US Constitution: Articles, Branches & Amendments

It shows that the government's power comes from the people (popular sovereignty).

Article I: the legislative branch (Congress) Article II: the executive branch (the President) Article III: the judicial branch (the Supreme Court)

IV: relations between the states (full faith and credit) V: the amendment process VI: the Supremacy Clause and national debts VII: ratification

Separation of powers divides government into three branches with different jobs. Checks and balances let each branch limit the others, such as the veto or judicial review.

Federalism

The Necessary and Proper Clause (the Elastic Clause), Article I, Section 8

The Constitution, federal laws and treaties are the supreme law of the land; state laws that conflict with them are invalid. (Article VI)

Regulate trade with foreign nations, among the states and with Native American tribes.

A bicameral Congress: the House with representation by population, and the Senate with two senators per state.

Enslaved people were counted as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxes.

435 members, 2-year terms, at least 25 years old and a citizen for 7 years

100 senators, 6-year terms (one third elected every 2 years), at least 30 years old and a citizen for 9 years

A natural-born citizen, at least 35 years old and a US resident for 14 years

With a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate.

The House impeaches (brings charges) by a simple majority. The Senate holds the trial, and a two-thirds vote is needed to convict and remove.

Treaties need two-thirds of the Senate to ratify; appointments such as judges and cabinet members need a simple majority to confirm.

The House is closest to the people because of its short terms.

Proposed by two-thirds of both houses of Congress (or a convention called by two-thirds of the states), then ratified by three-fourths of the states.

Judicial review

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay, to persuade New York to ratify the Constitution.

A Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties from a strong national government.

There are 27 amendments in total.

Religion, speech, press, assembly and petition

The 2nd Amendment

The 3rd Amendment

The 4th Amendment

Against self-incrimination (“pleading the Fifth”) Against double jeopardy Due process of law Just compensation when property is taken (eminent domain) Grand jury indictment for serious federal crimes

The 6th Amendment

The 8th Amendment

9th: listing some rights does not deny others the people have. 10th: powers not given to the federal government are reserved to the states or the people.

The 22nd Amendment

The 26th Amendment