Article I
Establishes the legislative branch and gives Congress its powers and limits Created two sections of Congress, Senate and the House of Representatives Establishes the executive branch, which is responsible for administration. Led by the President of the United States, the executive branch is the largest branch of government, with over 4 million employees, including all members of the military. Establishes the judicial branch, which is the court system that interprets the law in the U.S. The Judicial Branch includes the Supreme Court and the lower courts which are made by Congress Distinguishes what responsibilities and duties the states have, and what responsibilities and duties the federal government has. This article also explains that new states can be created and that the Federal government has power over all territories. Explains how the Constitution can be changed. An amendment becomes a law when three-fourths of the states agree to it. The final article states nine of the thirteen states must ratify, or agree to, an amendment for it to become a law. The ninth state to ratify the Constitution was New Hampshire on June 21, 1788. Establishes the Constitution as the highest law and all officers/judges must uphold the Constitution An amendment becomes a law when three-fourths of the states agree to it.
The Preamble The Preamble is the opening statement to the U.S. Constitution that explains the primary purpose of the document and what the government aspires to be. the P reamble & a rticles of the U.S. Constitution
Article II
Article III
FREEDOM FACT The Preamble was the last element added to the Constitution at the Constitutional Convention.
Article IV
“We the People of the U.S., in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the U.S. of America.”
Article V
The Articles of the Constitution
Article VI
The original Constitution contains seven
The Framers hoped to create a better government by replacing the Articles of Confederation with the articles of the U.S. Constitution.
The articles of the Constitution established three branches of government and provided a framework for how government should function.
articles, or sections, and was written in 1787. The leaders
who wrote the document are known as the Framers.
Article VII
Think it Through 1. Why do you think there was resistance to the U.S. Constitution?
2. The first three Articles of the Constitution are guidelines for the three branches of government to perform harmoniously. How would these three branches function without these guidelines? 3. Describe the role of the Framers. Where do you see this sort of organization in any clubs, teams or schools you are involved in?
STUDENT GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS PROGRAM | SGAP.org | www.kids.laws.com/preamble-of-the-constitution; www.kids.laws.com/articles-of-the-constitution
AMER I CA’ S LEGACY PRESENTED BY STUDENT GOVERNMENTAL AFFA I RS PROGRAM | 25
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