THE CONSTITUTION
I. PREAMBLE
A. states 6 purposes of the
Constitution
B. establishes popular sovereignty - "We, the
people"
II. ARTICLE I - LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT
A.
establishes bicameral legislature
B. establishes election, term of
office, qualifications for office
C. establishes census for
representation and taxes
D. establishes impeachment procedure
E.
establishes lawmaking process
F. enumerates powers delegated to
Congress
G. enumerates powers denied to the Federal government and the
States
III. ARTICLE II - EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
A.
establishes offices of president and vice-president
B. establishes
electoral process
C. establishes qualifications for office
D.
enumerates powers and duties of the presidency
IV. ARTICLE THREE -
JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT
A. establishes Supreme Court and federal
court system
B. delineates the jurisdiction of federal courts
C.
defines treason
V. ARTICLE FOUR - RELATIONS AMONG THE
STATES
A. defines obligations of recognition for official
documents among
the states
B. establishes duty of
extradition
C. provides for admission of new states
D. guarantees
to the states - republican form of government,
protection against invasion,
protection against domestic
violence when requested
VI. ARTICLE
FIVE - METHODS OF AMENDMENT
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VII. ARTICLE SIX - GENERAL PROVISIONS
A. provides
for assumption of all debts incurred under the
Articles of
Confederation
B. declares the Constitution to be the supreme law of the
land
C. provides for oath of office taken by elected
officials
VIII. ARTICLE SEVEN - RATIFICATION (9 states
necessary)
IX. AMENDMENTS
A. BILL OF
RIGHTS - first 10 amendments to the Constitution (1791)
1.
Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition
2. Right to
bear arms
3. Prohibition against forced quartering of troops
4.
Prohibition against search and seizure without warrant
5. Provides for
rights of accused persons - cannot be held
without indictment, no double
jeopardy, no self-incrimination
6. Right to a speedy trial
7.
Provides for jury trial in civil cases
8. Prohibits excessive bail,
fines, or cruel and unusual
punishment
9. Affirms rights of the
people not enumerated in Constitution
10. Provides for reserved powers of
the states
B. ELEVEN THROUGH TWENTY-SEVEN
11. A
state cannot be sued in the courts of another state or
nation
(1798)
12. Electors specify presidential and vice-presidential
votes
(1804)
13. Slavery abolished (1865)
14. Granted
citizenship to freed slaves (1868)
15. Granted suffrage to freed male
slaves (1870)
16. Provided for the income tax (1913)
17. Provided
for direct election of U.S. senators (1913)
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18. Prohibition of manufacture, sale, transportation of
alcoholic
beverages (1919)
19. Provided for women's suffrage (1920)
20.
Provided for Jan. 20 taking of office rather than March 4;
"Lame Duck"
amendment (1933)
21. Repeal of prohibition (1933)
22. Limited
presidency to two terms (1951)
23. Allowed citizens of the District of
Columbia to vote for
president and vice-president (1961)
24. Banned
poll tax in national elections (1964)
25. Provided for presidential
disability and succession (1967)
26. Voting age lowered to 18
(1971)
27. Congress prohibited from increasing its current pay.
(1992)