POLS 180 - Article 4, Section 1 & Articles 5-7

Background to US Government 2022+

Article 4

concerns the states

Section 1

mandates that all states will honor the laws of all other states; this ensures, for example, that a couple married in Florida is also considered married by Arizona, or that someone convicted of a crime in Virginia is considered guilty by Wyoming.

Article 5

[The Amendment Process]

• The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress; provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate.

Article 6

[Legal Status of the Constitution]

Article 6 - Debts

All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of
this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this
Constitution, as under the Confederation.

Article 6 - Supremacy

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in
Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the
Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the
Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or
Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.

Article 6 - Oaths

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the
several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of
the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or
Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be
required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United
States.

Article 7

[Ratification]

• The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for
  the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the
  Same.

Signers of the Constitution

Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the
Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred
and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the
Twelfth. In Witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names.

• Go Washington – President and deputy from Virginia

• New Hampshire – John Langdon, Nicholas Gilman

• Massachusetts – Nathaniel Gorham, Rufus King

• Connecticut – Wm Saml Johnson, Roger Sherman

• New York – Alexander Hamilton

• New Jersey – Wil Livingston, David Brearley, Wm Paterson, Jona. Dayton

• Pensylvania – B Franklin, Thomas Mifflin,
  Robt Morris, Geo. Clymer, Thos FitzSimons, Jared Ingersoll, James Wilson, Gouv
  Morris

• Delaware – Geo. Read, Gunning Bedford jun, John Dickinson, Richard Bassett,
  Jaco. Broom

• Maryland – James McHenry, Dan of St Tho Jenifer, Danl Carroll

• Virginia – John Blair, James Madison Jr.

• North Carolina – Wm Blount, Richd Dobbs Spaight, Hu Williamson

• South Carolina – J. Rutledge, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Charles
  Pinckney, Pierce Butler

• Georgia – William Few, Abr Baldwin

• Attest: William Jackson, Secretary