In 1787, the Continental Congress called for the drafting of a new constitution, which became the U.S. Constitution.
The seven articles of the Constitution were written at the nation’s inception and serve as a remarkably drafted blueprint for government.
What are the seven articles of the Constitution?
The 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.
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.
Here is an overview of what is covered in each of the seven articles. They were 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 1
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 drafts and passes laws, borrows money for the United States, declares war, and raises 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 Senate.
The first article was affected by the First Amendment, Fourth Amendment, Fifteenth Amendment, Nineteenth Amendment, and Twenty-Sixth Amendment.
Article 2
Article II explains the executive branch. This branch of government manages the daily operations of the government.
Article 2 outlines the process for electing 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 composed of multiple divisions, each department is headed by its secretary, who reports directly to the President of the United States.
Article 3
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 it.
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 4
Article IV is about the rights and roles of the 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 outlines the states’ rights, the relationship between the federal government and the state governments, and the states’ interrelationships with one another.
The 13th Amendment made changes to Article 4 of the Constitution.
Article 5
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 undergoes the amendment process.
Get Smarter on US News, History, and the Constitution
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 that were not foreseen or addressed by the original Constitution.
Article 6
Article VI reviews debts, supremacy, and oaths. The article states that the Constitution and all laws derived 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 of high regard and is used to make the nation’s primary decisions.
Article 7
Article VII specifies that only nine of the original 13 states were required to approve the document for ratification of 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 the required number of colonies agreed upon it.
Understanding the Seven Articles of the US Constitution
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.
Famous Signatories of the United States Constitution
Famous signatories of the United States Constitution include:
- George Washington
- James Madison
- Benjamin Franklin
- Alexander Hamilton
- and Gouverneur Morris.
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.
