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“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.”

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Section 1 – Legislative Power, the Congress
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Section 2 – House of Representatives
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Section 3 – Senate
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Section 4 – Elections and Meetings
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Section 5 – Legislative Proceedings

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Section 6 – Compensation, Immunities, and
Disabilities of Members
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Section 7 – Revenue Bills; President’s Veto
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Section 8 – Powers of Congress
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Section 9 – Powers Denied to Congress
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Section 10 – Powers Denied to States

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Section 1 – Executive Power; The President;
Term; Election: Qualifications;
Compensation; Oath of Office
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Section 2 – President’s Powers and Duties
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Section 3 – President’s Powers and Duties
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Section 4 – Impeachment

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Section 1 – Judicial Power; Courts;
Terms of Office
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Section 2 – Jurisdiction
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Section 3 – Treason

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Section 1 – Full Faith and Credit
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Section 2 – Privileges and Immunities of
Citizens
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Section 3 – New States, Territories
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Section 4 – Protection Afforded to States by the Nation

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Amendments can be proposed in two ways: by a two-thirds vote in each house of Congress, or by a national convention called by congress at the request of two-thirds of State legislatures.
Amendments may be ratified in one of two ways: by three-fourths of the State legislatures, or by three-fourths of the States in conventions called for that purpose.

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Section 1 – Validity of Debts
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Section 2 – Supremacy of National Law
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Section 3 – Oaths of Office

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The ratification of the Conventions of nine
States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the same.
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Signed on September 17, 1787.

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Process by which over time many changes have been made in the Constitution which have not involved any changes in its written words.
Result of the day-to-day, year-to-year experiences of government under the
Constitution.
There are 5 ways in which informal amendments can be put forth.

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Congress has passed a number of laws to spell out several of the Constitution’s brief provisions
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Added details and meanings to the Constitution
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Article III, Section II
 One Supreme Court
 Judiciary Act of 1789
 Congress sets up federal courts, not the Supreme Court
Article II
 Only sets up offices of President and Vice President
 Various offices, (SEC, FDA) set up by congress

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Various Presidents have used their powers to produce changes
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Only Congress can declare war
 Presidents can make war, even when war is not declared by congress
 Vietnam
Only Congress can enter into formal treaties
 Presidents can enter into executive agreements directly with the heads of foreign nations.

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The US Supreme Court may interpret and apply the Constitution in many ways.
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Marbury V. Madison , 1803
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First time the Supreme Court declared an act by a governmental official unconstitutional
Legislation for basic Judicial Review
 Courts may oversee and overrule actions of the other branches of government

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Political parties, though thought of as dangerous by framers, especially Washington, continue to shape the constitution
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No law or Constitutional statement provides for the nomination of candidates for presidency
The President is elected by the electoral college
 The group that makes the formal selection of President
 Electoral college and national party conventions are
“rubber stamps” for selection.
 US government is party government

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Unwritten customs may be as strong as written law
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The heads of the 14 executive departments make up the Cabinet – presidential advisory board
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Presidential succession before the 25 th Amendment
Senatorial Courtesy – The Senate will only approve those presidential appointees that are acceptable to the senator or senators of the President’s party from the State involved. – Federal judge
2 term Presidencies – 22 Amendment