U.S. Constitution Study Guide

Amend

To change something

Articles

There are 7 articles in the Constitution:

Article I (Legislative Branch)

Article II (Executive Branch)

Article III (Judicial Branch)

Article IV (State Relationship)

Article V (Amendment Process)

Article VI (National Sovereignty)

Article VII (Ratification)

Bicameral

2 groups making the laws.

Bill of Rights

First 10 Amendments of the Constitution

Constitution

The supreme law/ body of fundamental principles according to which a state, nation or organization is governed

The U.S. Constitution is the government system that we still use today

Extradite

Send criminals back to the state the crime was committed

Federalism

-powers are shared between national and state government

Preamble

The part of the Constitution that tells why we need the new government

Principle

A basic idea that is used to determine how a government functions

Ratify

Approve

(3/4 of the states were needed to ratify the constitution)

Sovereignty

Supreme governing power

Popular sovereignty

Idea that the people have the supreme power over the government

12th Amendment (1804)

Electors are required to vote for a President &Vice President separately

13th Amendment (1865)

Ended slavery in the U.S. only after the Civil War

14th Amendment (1868)

Gave former slaves citizenship rights & banned states from denying people rights

16th Amendment (1913)

Allowed Congress the right to tax people’s income (called income tax)

17th Amendment (1913)

Senators now will be elected by the people instead of y the state legislatures

18th Amendment (1919)

Banned the making, selling, or transportation of alcohol (Prohibition)

20th Amendment (1933)

Set new date from presidential inauguration (January 20)

21st Amendment (1933)

Repealed Prohibition and the 18th Amendment, alcohol legal again

22nd Amendment (1951)

Limited the number of presidential terms to two terms or 10 years

23rd Amendment (1961)

Gave the citizens of Washington D.C. three votes in presidential elections

27th Amendment 1992)

If Congress decides to give themselves a pay raise, it won’t go into effect until the next election

Anti-Federalists

*Wanted 2 things

1. State sovereignty

2. Bill of Rights

Article I (Location of houses described and powers of Congress

Article I Section 8

Article I Section 2

Article II (locations of presidential powers and presidential terms)

:

Article II Sections 2 & 3

Article II Section 1 Clause 2

Article III (location of judicial terms)

Article III Section 1

Article IV (4 things about states)

• Each state must respect the laws and records of other states (Article IV Section 1) *Interstate respect*

• States must send criminals back to the state the crime was committed (Article IV Section 2) *Extradition*

• Gives Congress the power to admit new states in the country (Article IV Section 3) *New states*

• Guarantee each state gets national protection from invasion and internal rioting (Article IV Section 4) *State protections*

Article V (Amendment process-two steps)

• Explains how amendments are to be created

• Explains how amendments are to be ratified

Article VI (Supremacy Clause)

Makes the national government now supreme over the state government

Article VII (state ratification order)

Required the approval of 9 states to officially become legally binding and go into effect.

¾ states required to ratify the constitution

Constitutional Convention (where, people there/not there, state not there)

• Meeting was held in Philidelphia in May of 1787

• Total of 55 people (wealthy, educated, experienced, white, men)

• Notable attendees: Benjamin Franklin (81), George Washington, James Madison

• Notable absences: Thomas Jefferson (in Paris, France) and John Adams (in London, England) dealing with foreign

  relations

• Rhode Island was the only state not there (they liked the government as it was)

Constitutional principles (what and why)

a basic idea that is used to determine how a government functions

Sovereignty – supreme governing power

There are 5 Constitutional Principles:

• Popular Sovereignty:

-idea that the people have the supreme power over the government

• Limited government:

-government can only do what it has been given the power to do

-list the powers of the government in the Constitution

• Separation of powers:

-dividing the governing powers amongst different groups

1. Legislative Branch: Makes the laws

2. Executive Branch: Execute the laws and enforces them

3. Judicial Branch: Interprets the laws

Why? -So no person or group has too much power

Checks and balances:

-each group can restrain the powers of the other groups

Why? -To prevent the government from abusing their power

Federalism:

-powers are shared between national and state government (Sovereignty)→the national is the government that we HAVE to follow

Industriousness (what it looks like)

What is it?

• The ability to stay busy with productive effort

What does it look like?

• Being active and not sedentary

• Setting goals and planning

• Putting effort into meaningful things

Indolence (ways to overcome)

What is it?

• A reluctance to work or make an effort

What does it look like?

• Apathetic attitude towards life

• Lack of self-worth

• Constantly avoiding or being distracted

Ways to overcome

• Develop healthy habits

• Think of others

• Decrease screen time

Government power not given in the Articles of Confederation

• No executive branch (no president to enforce the laws)

• No judicial branch (could not resolve disputes between the states)

• Unicameral-one group (no second group to check the fairness of the laws) →checks & balances

• Only 1 vote per state

• Could not coin money, borrow money, make treaties, raise an army

• Could not tax the people or the states

Preamble (form a more perfect union, establish justice, provide for common defense, promote general welfare)

“To form a more perfect union”

1. Article VI Clause 2 (Make the national government more supreme over the state laws) (Supremacy Clause)

2. Article II (set up an executive branch to enforce laws)

“To establish justice”

• Article III (set up a court system/ judicial branch)

“Provide for the common defense”

• Article I Section 8 Clause 1 (the power to collect taxes) →government has money to fund military

“Promote general welfare”

• Article I Section 8 Clause 1 (tax money to help people’s well being)

Virginia Plan and Great Compromise (created by, legislative set up)

Virginia Plan

• Created by James Madison

• Called for 3 branches of government

• Bicameral (2 groups making laws)

• Legislatures (Every state should get votes based on population)

Great Compromise

• Created by Roger Sherman

• Bicameral legislature

• Senate based equality (2 senators in each state)

• House of Reps. based on population