In 1787, the Continental Congress called for the drafting of a new constitution, which became the U.S. Constitution containing 7 articles. The articles of the constitution were written at the beginning of the nation’s establishment and serves as a magnificently drafted blueprint for government.
Table of Contents ToggleThe United States Constitution comprises seven articles detailing the framework of the federal government of the United States of America. The Constitution outlines the three branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial) and their respective powers and responsibilities.
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It also establishes the system of federalism, outlines the process for amending the Constitution, and outlines the protection of individual rights, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. The United States Constitution contains 27 amendments, which are additions or changes to the original article text. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and protect the rights of citizens. Original copies of the US Constitution and the 27 Amendments are held at the National Archives. Here is an overview of what is covered in each of the seven articles signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788.
| Article | Title | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| I | Legislative Branch | Establishes Congress as the law-making body of the federal government, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Outlines the powers and responsibilities of Congress. |
| II | Executive Branch | Establishes the presidency as the head of the executive branch of the federal government, with the power to enforce laws passed by Congress. Outlines the powers and responsibilities of the president. |
| III | Judicial Branch | Establishes the Supreme Court as the highest court in the land, with the power to interpret and apply the Constitution and federal law. Outlines the powers and responsibilities of the judiciary. |
| IV | States’ Relations | Outlines the relationships between the states and the federal government, including rules for admitting new states to the Union. |
| V | Amendment Process | Outlines the process for amending the Constitution, which requires the approval of two-thirds of Congress and three-fourths of the states. |
| VI | National Supremacy | Establishes the Constitution and federal laws as the supreme law of the land, and requires state judges to uphold them. |
| VII | Ratification | Outlines the process for ratifying the Constitution, which required the approval of nine of the thirteen states at the time. |
Article I of the Constitution covers the legislative branch. The principal mission of this branch is to make laws. Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Congress is the body that shall draft and pass laws, borrow money for the United States, declare war, and raise a military. It also works by limiting and balancing the power of the other two federal branches that make up the government – the judicial and the executive branches. Article 1 establishes that the Vice-President shall be the President of the summit. The 1st article was affected by the 1st amendment, 4th amendment, 15th amendment, 19th amendment, and 26th amendment.
Article II explains the executive branch. The branch of the government, known as the executive branch, shall manage the daily operations of the government. Article 2 outlines the process for choosing the President and the Vice-President. Using various departments and agencies, such as the Department of the Treasury, the executive branch is probably one of the fastest-moving branches of the federal government. While made up of multiple divisions, each department is headed by its secretary, who reports to the President of the United States.
Article III reviews the judicial branch. The federal court system is part of the judicial branch. Article III states that the final court is the US Supreme Court. Working with Congress, the United States Supreme Court can determine the size and scope of any courts below the Supreme Court. All judges on this court are appointed for life unless they decide to resign or are charged with bad behavior. If a judge is impeached, they can only be removed in the wake of a trial and a two-thirds majority vote of the Senate.
Article IV is related to the rights and roles of state government. The federal government guarantees a republic form of government in each state, protects the entire nation from violence, and determines how any new states can join the Union. It also states that the states are equal and should have mutual respect for each other’s laws and any judicial decisions made by the state court systems. Article IV overviews the states’ rights, the relationship of the federal government to the state government, and the states’ relationship with each other. The 13th amendment made changes to article 4 of the constitution.
Article V of the constitution creates a mechanism for changes to the constitution. While the constitution can never be dissolved, it can be amended if it goes through the amendment process. The states and Congress can initiate the process of amending the United States Constitution . Since the constitution was written, there have been multiple amendments made. These amendments are usually warranted when problems or concerns develop which were not foreseen or addressed by the original constitution.
Article VI reviews debts, supremacy, and oaths. The article determines that the constitution and all of the laws that come from it serve as the supreme law of the land. All officials in the United States are required to swear an oath that they will uphold the constitution. This article is designed to ensure that the United States Constitution remains a document held in high regard and used to make the primary decisions for the nation.
Article VII details that only nine of the original 13 states were required to approve the document for ratifying the United States Constitution. While the number of states has grown since the constitution was signed, their signatures verify who signed the original document and that all interested parties witnessed it. This does not guide the future of the national government but serves as a statement that it was agreed upon by the required number of colonies.
These seven articles may appear fairly broad, but their function serves as a framework for the United States. The constitution provides and limits power and outlines a system of checks and balances to avoid any branch having too much power. This is an important function and remains an active document today.
Interestingly, Founding Fathers Thomas Jefferson and John Adams did not sign the constitution. Both men were on diplomatic missions in Europe when the document was signed at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
