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Outline of the U.S. Constitution

Preamble: We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Jus-tice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, 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.

Bill of Rights: Protection of individual rightsAmendments: formal changes to the Constitution

Article I: Legislative branchsection 1 Congresssection 2 House of representativessection 3 senatesection 4 elections and meetingssection 5 Legislative proceedingssection 6 Compensation, immunities, and disabilities of memberssection 7 revenue bills, presidential vetosection 8 Powers of Congresssection 9 Powers denied to Congresssection 10 Powers denied to the states

Article II: Executive branchsection 1 President: term, election, qualifications, compensation, oath of officesection 2 President’s powers and dutiessection 3 President’s powers and dutiessection 4 impeachment

Article III: Judicial branchsection 1 Courts, terms of officesection 2 Jurisdictionsection 3 treason

Article IV: Relations among statessection 1 full faith and creditsection 2 Privileges and immunities of citizenssection 3 new states, territoriessection 4 Protection afforded to states by the nation

Article V: Provisions for amendment

Article VI: Public debts, supremacy of national law, oathsClause 1 Validity of debtsClause 2 supremacy of national lawClause 3 oaths of office

Article VII: Ratification of the Constitution

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Completed Constitutional Law 1 Matrix

Card Article Section

Answer to Question

Constitutional Provision with Key Words Underlined

1 i 2 Yes

“no Person shall be a representative who shall not have attained to the age of twenty five Years.”

2 i 3 6 years

“the senate of the United states shall be com-posed of two senators from each state . . . for six Years.”

3 i 7the House of representa-

tives

“all bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of representatives.”

4 i 8 Congress

“the Congress shall have power . . . to declare War.”

5 ii 2the president, with approval of the senate

“He shall have Power, by and with the advice and Consent of the senate, to make treaties.”

6 ii 2 the senate

“He shall nominate, and by and with the advice and Consent of the senate, shall appoint ambassa-dors.”

7 ii 2 the president

“He shall nominate, and by and with the advice and Consent of the senate, shall appoint . . . Judges of the supreme Court.”

8 ii 1 35 years old

“. . . attained to the age of thirty five Years.”

9 ii 1 four years

“He shall hold his office during the term of four Years.”

10 i 2 and 3

the House of representatives can impeach; the senate tries the impeachment

“the House of representatives . . . shall have sole Power of impeachment.”

“the senate shall have sole Power to try all impeach-ments.”

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Card Article SectionAnswer to Question

Constitutional Provision with Key Words Underlined

11 i 8 Congress

“the Congress shall have Power . . . to regulate Commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states.”

12 i 3president of the senate

“the Vice President of the United states shall be President of the senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.”

13 iii 2 federal courts

“the judicial Power shall extend to all Cases . . . arising under this Constitution . . . to Controversies between two or more states.”

14 iii 1 for life

“the judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their offices during good behav-iour.”

15 ii 1 the states

“each state shall appoint . . . a number of elec-tors.”

16 ii 2 the president

“the President shall be Commander in Chief of the army and navy of the United states.”

17 Vithe congres-sional law

“this Constitution, and the Laws of the United states . . . shall be the supreme Law of the Land.”

18 iii 3 no

“treason against the United states, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and Comfort.”

19 V Congress

“the Congress, whenever two-thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution.”

20 i 7 the president

“every bill which shall have passed the House of representatives and the senate, shall, before it be-comes a Law, be presented to the President of the United states; if he approve, he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it.”

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The limited government envisioned in the Constitution is based upon six guiding principles.

Guiding Principles of the Constitution

Popular SovereigntyBecause the government is created by and for the people, power resides not with the government or its leaders but with the people. In a representative democracy, the people vote to elect leaders to represent their interests.

Rule of LawThe people and their government must abide by a set of laws, rather than by arbitrary rules set down by any individual or group. The Constitution sets limits to governmental power and establishes how leaders who overstep their power can be removed.

Separation of Powers and Checks and BalancesPowers and responsibilities are divided among three government branches to prevent any one person or group from having too much power. A system of checks and balances allows each branch to monitor and check the power of the others to prevent any abuse of government power.

FederalismPower is divided between the central government and the individual state and local governments.

Independent JudiciaryThe judicial branch is established as an independent entity, free of pressures and influences from the other two branches. The Supreme Court is the highest authority in the federal court system.

Individual RightsIndividual rights and liberties are protected against government encroachment.

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Completed Constitutional Law 2 Matrix

CardRelevant Excerpt from the Constitution

Principle or Principles Exemplified

Explanation of How These Principles Are Exemplified

1

Article IV, Section 2, Clause 1: Privileges and immunities. the Citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of Citizens in the several states.

individual rights

rule of law

states cannot discriminate against citizens of other states. this limits the power of state governments and guar-antees the rights of individuals.

2

Article II, Section 2, Clause 2: The Sen-ate checks and balances the president’s power to make treaties and appoint-ments to office. He [the president] shall have Power, by and with the advice and Consent of the senate, to make treaties, provided two thirds of the senators pres-ent concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice and Consent of the senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other officers of the United states.

separation of powers and checks and balances

no treaty signed by the president can go into effect unless two-thirds of the senate approves it. this acts as a check on the president’s power. the presi-dent’s nominees for judges, ambas-sadors, and other offices must also be confirmed by the senate.

3

Article I, Section 7, Clause 2: The veto. every bill which shall have passed the House of representatives and the senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United states; if he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it.

separation of powers and checks and balances

the power of Congress to make laws is checked by the president, who can approve or veto them.

4

Tenth Amendment: Powers reserved to the states. the powers not delegated to the United states by the Constitution . . . are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

federalism

individual rights

any powers not specifically given to the federal government or denied to the states are reserved for the states and thus the people.

5

Article I, Section 2, Clause 1: Direct elec-tion of the House of Representatives. the House of representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second Year by the People of the several states, and the electors in each state shall have the Qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the state Legislature.

Popular sovereignty

federalism

members of the House of representa-tives are elected by the people every two years. the states set the qualifica-tions for voting.

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CardRelevant Excerpt from the Constitution

Principle or Principles Exemplified

Explanation of How These Principles Are Exemplified

6

Article I, Section 8, Clause 3: Interstate Commerce Clause. Congress has the power to regulate Commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the indian tribes.

federalism the power to regulate interstate com-merce is given to the federal govern-ment. this is an example of a delegated power.

7

Preamble. We the People of the United states, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domes-tic tranquility, provide for the common defence, 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.

individual rights

rule of law

the opening words of the Constitution state that the Constitution is estab-lished by the people to protect the rights and well-being of all citizens. these words also suggest that the Con-stitution is the basis of law.

8

Article VI, Section 2: Supremacy Clause. this Constitution, and the Laws of the United states which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the au-thority of the United states, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every state shall be bound thereby, any thing in the Constitution or Laws of any state to the Contrary notwithstanding.

rule of law

federalism

the supremacy Clause establishes the Constitution as the highest authority in the country, to which all leaders must adhere. it also establishes the authority of federal law over state law.

9

Article IV, Section 4: Republican form of government and protection against inva-sion. the United states shall guarantee to every state in this Union a republican form of Government, and shall protect each of them against invasion; and on application of the Legislature, or of the executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened), against domestic violence.

federalism

individual rights

Popular sovereignty

this provision guarantees representa-tive government for the states, as well as federal protection from invasion. implied within that guarantee are the protection of rights and liberties and rule by the people.

10

Article III, Section 1: Supreme Court, lower courts, judges serve for life or good behavior. the judicial Power of the United states, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. the Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior, and shall, at stated times, receive for their services a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continu-ance in office.

Checks and balances

independent judiciary

supreme Court justices hold their terms for life (subject to good behavior). their pay cannot be reduced while they serve. this creates a judiciary less likely to be influenced by the other branches of government—an additional check.