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Articles of the Constitution Summary

Articles of the Constitution Summary - When were they written?
The Articles of the Constitution were written on June 21, 1788. There are seven Articles and these have been supplemented by the Bill of Rights (the first 10 amendments) and an addition 17 amendments to the Articles to date.

Articles of the Constitution Summary - Who wrote them?
Article 1 of the Constitution is attributed to the work of Edmund Rudolph, William Paterson, Oliver Ellsworth, Roger Sherman, and Dr. William Samuel Johnson who were the authors of the Virginia Plan, the New Jersey Plan, and the Great Compromise on which Article 1 is based. The remaining 6 Articles of the Constitution were written by the Founding Fathers and a group of 55 men, collectively known as the Framers of the Constitution. The names of the seven key Founding Fathers were George Washington, John Adams, James Madison, John Jay, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. The 55 men, the Framers of the Constitution, all attended the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia during which time the Articles were developed. writers of the Constitution were all well educated men, well versed in the law, politics, colonial and state government.

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Articles of the Constitution Summary:  Overall Summary of the 7 Articles
The overall summary of the 7 Articles of the Constitution Summary are as follows, click the links for the full text and simple summaries of each of the sections and clauses of the Articles of the Constitution:

Overall Summary of the 7 Articles

Article 1 of the Constitution

Legislative Branch

Article 1 deals with the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Article 2 of the Constitution

Executive Branch

Article 2 deals with the Administration, headed by the President.

Article 3 of the Constitution

Judicial Branch

Article 3 deals with the system of courts and judges.

Article 4 of the Constitution

Government & States

Article 4 deals with relationship between states and federal government.

Article 5 of the Constitution

Constitutional Amendments

Article 5 deals with how to amend the Constitution

Article 6 of the Constitution

Supreme Law

Article 6 establishes the Constitution as the supreme law of the USA

Article 7 of the Constitution

Ratification

Article 7 deals with the requirements for ratification of the Constitution.

Overall Summary of the 7 Articles

Articles of the Constitution Summary: Summary of Article 1 - The Legislative Branch of Government
Articles Summary: Article 1 of the Constitution is very long, consisting of 10 sections. It can be summarized by saying that it primarily deals with Congress. Article 1 establishes the Legislative branch of the government and explains who may become a representative, and who may become a senator. It then explains all of the powers that Congress and the individual states have, and what Congress and the states are not be allowed to do.

Articles of the Constitution Summary: Summary of Article 2 - The Executive Branch of Government
Articles Summary: Article 2 of the Constitution establishes the Executive branch of the government that deals with the election, powers and responsibilities of the President. The presidential powers include the right to pardon people and delay executions. The presidential duties include recommending taxes and laws. Article 2 also details with the process of impeachment in which any Public Officials can be impeached for treason, bribery or other serious crimes.

Articles of the Constitution Summary: Summary of Article 3 - The Judicial Branch of Government
Articles Summary: Article 3 of the Constitution establishes the Judiciary branch that deals with the courts and judges and establishes the Supreme Court as the highest court. Article 3 defines the terms of and payments of judges, in both the Supreme Court and lower courts. It also covers appeals and guarantees trial by jury in criminal court. The crime of treason is addressed in Article 3 that includes the definition, trials and punishment for treason. It makes it clear that the crime of treason must not extend to punishing the family or heirs or taking the property of the traitor.

Articles of the Constitution Summary: Summary of Article 4 - Full Faith and Credit
Articles Summary: Article 4 of the US Constitution summarizes the duties that individual states have to each other, as well as those the federal government has to the states. Article IV ensures the recognition of legislative acts, public records, and judicial decisions of the other states within the US. It also prevents people from moving to another state to escape enforcement of a judgment. The purpose of the Founding Fathers was to to unify their new country whilst preserving the self-government of the states. Article 4 also says that the form of government will be based on Republicanism, meaning that supreme power rests with citizens who are entitled to vote and exercised by representatives they have elected.

Articles of the Constitution Summary: Summary of Article 5 - Constitutional Amendments
Articles Summary: Article 5 of the US Constitution states that the US Constitution can be changed. Amendments (changes or addition) have to be passed by a two-thirds majority in both houses of the legislature. The amendment must then be ratified by three-fourths of states. and then by the states. Alternative procedures are also provided, but these are rarely used.

Articles of the Constitution Summary: Summary of Article 6 - Supremacy, Debts and Oaths
Articles Summary: Article 6 of the document deals with Supremacy, Debts and Oaths. It establishes the Constitution as the supreme law of the US. and that Public officials must take an oath to support it. It also authorizes the national debt, meaning that Congress can borrow money.

Articles of the Constitution Summary: Summary of Article 7 - Ratification of the US Constitution
Articles Summary: Article 7 of the US Constitution deals with Ratification of the US Constitution. It states that when 9 states approve of the Constitution in their conventions, then the Constitution shall be set up as the government for the states that have ratified (approved) it.

Articles of the Constitution Summary: The 7 Principles of the Constitution
The famous document, including the Articles, were based on 7 Principles of the Constitution: Popular Sovereignty, Republicanism, Federalism, Separation of powers, Balance of Power, Limited government and Individual rights.

1. Popular sovereignty

Popular sovereignty means rule by the people

2. Republicanism

Republicanism, means the right to vote for representatives

3. Federalism

Federalism means power is shared between the national and state governments

4. Separation of Power

Separation of Power relates to the three separate branches of government

5. Balance of Power

Balance of Power relates to the controls (checks) that can be made on the other branches

6. Limited government

Limited government means everyone is bound by the US Constitution

7. Individual rights

Individual rights refer to personal freedoms that are guaranteed by the Bill of Rights

Articles of the Constitution Summary: Video of the Presidents
The Articles of the Constitution Summary provides information about the most important document in American history. The following video will give you an overview of the lives and the important political events of all of the Presidents of America.

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