1. United States Constitution

3. Preamble
“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.”

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

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

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

7. Article III Judicial Department
Section 1 – Judicial Power; Courts; Terms of Office
Section 2 – Jurisdiction
Section 3 – Treason

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

9. Article V Provisions for Amendment
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.

11. Article VI Public Debts; Supremacy of National Law; Oath
Section 1 – Validity of Debts
Section 2 – Supremacy of National Law
Section 3 – Oaths of Office

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

13. Informal Amendment
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.

14. Basic Legislation
Congress has passed a number of laws to spell out several of the Constitution’s brief provisions
Added details and meanings to the Constitution
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

15. Executive Action
Various Presidents have used their powers to produce changes
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.

16. Court Decisions
The US Supreme Court may interpret and apply the Constitution in many ways.
Marbury V. Madison, 1803
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

17. Party Practices
Political parties, though thought of as dangerous by framers, especially Washington, continue to shape the constitution
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

18. Custom Unwritten customs may be as strong as written law
The heads of the 14 executive departments make up the Cabinet – presidential advisory board
Presidential succession before the 25th 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