Seven Articles of the U.S. Constitution

Seven Articles of the U.S. Constitution

The seven main sections of the Constitution that organize the national government, explain national power, describe amendments, establish supremacy, and explain ratification.

Article I

The article that creates the legislative branch.

Legislative branch

The branch of government that makes laws.

Congress

The bicameral legislature created by Article I.

Bicameral legislature

A legislature with two chambers.

House of Representatives

The lower chamber of Congress.

Senate

The upper chamber of Congress.

Lower chamber

The House of Representatives.

Upper chamber

The Senate.

Article I powers

The powers given to Congress, including lawmaking, taxation, regulating commerce, and carrying out necessary and proper actions.

Expressed powers

Powers directly written in the Constitution.

Enumerated powers

Another name for expressed powers because they are listed in the Constitution.

Implied powers

Powers not directly written in the Constitution but reasonably needed to carry out expressed powers.

Necessary and Proper Clause

The clause that gives Congress flexibility to make laws needed to carry out its listed powers.

Elastic Clause

Another name for the Necessary and Proper Clause.

Purpose of the Elastic Clause

To allow Congress to pass laws that are reasonably necessary to carry out its constitutional duties.

Commerce Clause

The clause that gives Congress power to regulate business and trade across state lines.

Interstate commerce

Trade or business that crosses state lines.

Exclusive national powers

Powers that belong only to the national government.

Article II

The article that creates the executive branch.

Executive branch

The branch of government that enforces laws.

President

The head of the executive branch.

Presidency

The office of the president created by Article II.

Electoral College

The system established for choosing the president.

Executive powers

The powers of the president, including enforcing laws, leading the executive branch, and carrying out constitutional duties.

Article III

The article that creates the judicial branch.

Judicial branch

The branch of government that interprets laws.

Supreme Court

The highest court in the United States, created by Article III.

Federal courts

Courts that operate under national authority.

Judicial power

The power to interpret laws and decide legal cases.

Article IV

The article dealing with national unity and relationships among the states.

National unity

The idea that the states are part of one connected Union.

Reciprocity among states

The principle that states must respect certain legal acts, records, and proceedings of other states.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

The Article IV principle requiring states to recognize public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of other states.

Privileges and Immunities Clause

The Article IV principle that states must generally treat citizens of other states fairly.

Extradition

The process of returning a person accused of a crime to the state where the crime was committed.

Article IV and states

Article IV helps regulate relationships between states and supports unity within the country.

Article V

The article explaining how to amend the Constitution.

Amending the Constitution

The formal process for changing or adding to the Constitution.

Article V amendment process

Amendments usually require two

Two

thirds approval in Congress

Three

fourths approval by states

Purpose of Article V

To allow the Constitution to be changed while making changes difficult enough to require broad agreement.

Article VI

The article establishing national supremacy.

National supremacy

The principle that the Constitution and federal laws are higher than state laws.

Supremacy Clause

The clause stating that the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties are the supreme law of the land.

Supreme law of the land

The Constitution and valid national laws outrank conflicting state laws.

State law under Article VI

State laws cannot override the Constitution or valid federal law.

Article VI and unity

Article VI helps keep the nation unified by making federal law supreme over conflicting state law.

Article VII

The article explaining ratification of the Constitution.

Ratification

Formal approval of the Constitution.

Article VII ratification rule

The Constitution became effective when approved by 9 of the original 13 states.

Nine

state approval

Original thirteen states

The first thirteen states that considered ratifying the Constitution.

Purpose of Article VII

To explain how the Constitution would officially become valid.

Main purpose of Article I

To create Congress and give it lawmaking powers.

Main purpose of Article II

To create the presidency and executive branch.

Main purpose of Article III

To create the Supreme Court and judicial branch.

Main purpose of Article IV

To promote unity and cooperation among states.

Main purpose of Article V

To explain how the Constitution can be amended.

Main purpose of Article VI

To establish that the Constitution and federal law are supreme.

Main purpose of Article VII

To explain how the Constitution would be ratified.

Articles I, II, and III

The first three articles create the three branches of government.

Articles IV, V, VI, and VII

These articles explain state relationships, amendments, supremacy, and ratification.

Separation of powers in the Articles

Articles I, II, and III divide national power among Congress, the president, and the courts.

Congressional flexibility

The Elastic Clause allows Congress to respond to situations not specifically listed in the Constitution.

Federal power over commerce

The Commerce Clause gives Congress authority over trade across state lines.

Constitutional amendment difficulty

Article V makes amendments possible but requires broad support.

Federal law over state law

Under the Supremacy Clause, federal law wins when valid federal law conflicts with state law.

Main exam point about the Seven Articles

The Constitution’s seven articles create the branches of government, explain state unity, create the amendment process, establish federal supremacy, and set the ratification rule.