Overview
The Constitution is made up of 7 Articles. Each Article describes how a part of government is supposed to function.
Article I
Establishes the Legislative branch of the government. This Article is split up in 10 sections which outline the provisions and restrictions of making laws. Section 1 sets the name of this branch of government to be The Congress and made up of a two part body (bicameral). Section 2 outlines and defines the House of Representatives- basic membership requirements, term length, size, etc.. Section 3 does the same thing as Section 2 but for the Senate. Section 4 allows states to choose by which method to elect members of Congress and also requires Congress to meet once a year. Section 5 sets the rule that there must be a minimum number of members present to conduct business (called a quorum), fines may be set to those who do not show up, allows members to be expelled from office, requires that a record of goings-ons be kept for each house, and that neither the House or Senate may adjourn without the permission of the other.Section 6 says that members of Congress will be payed and cannot hold another governmental office while a member of Congress. Section 7 states that any bill for raising money must start in the House, bills must pass both houses in the exact same form, bill that pass through Congress are sent to the President who can either sign the bill (where it becomes a law) or veto it, if vetoed the bill is sent back to Congress and if both houses pass it by two-thirds majority then the bill becomes a law (overrides the veto). Section 8 lists specific powers of Congress, including the power to establish and maintain an army and navy, to establish post offices, to create courts, to regulate commerce between the states, to declare war, to raise money, and also includes a clause known as the Elastic Clause which allows Congress to pass any law that is "necessary and proper." Section 9 limits the power of Congress by prohibiting suspension of habeas corpus, bills of attainder, and ex post facto laws and alos says that no law can give preference to one state over another; no money can be taken from the treasury except by duly passed law, and no title of nobility, such as Prince or Marquis, will ever be established by the government. Finally Section 10 limits the powers of the States by saying that they cannot make their own money, declare war, tax goods form the states, have navies, or do most of the other things prohibited Congress in Section 9.
Article II
This Article establishes the executive branch and is split up into four sections. Section 1 establishes the offices of the President and Vice President, sets the method of their election, the prerequisites for being elected President, and sets a salary to be paid to the President but it can't be changed for the current President while in office. Section 2 gives the President important powers such as appointing the President commander-in-chief of the armed forces and of the militia of all the states, allowing him to select a Cabinet to aid him, gives him the power pardon criminals, permits him to make treaties with other nations, and pick supreme court judges and other members of the government (all with the approval of the Senate). Section 3 sets the duties of the President: to give a state of the union address, to make suggestions to Congress, to act as head of state by receiving ambassadors and other heads of state, and to be sure the laws of the United States are carried out. Finally Section 4 details the method by which the President may be removed from office- called impeachment
Article III
This Article establishes the Judicial branch and is split up into three sections. Section 1 establishes the Supreme Court, the terms of judges (Supreme and lower courts), and requires that judges be paid. Section 2 sets the kinds of cases that may be heard by the federal judiciary, which cases the Supreme Court may hear first (called original jurisdiction) and that all other cases heard by the Supreme Court are by appeal, and also guarantees trial by jury in criminal court. Section 3 defines what the crime of treason is.
Article IV
This Article explains relationship of states to one another and the national government and is split up into four sections. Section 1 mandates that all states will honor the laws of all other states. Section 2 guarantees that citizens of one state be treated equally and fairly like all citizens of another and also says that if a person accused of a crime in one state flees to another, they will be returned to the state they fled from. Section 3 covers how new states will be admitted and also how federal lands will be controlled. Section 4 ensures a republican form of government and guarantees that the federal government will protect the states against invasion and insurrection.
Article V
This article details the method of amending (changing) the Constitution. For a detailed description see The Process section of The Amendments page.
Article VI
This Article concerns the United States as a whole in three parts. First, it guarantees that the United States under the Constitution would assume all debts and contracts entered into by the United States under the Articles of Confederation. Second, it sets the Constitution and all laws and treaties of the United States to be "the supreme law of the land"; this is also known as the Supremacy Clause. And Third, it requires all officers of the United States and of the states to swear an oath of allegiance to the United States and the Constitution when taking office.
Article VII
This Article details the method for ratification, or acceptance, of the Constitution: of the original 13 states in the United States, nine had to accept the Constitution before it would officially go into effect.
Summary
ArticleArticle I
Article II Article III Article IV Article V Article VI Article VII |
SummationLegislative Branch
Executive Branch Judicial Branch Explains relationship of states to one another and the national government; each state gives citizens of other states the same rights Amending the Constitution Supremacy clause Ratifying the Constitution |