Chapter 3: The Constituion

the basic rules of the US & American politics which is still used today.

What does the Constitution set out?

James Madison

father of the constituion

1st Article

establishes the Legislative Branch of the government, detailing the structure and powers of Congress.

2nd Article

establishes the Executive Branch of the government, outlining the powers and responsibilities of the President.

3rd Article

establishes the Judicial Branch of the government, defining the role of the Supreme Court and lower courts.

4th Article

how states relate to each other and to the federal government.

5th Article

how the constitution can be changed/ amended.

6th Article

It declares the Constitution the highest law, requires officials to support it, honors old debts, and bans religious tests for public office.

2-chamber body (Senate + House) to settle the Virginia & New Jersey Plans.

Under Article 1, what did the Framers make and why?

435 in House & 100 in Senate

How many members are in the House and Senate?

command the armed forces, make treaties, approve or veto actions of Congress, send and receive diplomatic representation, “take care that the laws be faithfully executed”, & call special sessions

What are some things the president can do under Article 2?

Supreme Court, Congress

Under Article 3, the Constitution established ___ & leaves ___ the creation of the inferior courts

Inferior Courts

the lower federal courts under the Supreme Court

people

All political power resides in the _____. The _____ are the only source of any Gov. power.

Limited Government

A system where the government’s powers are restricted by law so it cannot take away people’s rights

Separation of powers

the idea that government power is split into three branches so no one gets too much.

Checks & Balances

a system where each branch can limit the powers of the others

Judicial Review

the power of courts to determine whether government actions are constitutional or not

Federalism

A system where power is shared between the national government and the state governments.

1. Proposed by 2/3 of Congress → Ratified by 3/4 of state legislatures

2. Proposed by 2/3 of Congress → Ratified by 3/4 of state conventions

3. Proposed by a national convention called by 2/3 of states → Ratified by 3/4 of state legislatures

4. Proposed by a national convention called by 2/3 of states → Ratified by 3/4 of state conventions

Ways to amend the constitution

Article 5

no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage (voting) in the Senate.

the supreme court said that there’s no limit on ratification of an amendment

What’s the Reasonable time limit

The first ten amendments to the Constitution that protect basic individual freedoms like speech, religion, and fair trials.

What’s the Bill of Rights

1st Amendment:
Protects freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.

2nd Amendment:
Protects the right to keep and bear arms.

3rd Amendment:
Stops the government from forcing people to house soldiers.

Amendments 1-3

4th Amendment:
Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

5th Amendment:
Provides rights for the accused, including due process and protection against self‑incrimination.

6th-10th Amendment: on the test

Amendments 4-10

11th Amendment:
Limits lawsuits against states in federal court.

12th Amendment:
Changes how the president and vice president are elected by creating separate ballots.

13th Amendment:
Abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude (except as punishment for a crime).

Amendments 11-13

14th Amendment:
Defines citizenship and guarantees equal protection and due process under the law.

15th Amendment:
Protects the right to vote regardless of race or previous enslavement.

18th Amendment: Bans the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol (Prohibition).

Amendments 14, 15, 18

21st Amendment:
Repeals Prohibition (cancels the 18th Amendment).

22nd Amendment:
Limits the president to two elected terms.

Amendments 21 & 22

26th Amendment:
Lowers the voting age to 18.

27th Amendment:
Prevents Congress from giving itself a pay raise that takes effect immediately.

Amendments 26-27

Senatorial Courtesy

A tradition where the Senate approves presidential appointments—like federal judges or U.S. marshals—only if the senators from that nominee’s state support them.

Federalism

A system of government where power is shared between a national government and smaller regional governments, like states. Each level has its own authority and responsibilities.

expressed, implied, & inherent

What are the powers held by the federal government?

Expressed powers

the powers clearly written in the Constitution and given directly to the national government, like the power to tax, coin money, and regulate trade.

Inherent powers

These are powers the national government has simply because it is a sovereign nation, like controlling borders or making agreements with other countries.

Implied powers

These are powers the national government has that aren’t directly written in the Constitution but are needed to carry out the expressed powers.

Reserved powers/State powers

These are powers kept by the states, not given to the national government, such as running schools, issuing licenses, regulating local laws, and marriage laws.

Exclusive powers

These are powers that only the national government can use, not the states — like coining money, making treaties, and regulating interstate or foreign trade.

Concurrent powers

These are powers shared by both the national government and the state governments, like taxing, making laws, and building roads.

Local government powers

power from the state government, which creates them and decides what they can do. They usually handle community needs like police and fire services, zoning, local roads, and city ordinances.

Supremacy Clause

When state and federal laws conflict, federal law wins because the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause makes national law the highest law in the country.

delegated powers

Another name for national powers

Republican from of gov.

The constitution guarantees every state a Republican (representative) form of gov.

Congress

has the power to admit new states in the Union

new states can’t be created from an old one without the consent of the state’s legislature

what’s the rule for new states from existing ones?

Admission Procedure

ask congress for admission. Congress passed an enabling act - frames a state Constituion

federal-grants-in-aid

funds/resources given by the federal gov. to states & local gov.

running elections

What’s the biggest way states support the national gov?

Full Faith and Credit Clause

It requires each state to respect and honor the public acts, records, and court decisions of every other state. This rule stops people from escaping legal duties, debts, or court judgments just by crossing a state line.

Extradition

the formal legal process where one jurisdiction hands over an accused or convicted person to another jurisdiction to face trial or punishment.

immediately obtained Constitutional & Congressional rights

States who joined after the O.G. 13 states…?