Constitution

preamble

Introduction of the constitution

article 1

Article 1 is the first and the longest part of the constitution. it decides that creates a legislator called congress and divides it into 2 parts; the senate and the house of representatives. congress should be organized, tells what qualifications legisla

legislature

or law-making body, are responsible for turning citizens' wants and needs.

representative democracy

, citizens elect people to represent their needs and concerns in the government.

senate

Qualifications: you have to be 30 years old, been in the US citizen for at least 9 years, and you live in the state that you represent.
Size: 2 senators per state = 100 total.
They Represent: the interest of the citizen in the entire state for 6 years per

The house of states

Qualifications: you have to be 25 years old, been in the US citizen for at least 7 years, and you live in the state that you represent.
Size: number per state depends on population= 435 total (in 2011).
They Represent: the interest of the citizens who liv

article 2

, executive branch . describes the job of the executive branch. also describes the powers of the president

executes

or carries out, laws

presidential powers

the overall job of the executive branch is to carry out and enforce laws .

article 3

judicial branch , article 3 creates the supreme court and authorizes congress to create federal courts below the supreme court. Under article 3 federal judges are appointed not elected. They stay on the bench until they retire, die or are removed for bad

judicial branch

the judicial branch interprets laws to determine what they mean and weather they have followed in specific cases.

Article 4

Describes how the states should interact with each other

Extradition

the state where the crime was committed can request that the criminal be returned to face charges.

Article 5

describes what must be done to amend or change the constitution.

article 6

says that the laws and treaties of the US government are the supreme law of the land. if a state law disagrees with a federal law wins.

federalism

is the idea that national government shares power with the state government.

article 7

says the constitution could not take effect until at least nine out of thirteen (now 2/3) states approved it.

bill of rights

after much debate, it was agreed that 10 amendments would be added to the constitution. it list specific rights not already mentioned in the constitution. this constitution became a law in 1789 the bill of rights was added 1791.

amending the constitution

1st the amending needs to be proposed, or introduced. then it needs to be ratified or passed . only 33 have ever received enough votes to actually be proposed. of those, 27 have become amendments to the constitution. add amendment could take years 4 amend

propose

congress or state can propose amendment to constitution both houses of congress must have 2/3 of the votes. 2/3

ratify

regardless on how the amendment is proposed it must be ratified by the states. 3/4 of state legislatures must approve of it . 3/4