• The Constitution is organized like this:1. The Preamble2. The Articles

• articles: the numbered sections of the Constitution• There are 7 articles• The rules of our government are explained in the articles

3. The Amendments• There are 27 total amendments (additions) to the Constitution• Bill of Rights: the first 10 amendments to the Constitution• Remember – amendments are still part of the Constitution, even

though they were added later on. They are just as important as the Preamble and articles!

Objs. 6-7: Structure of the Constitution

Part I: The Preamble

• Preamble: short introduction to the Constitution

• WE THE PEOPLE: emphasizes concept of popular sovereignty

• “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

• We the People: People, not a higher power• A more perfect union: cooperation between

states• Justice: Fair laws and fair trade• Domestic Tranquility: Peace among citizens; no

more rebellions• Defence: protection from other countries• Welfare, security, and blessings: Access for all to

liberty and freedom

Preamble: What does it mean?

• 7 Articles (sections)– Article I: Legislative Branch (Congress)– Article II: Executive Branch – Article III: Judicial Branch– Article IV: States – their relationships with the national

govt and with each other– Article V: How to add amendments to the Const.– Article VI: Declares the Constitution the supreme law

of the land– Article VII: Explains how to ratify the Constitution

Part II: The Articles

• Article I: The Legislative Branch– Article I establishes:• Congress has law-making power• Congress is bicameral (H.O.R. and Senate)• Qualifications for members of Congress• Rules, powers, and guidelines for Congress

Article I: The Legislative Branch

Article II: The Executive Branch

• Article II: The Executive Branch– Enforces the laws– Includes:

• Pres and Vice Pres• Pres. Cabinet• Executive Agencies

(ex. Dept of State, Dept of Health)

• Independent Executive Agencies (ex. NASA)

Current Executives

• Article III: The Judicial Branch– Supreme Court: Decides constitutionality of laws– Inferior Courts

• District• Appeals

– Special Courts• Tax• Military• Federal Claims• Etc….

Article 3: The Judicial Branch

• Section 1: Each State must honor the records and laws of all other States

• Section 2: States must treat residents of other States equally to its own residents

• Section 3: Rules for admitting new States in to the Union• Section 4: Guarantee of a Republican form of government in

each State– NOT Republican as in the political party– But republican, meaning we have a representative government that

respects the power of the people to make decisions in government

Article IV: The States

Article V: Amendments

• Amendments – additions to the Constitution– Once added, they are legally part

of the Constitution, and are just as important as the original document.

• Deal with issues that have arisen through US history

• Bill of Rights: 1st 10 amendments to the Const.

• 27 total amendments

Method +# of amendments that have been approved by this method

Amendment Proposed by Amendment ratified (approved) by

Method 1 (26)

Congress – needs 2/3 vote in both House and Senate

State legislatures – ¾ vote to pass (38 out of 50 states)

Method 2(1)

Congress – needs 2/3 vote in both House and Senate

State ratifying convention called specifically for the amendment – ¾ to pass

Method 3(0)

National Convention-2/3 of States (34) request that Congress form the convention for a specific amendment

State Legislatures – ¾ to pass

Method 4(0)

Same as method #3 Same as Method #2

Formal Changes (Amendments)

• Constitution IS and IS NOT the same document it was in 1787• Our basic government structure is the same• But, we have added/removed things over the years• The Constitution can change in many ways– Amendments are formal changes – changes that become part of

the written language of the Constitution – But most of the changes in our Constitution are informal changes –

changes in the interpretation of the words of the Constitution (these changes aren’t actually written down, but they have the biggest impact on how our government operates)

The Constitution: A Living Document

• Constitution is short, broad, and open to interpretation

• Most changes to Constitution DO NOT involve formal amendments

• Informal changes occur in 5 ways….1. Legislation by Congress

• Congress passes laws that answer questions not addressed in the Constitution

• Ex. Presidential succession – Constitution doesn’t say who takes office if Prez and VP die, so Congress passes a law

Informal Changes

2. Executive Action – the ways different Presidents have used their power– Ex: treaties have to be approved by Congress, but an executive

agreement does not3. Court Decisions

– The Supreme Court decides how the words of the Constitution work in practice

4. Political Party Practices– The Constitution says nothing about political parties– Yet, many govt actions are influenced by them

5. Customs– Ex. : Presidents never ran for 3rd terms until FDR, who served 4 terms.

We added the 22nd amendment as a result

Informal changes