![]() The state governments can call a convention to write changes, although this has NOT happened since 1787.Īny change that is written by Congress or by a convention must be sent to the state legislatures or to state conventions for their approval.Congress can write a change, if two-thirds of the members in each House agree.Process of amendment Īrticle Five gives two ways to amend, or change, the Constitution. Article Four says the United States must make sure that each state has a republican form of government, and protect the states from invasion and violence. It says Congress can make rules for Federal property and can govern territories that have not yet been made into states. It also says that state governments must treat citizens of other states as fairly as they treat their own citizens, and must send arrested people back if they have been charged with a crime in another state and fled.Īrticle Four also says that Congress can make new states. It says that all states must give "full faith and credit" to the laws of the other states. States' powers and limits Īrticle Four is about the states. It also requires trial by jury in all criminal cases, and defines the crime of treason. The Article says that Congress can decide which federal courts, besides the Supreme Court, are needed.Īrticle Three says what kinds of "cases and controversies" these courts can decide. Judicial power Īrticle Three says there will be a court system (the judicial branch), which includes the Supreme Court. However, Congress can override the veto and make the bill into a law anyway. He appoints judges, ambassadors, and other officers, but the Senate also must approve these appointments. He can make treaties with other countries, but these must be approved by two-thirds of the Senate. The Vice President takes over as President if the President dies, resigns, or is unable to serve.Īrticle Two also says that the President is the Commander-in-Chief in charge of the United States military. The President and Vice President are elected for four years by a special Electoral College chosen by the states. This article says how the President and Vice President are elected, and who can be elected to these offices. It lists some kinds of laws the Congress and the states cannot make.Īrticle One also makes rules for Congress to impeach and remove from office the President, Vice President, judges, and other government officers.Įxecutive power Īrticle Two says that the President, Vice President, and executive offices (the executive branch) will carry out the laws made by Congress. The original Constitution allowed the state legislatures to choose the Senators, but this was changed later by the Seventeenth Amendment.Īrticle One also says how the Congress will do its business and what kinds of laws it can make. The Senate has two members, called the legislators, from each state, no matter how many people live there. Each member of the House of Representatives is elected for two years. The number of members from each State depends on how many people live there. The House of Representatives has members elected by the people in each State. This Article says who can be elected to each part of Congress, and how they are elected. Congress has two parts, called "Houses": the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. Legislative power Īrticle One says that the United States Congress (the legislative branch) will make the laws for the United States. The six intentions that are listed are the goals of the Constitution. The first three words, "We the people," are used very often. The Preamble is one of the best-known parts of the Constitution. It gives the reasons for writing the Constitution. 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. When it was signed in 1787, the Constitution had a preamble and seven main parts, called articles. The first ten of these amendments are together called the Bill of Rights.Īrticles of the Constitution Since 1787, changes have been made to the United States Constitution 27 times by amendments (changes). The Constitution of the United States is the oldest federal constitution now in use. That government started on March 4, 1789, which took the place of the Articles of Confederation. When nine of the states ratified the document, they created a union of sovereign states, and a federal government for that union. Later, it was put into effect, or ratified, by representatives of the people of the first 13 states. It was signed on Septemby the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The United States Constitution is the highest law of the United States of America. ![]()
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