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Introduction to the US Constitution – 1 sentence
States where power comes from
Lists the 6 goals of US government
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.
We the People of the United States”
 The power of the US government is in the hands
of the people
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“Form a more perfect union”
 Act as one country
“Establish justice”
 The law must be reasonable, fair, and impartial
“Insure domestic tranquility”
 Keep peace within the country; maintain order at
home
“Provide for the common defense”
 Protect US interests in the world
“Promote the general welfare”
 Provide people with basic services
“Secure the blessings of Liberty to
ourselves and our posterity”
 Guarantee our freedoms today and for future
generations
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The Legislative Branch (Article I)
 MAKES THE LAWS
 The House and Senate
 Senate originally chosen by state legislatures
 First Article because Congress seen as most
important
 Elastic clause (Section 8, Clause 18) gives Congress
wide freedom to pass laws “necessary and proper”
to running the country.
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The Executive Branch (Article II)
 ENFORCES THE LAWS
 The President
The Judicial Branch (Article III)
 INTERPRETS THE LAWS
 SCOTUS and the federal courts
 Most vague; left to the most interpretation
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Relations among the states: establishes uniformity
among states
Full Faith and Credit clause: states should accept
legal proceedings from other states
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EX: birth certificate, driver’s licenses, ownership of a
vehicle
Privileges and immunities clause: citizens in each
state have the same rights as citizens in other states
Extradition clause: states must return criminals to
states where they have been convicted or have to
stand trial.
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Amending the constitution (Article V)
National Supremacy and Other Random Stuff
(Article VI)
 Assumes Confederacy’s debt and
obligations
 Supremacy Clause: Constitution the
supreme law of the land
Ratification (Article VII)
 Sets conditions for accepting the
Constitution
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Two-thirds of Congress, three-fourths of state
legislatures
 most common method
Two-thirds of Congress, three-fourths of state
conventions
 used once to repeal Prohibition
Two-thirds of states to call a ratifying convention than
would have to be approved by three-fourths of state
legislatures
 never used, and no one knows how it would work if
they did
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Amendments 1-10
 Part of the deal to ratify the constitution,
although took some time to get passed because
Congress had more pressing matters
 1-8 deal with personal rights
 9 answers Madison’s concerns by stating that a
right doesn’t have to be here to exist
 10 affirms federalism; the Supreme Court (1931)
said it was redundant
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Amendments 13-15
Dealt with issues related to the Civil War, most notably
African-Americans
 13th Amendment: emancipated the slaves
 14th Amendment: among other things
 established citizenship for all people living in the
U.S.
 set specific legal provisions (more on this much later)
 dealt with matters related to Confederate officers and
Confederate debt
 15th Amendment: gave black men the right to vote
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Amendments 16-19
Dealt with specific areas of reform
 16th amendment: national income tax
 to fund government programs
 17th amendment: direct election of senators
 Senators originally chosen by state legislatures
 18th amendment: prohibition (outlawing of alcohol)
 to deal with social problems stemming from
alcoholism
 19th amendment: women’s suffrage (women’s right to
vote)