution by nine states shall put the Constitution into effect

12. AMENDMENTS Amendment = change to the Constitution
First ten amendments – BILL OF RIGHTS
Voting Amendments
15, 17, 19, 23, 24, 26
14th Amendment – Rights of the Citizens, Equal Protection Clause
16th Amendment – Income Tax
25th Amendment – Presidential Succession
27th Amendment (1992) – Legislative Compensation