The document provides an overview of the United States Constitution, outlining its key articles and sections. It notes that the Constitution is the shortest living constitution in the world. The three main articles establish the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government and assign powers to each. Article One creates Congress and gives legislative powers, Article Two establishes the presidency and outlines executive powers, and Article Three creates the federal court system and Supreme Court to interpret laws.

1. The Articles of theThe Articles of the
ConstitutionConstitution

2. An Intro to theAn Intro to the
ConstitutionConstitution
• Brief documentBrief document
• Shortest living constitution in the worldShortest living constitution in the world
• Roughly 6,700 wordsRoughly 6,700 words
• Comprehensive, yet allowed for future changesComprehensive, yet allowed for future changes
• Can be read rather quickly, but interpretation of itsCan be read rather quickly, but interpretation of its
meaning continues to this daymeaning continues to this day
• Implements a system of checks & balancesImplements a system of checks & balances
• All 3 branches must work together to achieve any goalAll 3 branches must work together to achieve any goal

3. Article OneArticle One
• By far the longest article of the ConstitutionBy far the longest article of the Constitution
• LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, LAW-MAKING,LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, LAW-MAKING,
CONGRESSCONGRESS
• Two Houses=BicameralTwo Houses=Bicameral
• Senate & House of RepsSenate & House of Reps

4. Article oneArticle one
• Senate=Upper HouseSenate=Upper House
• Originally chosen by state legislaturesOriginally chosen by state legislatures
• Seventeenth Amendment (1913) provided for directSeventeenth Amendment (1913) provided for direct
popular electionpopular election
• Six-year terms, 1/3 come up for election every twoSix-year terms, 1/3 come up for election every two
years, no term limitsyears, no term limits
• At least 30, 9 years a citizen, resident of the stateAt least 30, 9 years a citizen, resident of the state

5. Article oneArticle one
• House of Representatives=Lower HouseHouse of Representatives=Lower House
• Elected by votersElected by voters
• Two-year terms, no term limitsTwo-year terms, no term limits
• At least 25, 7 years a citizen, resident of the stateAt least 25, 7 years a citizen, resident of the state

6. Article oneArticle one
• House can bring charges against a U.S. officialHouse can bring charges against a U.S. official
• Senate tries the impeachment caseSenate tries the impeachment case
• Punishment=removal from officePunishment=removal from office

7. Article One, Section 8Article One, Section 8
• List of delegated (AKA enumerated powers) powers ofList of delegated (AKA enumerated powers) powers of
CongressCongress
• TaxationTaxation
• Creation of a militaryCreation of a military
• Ability to declare warAbility to declare war
• Establish a court systemEstablish a court system
• Create moneyCreate money
• Regulate commerceRegulate commerce
• Regulate immigration/naturalizationRegulate immigration/naturalization
• Powers of impeachmentPowers of impeachment
• House brings chargesHouse brings charges
• Senate tries the caseSenate tries the case

8. Article one, section eightArticle one, section eight
• IncludesIncludes “Necessary & Proper” Clause“Necessary & Proper” Clause
• AKA the elastic clauseAKA the elastic clause
• Basis for implied powersBasis for implied powers
• Powers not stated, but can be deducedPowers not stated, but can be deduced
• ControversialControversial
• Madison in Federalist #44, “Without the substance of thisMadison in Federalist #44, “Without the substance of this
power, the whole Constitution would be a dead letter.”power, the whole Constitution would be a dead letter.”

9. Article twoArticle two
• Creates the executive branchCreates the executive branch
• Explains the power of the presidentExplains the power of the president
• Explains specific requirements of the president’sExplains specific requirements of the president’s
electionelection
• Controversial for what it doesn’t explicitly stateControversial for what it doesn’t explicitly state
• President cannot create a budget on his own orPresident cannot create a budget on his own or
exclusively choose cabinet officialsexclusively choose cabinet officials
• Yet, the power of POTUS has grown substantially overYet, the power of POTUS has grown substantially over
the last 100 years due to interpretationthe last 100 years due to interpretation

10. Article twoArticle two
• EXECUTIVE BRANCH, PRESIDENT, CABINET &EXECUTIVE BRANCH, PRESIDENT, CABINET &
DEPARTMENTSDEPARTMENTS
• Today=15 departments & roughly 2 million employeesToday=15 departments & roughly 2 million employees
• Latest dept. added=Homeland Security (est. 2002)Latest dept. added=Homeland Security (est. 2002)
• Administers or carries out the lawsAdministers or carries out the laws
• POTUS:POTUS:
• Four-year terms (Twenty-second amendment limited theFour-year terms (Twenty-second amendment limited the
number of terms, before this 2 terms was a tradition est. bynumber of terms, before this 2 terms was a tradition est. by
Washington)Washington)
• Natural-born citizen, at least 35, resident for 14 yearsNatural-born citizen, at least 35, resident for 14 years
• Oath of office, salary (currently 400k), successionOath of office, salary (currently 400k), succession

11. Article two:Article two:
Presidential Powers:Presidential Powers:
• Commander in ChiefCommander in Chief
• Ensures civilian control of the militaryEnsures civilian control of the military
• Chief DiplomatChief Diplomat
• Relations w/ foreign countries, treatiesRelations w/ foreign countries, treaties
• Judicial powersJudicial powers
• Appoint judges, pardons, and reprievesAppoint judges, pardons, and reprieves
• Chief of StateChief of State
• Symbolic leaderSymbolic leader
• State of the UnionState of the Union
• Chief ExecutiveChief Executive
• Appointments of government officialsAppointments of government officials

12. Article twoArticle two
• Executive privilegeExecutive privilege
• Practice of withholding presidential info from Congress or other entitiesPractice of withholding presidential info from Congress or other entities
• Usually invoked in two ways: national security & executive branchUsually invoked in two ways: national security & executive branch
communicationcommunication
• Electoral CollegeElectoral College
• Presidential electorsPresidential electors
• Number of senators plus representativesNumber of senators plus representatives
• All states have “winner take all” but NE & MEAll states have “winner take all” but NE & ME
• If no candidate receives a majority, the House has the power to decideIf no candidate receives a majority, the House has the power to decide
the presidency (election of 1824)the presidency (election of 1824)
• Possible to win the popular vote, but lose in Electoral College (1824,Possible to win the popular vote, but lose in Electoral College (1824,
1876, 1888, 2000)1876, 1888, 2000)

14. Article ThreeArticle Three
• JUDICIAL BRANCH, LAW INTERPRETATION,JUDICIAL BRANCH, LAW INTERPRETATION,
SUPREME COURTSUPREME COURT
• Also includes federal courts est. by CongressAlso includes federal courts est. by Congress
• District courtsDistrict courts
• Courts of appealCourts of appeal
• Special courtSpecial court
• Judicial review---Supreme Court can decide whether aJudicial review---Supreme Court can decide whether a
law is constitutional or notlaw is constitutional or not