The document summarizes the key components of the United States Constitution. It outlines the 7 original articles that make up the Constitution, including the establishment of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government and their powers. It also describes the preamble, the qualifications for representatives and senators, congressional powers like commerce regulation, and processes for electing the president and amending the Constitution.

1. The Constitution
The Foundation of the United States
of America

2. The Preamble
● One sentence
○ “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 general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to
ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the
United States of America.”
● Two Goals
○ purpose
○ ultimate authority= the people

3. Article I: Legislative Branch
● Longest Article
● The Legislative branch was considered the
most important
● Section 1= First branch is Congress

4. House of Representatives
● Section 2= House of
Representatives
○ Clause 1: Qualifications
○ Clause 2: Elections
○ Clause 5: Power to
Impeach
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:
Flag_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives.png

5. Senate
● Section 3
○ Qualifications
○ Elections “now and then”
○ Impeachment
http://www.nyclu.org/content/senate-democrats-release-
blueprint-of-cir-bill…and-it-needs-work-lot

6. Powers of Congress
● Commerce Clause
○ Regulate interstate commerce
○ Regulate foreign trade
● Declaring war
● Elastic Clause
○ “Necessary and Proper”

7. Article II: Executive Branch
● Divided into 4 sections
● Lays out powers of the President
● Whitehouse.gov
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:
Seal_Of_The_President_Of_The_United_States_Of_America.svg

8. Electoral College
● Select the president
○ When voting, actually
voting for “electors”
● Lack of faith in the people
● 270 votes to win
● Number of electors is
based on House of Reps
and Senate
Khan Academy explains the Electoral College

9. Section 2-4
● Section 2
○ Commander in Chief
○ Appointments
○ Vacancies
● State of the Union
○ 2014 State of the Union
● Impeachment

10. Article III: Judicial Branch
● Supreme court
○ Lower courts
● Judges serve life terms
● Impeachment
http://timseslpage.wordpress.com/judicial-branch/

11. Article IV: Relations Among the States
● Full Faith and Credit Clause
● Extradition Clause
● Admission of States

12. Article V: Amendments
● Two ways to Change (Amend)
○ Interpretation
○ Constitutional convention

13. Article VI: National Supremacy
● Supremacy Clause
● Federal and State Officials take a
pledge
● No Religious affiliation
http://mrrichardsap.wikispaces.
com/Amendment+Process+%26+Federalism

14. Crash Course
John Green Explains the Constitution in a mini crash course

15. Work Cited
● Ragone, Nick. “The Everything American
Government Book” F+W Media, Inc. 2004
● John Green. “Crash Course American
History: The Constitution.” Online video
clip. Youtube
● Salman Khan (Khan Academy). “Khan
Academy: The Electoral College.” Online
video clip. Youtube