1. OUTLINING THE US CONSTITUTION
Notes

2. I. Preamble (introduction to the Constitution)
A. Establishes 6 goals of the Constitution
1. form a more perfect union (1 country)
2. establish justice (fairness for all)
3. ensure domestic tranquility (peace in US)
4. common defense (military)
5. general welfare (well-being of citizens)
6. to secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity (freedom for the future)

3. II. Article I A. Legislative branch – Congress – make laws
B. Bicameral (2 houses)
1. House of Representatives
a members
b. 2 year terms (unlimited amount)
2. Senate
a members (2 from each state)
b. 6 year terms (unlimited amount)

4. C. Powers given to Congress (enumerated powers)
1. coining money (currency)
2. establish military
3. declare war
D. Powers denied to Congress
1. Ex post facto law (cannot pass) – a law that would punish you for a crime that was NOT a crime when you committed it
2. writ of habeus corpus (produce the body) – when you are arrested, you must be brought before a judge (court)
3. bill of attainder (cannot pass) – law that would punish you without a trial

5. A. President and Vice President
III. Article II – Executive branch – President/VP – enforces laws (carries them out)
A. President and Vice President
1. chosen by electoral college
2. 4 yr. term (2 max.)
3. is possible to serve 10 years
B. President’s Powers
1. power to grant pardons (freedom from crime)
2. appoints cabinet (approved by Senate)
3. appoints federal judges (approved by Senate)

6. IV. Article III – Judicial branch – Supreme Court – interpret laws (make sure they jive w/ Constitution)
A. Supreme Court
1. 9 justices (one is a Chief Justice)
2. appointed by Prez; approved by Senate
3. serve for life
**** Presidents and federal judges can be removed from office through impeachment
a. Impeach – charged with a crime
b. House of Representatives impeaches
c. Senate does the trial

7. V. Article IV – Relations among states
A. Congress has the power to admit new states
B. “Full Faith and Credit” Clause – states must respect laws of other states
Ex: driver’s licenses
Ex: marriages
Ex: education
C. Extradition – if you commit a crime in one state, and you are arrested in another state, you get sent (extradited) back to the state of the original crime; by the power of the executive authority of state (Governor or Attorney General)

8. VI. Article V – Amendments (how to amend/change the Constitution)
A. 27 amendments
B. 2/3 of Congress proposes amendment; ¾ of states to ratify (approve) amendment

9. VII. Article VI – The Supremacy Clause
A. The Constitution is the “supreme” law of the land
B. Federal law is ALWAYS above state law

10. VIII. Article VII – Ratification of the Constitution
A. 9 out 13 states to ratify the Constitution
1. September 1787 – Constitution written
2. June 1788 – 9th state ratifies (New Hampshire)
– Rhode Island was the 13th to ratify
– Bill of Rights was added