Creating Laws for the US Constitution

U.S. Constitution

by Ray Fortune

​Structure of the Constitution

• ​Constitution consists of a preamble and seven articles.

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• Each article is broken down into smaller sections

Structure of the Constitution

​Preamble

• Introduction to the Constitution

• Explains its purpose

​Separation of Powers

​Article 1 - Legislative Branch aka Congress

​Primary duties include:

• Representing the people

• Making laws

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Consists of:

• House of Representatives

• Senate

​Article 1 - Legislative Branch

​House of Representatives

• 435 members

• Representation based on population

• At least 25 years old

• U.S. Citizen for at least 7 years

• Live in the state they represent

• Serve a 2-year term of office

• Texas has 36 representatives

​Article 1 - Legislative Branch

​Senate

• 100 members

• Each state has 2 Senators

• At least 30 years old

• U.S. Citizen for at least 9 years

• Live in the state they represent

• Serve a 6-year term of office

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​Article 2 - Executive Branch aka President

​Primary duties include:

• Representing the country

• Enforce the laws

• Commander-in-Chief of the military

​

Consists of:

• President

• Vice-President

• Cabinet

​Article 2 - Executive Branch

​Requirements:

• At least 35 years old

• Born in the United States

• Lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years

• Serves 4-year term of office

• Limited to 2 terms of office

• Chosen by Electoral College

​Article 3 - Judicial Branch

​Primary duties include:

• Interpret laws

• Decide constitutionality of laws

​

Consists of two parts:

• Supreme Court – highest court in the land

• Nine members

• Led by Chief Justice

• Other lower federal courts

​Article 3 - Judicial Branch

​Requirements

• Nominated by the president

• Approved by the Senate

• Term of office is life or good behavior

​Article 4 - Relations with the States

• ​Outlines relations between states and federal government

• Allows Congress to admit new states

​Article 5 - Amending the Constitution

​Article 6 - Supremacy Clause

​The federal government, with few exceptions, is more powerful than state governments

​Article 7 - Ratifying the Constitution

Stated 9 out of 13 states had to ratify the Constitution for it to become, “The Law of the Land”

​Amendments

​Amendment = Change

• 27 amendments to the Constitution

• Amendments 1 – 10 are known as the Bill of Rights

​Checks and Balances