Class Notes (December 11, 2013)
Anatomy of the Constitution

  • The U.S. Constitution creates our government.
  • It sets up the three branches of government.
  • Explains how the Federal government is to be run.
  • Explains all this in about 4,500 words over 4 sheets of paper.
  • It is also the oldest constitution still in use. (Over 220 Years old)
  • The Preamble
  • Introduces the Constitution.
  • Explains what the government is meant to do.
  • Describes the purpose of the new government.
  • Article I: Creating Congress
  • First and longest part of the Constitution.
  • Creates Legislative(Law-Making) Branch.
  • The Legislature is responsible for turning people’s needs and wants into laws.
  • The legislature (representatives) make us a representative democracy.
  • It is composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Senate / House of Representatives
Qualifications: / Must be 30 years old, Been a U.S. Citizen for 9 years, and live in the state you represent. / Must be 25 years old, been a U.S. Citizen for 7 years, and live in the state you represent.
Size: / 2 Senators per State = 100 Total. / Number of State per Representative = 435 total
They represent: / The interests of the citizens in the entire state for a 6 year term. / The interest of the citizens who live in the district they represent within the state for a 2 year term.
Special Duties: / The Senate acts as a court during impeachments. / All bills that raise money must start in the House of Representative.
Bill must be approved by BOTH house of Congress before it can go to the President to become a law.

They can collect taxes, borrow money and pay debts, make rules for how to become a citizen, Declare war and support an army and navy, and make any other laws that are “necessary and proper” to carry out the powers listed.

  • Article II: The President
  • Describes the job President.
  • He executes (carries out) laws.
  • Responsibilities include commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Negotiate treaties with other countries, Represent the country when dealing with foreign nations, and make sure laws are carried out.
  • Article III: Judicial Branch
  • Creates Judicial Branch.
  • It interprets laws and determines whether they are to be followed during specific cases.
  • It creates Supreme Court, and allows Congress to create federal courts below the Supreme Court and deal with U.S. Laws not state laws.
  • Federal Judges are appointed, not elected and are in office for the rest of their life unless they are removed for bad behavior.
  • Also guarantees trial by jury for criminal cases as well as explain the crime of treason.
  • Article IV: The State
  • States have the power to create and enforce their own laws.
  • Explains how states should interact with one another.
  • These includes respecting their court decisions, bringing a criminal back to the state they committed a crime in, and must have republican forms of government.
  • Article V: Amending the Constitution
  • Describes how to amend (change) the constitution.
  • Step 1: Propose an Amendment that must be approved by two-thirds of both houses or two-thirds of state legislature congress.
  • Step 2: Ratify Three-Fourths of state legislature ratify the amendment ORThree-Fourths of special state conventions ratify the amendment.
  • Step 3: The Amendment is added to the constitution.
  • Article VI: Supreme Law of the Land
  • FederalismThe National government shares powers with the state governments.
  • If there is a dispute between the National Government and the State Government, the constitution gives the argument to the National Government.
  • This sets the U.S. Constitution up as “The Supreme Law of the Land.”
  • It also makes sure that state and federal government officials must take an oath to obey the constitution no matter what.
  • Article VII: Ratification
  • This states that the Constitution could not take effect until at least 9 out of the 13 states ratified it.
  • Many believed the Articles were not enough and that amendments needed to be added and would become the Bill of Rights. (Provide in writing rights to the people not listed in the articles.) It would become the Law of the land. The Bill of Rights in 1791.