2. Essential Question How is the Constitution structured?

3. Structure of the Constitution

4. Preamble The introduction states why the Constitution was written

5. Articles Seven major divisions of the Constitution

6. Article 1 The legislative branch Organizes the U.S. Congress into the Senate and House of Representatives How to make laws

7. Article 2 Creates the executive branch Details the powers and duties of the presidency Qualifications for election

8. Article 3 Establishes the Supreme Court as head of the judicial branch Created lower federal courts

9. Article 4 Relationship of states Citizens of other states have the same rights as their own citizens

10. Article 5 Explains how the Constitution can be amended

11. Article 6 Contains the supremacy clause The Constitution and laws passed by Congress are the supreme law of the land

12. Article 7 Ratification 9 states needed to adopt the Constitution

13. The Amendments Changes to the Constitution 27 have occurred thus far

14. Let’s (legislative) Eat (executive) Jumbo (judicial) Shrimp (states’ relations) At (amendment process) Sonic (supremacy clause) Restaurant (ratification)

15. Powers of Congress Enumerated powers are listed in Article 1, Section 8 List of specific actions Congress may take

16. Powers of Congress? Elastic Clause Gives Congress the right to make all laws deemed “necessary and proper” Can stretch their powers

17. The Amendment Process Amendments are proposed by the national government and ratified by states Example of federalism

18. Proposing Amendments 1.Two-thirds vote from both houses of Congress 2.Convention called by Congress on petition of 2/3 of the states

19. Ratifying Amendments 1.Legislatures of ¾ of the states approve it 2.Each state calls a special ratifying convention and ¾ approve it.

20. Federalism Government power is divided between the state and national governments

21. Concurrent Powers Powers that both the national government and the states possess

22. Power to Tax

23. Power to Maintain a Court System

24. Power to Define Crimes

25. 10 th Amendment States may exercise any power not reserved in the Constitution for the national government

26. What Can States Not Do? Restrictions outlined in Article 1

27. Make treaties with foreign governments

28. Coin money

29. Grant titles of nobility