Articles IV-VII of the Constitution define the balance of power between the federal and state governments, establish rules for amending the Constitution, and provide guidance on the supremacy of federal law. Article IV protects states' rights while granting certain exclusive powers to the federal government. It also requires states to honor legal documents and judgments from other states. Article V outlines two processes for amending the Constitution that require approval from Congress and the states. Article VI establishes the Constitution as the supreme law of the land over any conflicting state laws. Article VII provided the threshold for ratification of the Constitution.

1. + The
Constitution:
Articles IV-VII

2. +
Article IV
 States’ rights vs. the fed’s rights
 Defines federalism
 Ability for both the state & federal gov’ts to create their own laws
 Fed. gov’t has certain power
 Declare war, print money
 State gov’t has certain powers
 Conduct local elections
 Both branches share other powers

3. +
Article IV
 “Full Faith & Credit Clause”
 Designed to promote “harmony & intercourse among the
states” according to James Madison
 It ensures that courts of one state honor the judgments of a
court in another state
 Documents such as contracts, wills, deeds, mortgages, birth
certificates, & civil court judgments must be recognized by
other states

4. +
Article IV
 Odds & Ends
 Discusses extradition
 Bringing a criminal back to the state where he or she committed a
crime
 Allows/explains admission of new states
 Guarantees that every state will have a “republican form of
government”
 Also grants each state protection from invasion

5. +
Article V
 Amending the Constitution
 Two ways to do it:
 1. 2/3 of both houses must approve & then ¾ of states must
ratify
 2. Proposed by a convention called by congress at the request
of 2/3 of the states & then ratified by ¾ of the state legislatures
 27 total amendments
 First 10=Bill of Rights

6. +
Article VI
 Supremacy Clause
 The Constitution is the “supreme law of the land”
 If state law is in conflict w/ national law, it is the national law that
must be obeyed

7. +
Article VII
 Est. that Constitution would go into effect when 9 states voted
to accept it
 Happened w/ NH’s ratification on 6/21/1788