Brief Outline
What were the goals of the
Founders at the Constitutional
Convention?


“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.”
Establishes the GOALS of the new U.S.
Government

Legislative Branch

Largest Article
◦ Made up of Congress
(Senate & House of
Representatives)
◦ Duty: Make Laws
◦ Discussed in greatest
detail (10 Sections);
greatest division
 “in republican
government, the
legislative necessarily
predominates” Fed #51

Executive Branch
◦ Make up: President, Vice
President, & Cabinet
◦ Duty: To enforce laws

4 Sections
◦ Roles, requirements,
powers

Judicial Branch
◦ Make up: Supreme
Court
 Only court created by
the Constitution
◦ Duty: Interpret Laws

3 Sections
◦ Terms, Powers



Relates the
Constitution to the
States
Duties states have to
each other, to the
federal government
Admission of new
states

Article V:
◦ Outlines Amendment
process

Article VI:
◦ Establishes
Constitution as
Supreme Law of the
Land

Article VII:
◦ Outlines Ratification
process