American Studies: Major Documents

Tenth Amendment

establishes that powers not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution, nor prohibited to the states, are reserved for the states or the people

Article I of the Constitution

the Legislative Branch, establishes Congress (House and Senate), the powers to make laws, declare war, and manage taxes

Article II of the Constitution

Executive Branch, creates the presidency, vice presidency, and cabinet to execute laws

Article III of the Consitution

Judicial Branch, establishes the Supreme Court and authorizes Congress to create lower federal courts

Article IV of the Constitution

defines the responsibilities of states to each other and the federal government, including the admission of new states

Article V of the Constitution

the amendment process, describes how the Constitution can be changed or amended, requiring approval by Congress and states

Article VI of the Constitution

federal supremacy, establishes the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties as the "supreme Law of the Land"

Article VII of the Constitution

ratification, outlines the procedure for ratification, requiring 9 of the 13 original states to approve the document

Federalist 14

written by James Madison, explains that the US was too large to be ruled under a direct republic and there would need to be elected representatives to speak for groups of people > promotes strong central government

Federalist 52

details the structure of the House, election cycles (2 years), requirements (25 years old, citizen for 7 years), and that representatives must be directly elected by the people

Federalist 62

details the structure of the Senate, qualifications (30 years old, citizen for 9 years), appointment by state legislatures, equal representation amongst the states, and to provide stability from the ever-changing House

Federalist 68

describes how to elect the president, the electoral college will meet in their respective states to avoid corruption, if there is not majority, the House picks the president

Federalist 78

describes the importance of the judicial branch, their life tenure, their independence from outside influence, and their duty to make decisions based on the Constitution rather than personal political belief