An Overview of the U.S. Constitution American History I

Contrast: The Articles of Confederation (1781) and the U.S. Constitution (1789) Structure? Legislature? Other branches? Taxation? Currency? Trade? Power?

Contrast: Structure Articles of Confederation Loose alliance of independent states U.S. Constitution National government representing all Americans

Contrast: Legislature Articles of Confederation Unicameral (one- house) law-making body: Congress U.S. Constitution Bicameral (two- house) law-making body: Congress –Senate (Upper House) –House of Represent- atives (Lower House)

Contrast: Other Branches Articles of Confederation No executive or judicial branches U.S. Constitution Executive branch –President –Cabinet Judicial branch –Supreme Court –Appellate courts

Contrast: Taxation Articles of Confederation Only states can tax U.S. Constitution Congress also has the power to tax

Contrast: Currency Articles of Confederation Only states can coin money U.S. Constitution Only national government can coin money

Contrast: Trade Articles of Confederation No effective regulation of trade between states U.S. Constitution National government regulates trade between states

Contrast: Power Articles of Confederation Most power held by the individual states U.S. Constitution Most power held by the national government in conjunction with the state governments Federalism: states subordinate power to central government

The Constitution in Brief Article I: Legislative Branch Article II: Executive Branch Article III:Judicial Branch Article IV:State Powers Article V:Amendments Article VI:Power of Law Article VII:Ratification Amendments (Bill of Rights plus 11-27)

Article I: Legislative Branch Senate and the House of Representatives –Representatives: elected for two-year terms Must be 25 yrs. old, citizen 7 yrs., and live in state Numbers based on pop.; census every 10 yrs. –Senators: elected for six-year terms Only 2 senators per state; staggered elections Must be 30 yrs. old, citizen 9 yrs., and live in state Vice President = President of the Senate

Article I: Legislative Branch Some Notable Powers of Congress –Pay off national debt –Borrow money –Punish counterfeiting –Create laws –Declare war –Raise an army –Maintain national roads

Article II: Executive Branch President: Commander in Chief –Must be born in the U.S. or to U.S. parents At least 35 years old; 14 years resident of the U.S. –Elected to a four-year term Chosen by the Electoral College –Electors = total number of a state’s representatives plus senators –Most votes = President; Second-most votes = V.P. »Process changed by the 12 th Amendment

Article II: Executive Branch Powers of the President –Oath: “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States” –Grant pardons for offenses against U.S. –Appoint ambassadors –Appoint nominees for the Supreme Court –Appoint temporary Senate vacancies –Deliver annual State of the Union address

Article III: Judicial Branch United States Supreme Court –One Chief Justice –How many Associate Justices? Judicial power extends to all cases –Authority over all government officials –Can declare any act unconstitutional Trial by jury in all cases - except impeachment - in the state of the crime

Article IV: State Powers An attempt to balance federal power with state authority –State records shall be given full faith + credit –State citizens are entitled to certain privileges –Extradition for crimes state to state –Admission of new states –U.S. guarantees a republican form of govt. and protection from invasion and rebellion

Article V: Amendments In order to propose an amendment, –2/3 approval of both Houses of Congress OR –2/3 approval of state governments is needed In order to ratify an amendment, –3/4 approval of both Houses of Congress OR –3/4 approval of state governments is needed When was the last time that an amend- ment was ratified? (Hint: #27)

Article VI: Power of Law Constitution is the supreme law of the land –Contracts and debts before the Constitution shall be valid under the Constitution –All government officials are bound by an oath of office to support the Constitution –No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification for any office

Article VII: Ratification In order to ratify the Constitution, the consent of how many state conventions was necessary? When the Constitution was ratified on September 17, 1787, how many of the states present supported the idea? –Which state was admitted into the Union first? –What did this signify?

Amendments Bill of Rights (1-10) –Why were these ten amendments added to the Constitution in 1791? –Which one of the first ten amendments do you think is the most important? Explain why. Amendments –Which one of these amendments do you think is the most important? Explain why.