The U.S. Constitution:

Breaking It Down

For assistance, see the text of the Constitution in your textbook and/or consult

Preamble
“We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, 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.”
Explain the meaning or significance of the underlined words above:
  • “We the people” ______
  • “a more perfect union” ______
  • “domestic tranquility” ______
  • “common defense” ______
  • “general welfare” ______
  • “liberty” ______
  • “posterity” ______
Identify a term or concept in the Preamble related to
  • individualism and individual rights ______
  • community and the common good ______
  • Which of the two concepts above do you think is dominant in the preamble? Explain. ______

Article I: Legislative Branch
  • Why do you think the founding fathers describe the powers of the legislative in the very first article of the Constitution? ______
  • Sec. 1: The duty of the legislative branch is to ______the law
  • Sec 2: The lower house of Congress is called the ______
  • Sec. 2: How were slaves (“other persons”) counted for purposes of Congressional apportionment? ______
  • Sec. 2: How frequently is a census taken to reapportion seats in this house? ______
  • Sec. 2 What is this house’s role in impeachment of judges and the president? ______
  • Sec. 3: The upper house of Congress is called the ______
  • Sec. 3: What is this house’s role in impeachment of judges and the president? ______
  • Sec. 7: Why is it often said that Congress, especially the House, has the “power of the purse”? ______
  • Sec. 7: How can Congress override the president’s veto of a bill? ______
  • Sec. 8: In general, what differences do you see in the powers granted to Congress under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution versus the powers granted to Congress under the Articles of Confederation? ______
  • Sec. 8: Why do you think that Congressional powers of taxation, foreign trade and interstate commerce are enumerated before its other powers in Section 8? ______
  • Sec. 8: What is the role of Congress in war and national defense? ______
  • Sec. 8: Why do you think the “necessary and proper” clause is sometimes called the “elastic clause”? ______
  • Sec. 9: What is the first year allowed under the Constitution in which Congress may ban the importation of slaves? ______. Roughly how long after the drafting of the Constitution was this year? ______
  • Sec. 9: Research and explain the concept of habeas corpus. ______
  • Sec. 9: Under what circumstances may habeas corpus be suspended? ______
  • Sec. 9: Research and explain the concept of a bill of attainder. ______
  • Sec. 9: Research and explain the concept of an ex post facto law. ______
  • Sec. 9: May states impose tariffs on each other’s goods? ______
  • Sec. 9: Why do you think that Congress is prohibited from bestowing titles of nobility and accept such titles from foreign countries? ______

Article II: Executive Branch
  • Why do you think the powers of the executive branch are outlined in Article II rather than in Article I? ______
  • Sec. 1: The chief executive of the United States is the ______; the second in command is the ______
  • Sec. 1: Briefly explain the Electoral College: ______
______
  • Sec. 1: When the president takes the Oath of Office, he is primarily pledging to protect and defend the ______of the United States.
  • Sec. 2: What is the role of the president with regard to the military? ______
  • Sec. 2: With which house of Congress must the president work to approve treaties? _____ How many votes from that house are required to ratify a treaty? ______
  • Sec. 3: What is the name of the speech given by the president inform Congress and recommend new legislation? ______
  • Sec. 3: Give an example of an “extraordinary circumstance” in which you think the president might convene an emergency session of Congress. ______
  • Sec. 4: What are the three legal grounds for impeachment of the president? ______

Article III: Judicial Branch
  • Sec. 1: What is the name of the highest court in the United States? ______
  • Sec. 2: What term describes cases which are first heard in the nation’s highest court (without having been appealed from lower courts)? ______
  • Sec. 3: How is treason defined? ______
  • Sec. 3: Why do you think that a conviction of treason requires the testimony of more than one witness, even though conviction for other crimes have no such requirement? ______

Article IV: The States
  • Sec. 1: Research and explain the meaning of “full faith and credit” in the relationships between states. ______
  • Sec. 1-Sec. 2: Give an example of a state action or grant of “privileges and immunities” that might require full faith and credit elsewhere. ______
  • Sec. 2: Research and explain the concept of “extradition” in relation to fleeing criminals and fugitive slaves. ______
  • Sec. 3: Which branch of government controls the admission of new states to the United States? ______

Article V: Amendment Process
  • What are the two ways to propose a constitutional amendment?
1)______
2)______
  • What are the two ways to ratify a constitutional amendment?
1)______
2)______
Article VI: National Supremacy
  • Sec. 1: What event do you think had sent U.S. into debt prior to 1787? ______
  • Sec. 2: What are the two supreme “laws of the land”? ______
  • Sec. 3: When the congressmen, the president and judges take the Oath of Office, they must swear to protect and defend the ______of the United States.
  • Sec. 3: Why do you think the Constitution forbids a “religious test” in order to hold office? ______

Article VII: Ratification Process
  • How many states (out of original 13) had to approve the Constitution before it could take effect? ______