Malcolm Rivera
The US Constitution is composed of a preamble and seven articles that outline the basic framework of the federal government, including the three branches of government and their powers: the Legislative (Congress), the Executive (office of the President), and the Judicial (Federal court system). The first three articles establish these three branches, while Articles four through seven describe the relationship between the states and the Federal Government, establish the Constitution as the supreme law of the land, and define the amendment and ratification processes. The Constitution also includes 27 amendments, the first 10 of which are known as the Bill of Rights.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Structure of the government | Legislative (Congress), Executive (office of the President), and Judicial (Federal court system) |
| Powers of each branch | Creating, administering, and enforcing laws |
| Checks and balances | Preventing any one branch from becoming dominant |
| Relationship of the states to the Federal Government | States have the authority to create and enforce laws but must respect and help enforce the laws of other states |
| Amendment process | Two-thirds of both Houses propose amendments, ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures or state conventions |
| Federal law supremacy | Federal law is supreme over state and local laws |
| Ratification process | Special state ratifying conventions, with nine states required to enact the Constitution |
| Limited federal government power | The federal government's power is limited to what is written in the Constitution |
| Bicameral Congress | Divided into two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives |
| Congressional elections | Recognition of a federal right to vote and equal protection in congressional elections |
| Congressional districts | Each state has at least one representative, with distribution based on population |
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What You'll Learn
- The US Constitution's preamble and seven articles outline the government's structure and operation
- Articles I-III establish the legislative, executive, and judicial branches' powers
- Articles IV-VII describe states' relations to the federal government and define amendment and ratification processes
- Article I, Section 1 requires a bicameral Congress, with two houses: the Senate and House of Representatives
- Article I, Section 2 establishes how congressional districts are divided among the states
The US Constitution's preamble and seven articles outline the government's structure and operation
The US Constitution, signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788, is divided into a preamble and seven articles that outline the structure and operation of the government. The preamble introduces the articles and amendments that follow, and the seven articles make up the structural constitution.
The first three articles establish the three branches of government and their powers: the Legislative Branch (Congress), the Executive Branch (the office of the President), and the Judicial Branch (the Federal court system). A system of checks and balances prevents any one of these separate powers from becoming dominant.
Article I assigns the responsibility for making laws to the Legislative Branch (Congress), which is divided into two parts, or "Houses": the House of Representatives and the Senate. This article also requires that Congress be bicameral, meaning it should consist of two legislative bodies, reflecting a compromise between the power of the states and the power of the people. The number of seats in the House of Representatives is based on population, while the Senate gives equal power to each state, with two senators from each.
Article II establishes the Executive Branch, headed by the President, who has the power to veto acts of Congress and pardon convicted criminals.
Article III establishes the Judicial Branch, which is responsible for interpreting the law and ensuring that the other branches act within their delegated powers.
Articles IV through VII describe the relationship between the states and the Federal Government, establish the Constitution as the supreme law of the land, and define the amendment and ratification processes. Article IV outlines the powers of states in relation to each other, while Article V explains the process for amending the Constitution, which requires a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, or a majority of state legislatures applying to Congress for a national convention. Article VI states that Federal law is supreme to state and local laws, and Article VII outlines the ratification process for the Constitution, requiring nine states to enact it.
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Articles I-III establish the legislative, executive, and judicial branches' powers
The United States Constitution establishes a framework for the country's government, outlining the structure and powers of its three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. Articles I–III are dedicated to these three branches of government, respectively.
Article I establishes the legislative branch, consisting of the Congress, which is further divided into two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. This structure reflects a compromise between the power of the states and the power of the people. The number of seats in the House of Representatives is based on population, with larger and more urban states having greater representation. On the other hand, the Senate gives equal representation to each state, with two senators representing each state. For a proposed legislation to become law, it must be passed by both the House and the Senate and be approved or not vetoed by the president.
Article II establishes the executive branch, which is headed by the President of the United States. While the President has the power to veto acts of Congress, their appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court must be approved by the Senate. Additionally, the President has the authority to pardon convicted criminals.
Article III establishes the judicial branch, which consists of the Federal court system, including the U.S. Supreme Court. The judicial branch is responsible for interpreting the law and ensuring that the other two branches remain within their delegated powers. This separation of powers is designed to prevent any one person or group from having too much influence over the law-making and enforcement process.
The first three articles of the Constitution, therefore, outline the fundamental structure and powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the United States government, providing a system of checks and balances to maintain a balanced and effective governance.
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Articles IV-VII describe states' relations to the federal government and define amendment and ratification processes
Articles IV–VII of the United States Constitution primarily outline the relationships between the states and the federal government, while also establishing procedures for admitting new states and defining the processes of amending and ratifying the Constitution. Article IV, in particular, focuses on the relations between the states, guaranteeing a republican form of government in each state and extending privileges and immunities to the citizens of each state. It also addresses the extradition of criminals, the admittance of new states, and the role of the federal government in protecting states from invasion and domestic violence. This article ensures that the United States remains a cohesive union, with clear guidelines for interstate relations and the admission of new states.
Article V turns to the process of amending the Constitution, outlining two methods by which amendments can be proposed and ratified. The first method involves a proposal by Congress, where a two-thirds majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate is required to propose an amendment. The second method allows for a proposal by a national convention, which becomes necessary upon the request of two-thirds of the state legislatures. For an amendment to become part of the Constitution, ratification by three-fourths of the state legislatures or ratifying conventions is required. This article ensures that the Constitution can be amended when necessary, but also establishes a deliberate and rigorous process to protect the stability and longevity of the document.
Article VI establishes the Supremacy Clause, asserting that the Constitution, federal laws made in pursuance of it, and treaties made under the authority of the United States constitute the supreme law of the land. This article also addresses the roles and responsibilities of federal and state officials, requiring them to take oaths to support the Constitution and ensuring that they are bound by their constitutional duties. Additionally, Article VI prohibits religious tests as a qualification for holding public office, guaranteeing religious freedom and ensuring that individuals are not excluded from public service based on their religious beliefs or lack thereof.
Article VII, the final article, outlines the process of ratification, setting out the requirement that nine states needed to ratify the Constitution for it to come into effect. This article provides a historical context for the founding document, detailing the process by which the Constitution was initially adopted and establishing the framework for the formation of the United States government. The ratification of the Constitution by the original thirteen states marked a pivotal moment in the nation's history, transitioning from the Articles of Confederation to the enduring constitutional framework that continues to shape American governance today.
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Article I, Section 1 requires a bicameral Congress, with two houses: the Senate and House of Representatives
Article I, Section 1 of the US Constitution establishes the structure of Congress, requiring it to be bicameral, or divided into two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. This structure reflects a compromise between the power of the states and the power of the people.
The Senate and the House of Representatives each have distinct roles and powers within the legislative branch of the US government. The Senate, with two senators from each state, gives equal representation to all states, regardless of population size. On the other hand, the number of seats in the House of Representatives is based on population, with larger and more populous states having more representatives than smaller, less populous states.
Any proposed legislation must be passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives and approved (or not vetoed) by the President to become law. This process ensures that the legislative branch, as a whole, represents both the interests of the states and the people.
The qualifications and terms of service for members of the House of Representatives are outlined in Article I, Section 2. Representatives must be at least 25 years old, citizens of the United States for at least seven years, and inhabitants of the state they represent. Additionally, this section establishes that representatives are chosen every second year by the people of the respective states.
Furthermore, Article I, Section 2 addresses the issue of counting a state's population, including the controversial matter of counting slaves for representation and taxation purposes. It also determines how congressional districts are divided among the states.
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Article I, Section 2 establishes how congressional districts are divided among the states
Article I, Section 2 of the US Constitution establishes the way in which congressional districts are divided among the states. This section also recognises a federal right to vote in congressional elections. The number of seats in the House of Representatives is based on population, with larger and more urban states having more representatives than rural, less-populated states. Each state has equal power in the Senate, with two senators each.
The Constitution requires that every 10 years, every adult in the country must answer a survey. Based on these surveys, Congress determines how many representatives (with a minimum of one) each state will have and how federal resources will be distributed. The number of House members from each of the original 13 states was used until the first census was completed.
The issue of how to count a state's population was a critical and contentious issue at the Constitutional Convention. This was particularly true when it came to counting slaves for representation and taxation purposes. If slaves were considered property, they would not be counted at all.
The House of Representatives is made up of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states. Representatives must be at least 25 years old, have been citizens of the US for at least seven years, and live in the state in which they are elected.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution contains a preamble and seven articles. The first three articles establish the three branches of government and their powers: Legislative (Congress), Executive (office of the President), and Judicial (Federal court system). Articles four through seven describe the relationship of the states to the Federal Government, define the amendment and ratification processes, and establish the Constitution as the supreme law of the land.
The first three articles of the US Constitution establish the three branches of government and their powers. Article I assigns the responsibility for making laws to the Legislative Branch (Congress), which is divided into two parts: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Article II covers the powers of the Executive Branch, which is the office of the President. Article III establishes the Judicial Branch, which is the Federal court system.
Articles four through seven of the US Constitution describe the relationship between the states and the Federal Government, with states having their own powers to create and enforce laws while also respecting the laws of other states. These articles also outline the amendment and ratification processes, with Article V detailing the more difficult process of amending the Constitution compared to making laws. Finally, Article VI states that Federal law is supreme to state and local laws.
