Reading and Understanding the Constitution
Part A: The Constitution’s Basic Provisions
1. Read each article (I-VII) of the Constitution. Summarize the purpose of each article in one to two sentences.
Article 1 – Established the legislature and outlined its structure and responsibilities.
Article 2 – Established the executive and outlined its structure and responsibilities.
Article 3 – Established the judiciary and outlined its duties.
Article 4 – Outlined how the central government will interact with the states, and how the states will interact
with each other.
Article 5 – Outlined the process of amending the Constitution.
Article 6 – Established the supremacy of the Constitution and Congressional acts over the states.
Article 7 – Outlined the process for ratifying the Constitution.
2. In the Constitution of 1787 – the original “unamended” document – how many times do the words slave and
slavery appear? Zero
3. Define enumerated powers. Enumerated powers are those specifically stated in the Constitution.
a. Identify one enumerated power of the president. (Article 2, Section 2)
Propose treaties, appoint ambassadors and other officers of the bureaucracy. (Answers may vary)
b. Identify one enumerated power of the vice president. (Article 1, Section 3)
Preside over the Senate.
c. Identify one enumerated power of Congress. (Article 1, Section 8)
Impose and collect taxes, borrow money on behalf of the country, regulate commerce, establish rules for
naturalization, coin money, establish the post office, establish lower courts, declare war, raise and
support armed forces, impeachment, etc. (Answers may vary)
4. Election of senators
a. How were U.S. senators chosen before the Seventeenth Amendment was ratified in 1913? (Article 1,
Section 3) Chosen by each state’s legislature
b. How have U.S. senators been chosen since? (17th Amendment) Direct election
5. Prohibited powers
a. Identify one power the Constitution prohibits to Congress. (Article 1, Section 9)
Congress cannot suspect habeas corpus, tax exports, issue titles (Answers may vary)
b. Identify one power the Constitution prohibits to the states. (Article 1, Section 10)
States cannot enter into treaties nor inhibit the Congress (Answers may vary)
6. Checks and balances
a. Identify a power that the executive branch holds over the legislative branch. (Article 1, Section 7)
Veto
b. Identify a power that the executive branch holds over the judicial branch. (Article 2, Section 2)
Appointment of judges
c. Identify a power that the legislative branch holds over the executive branch. (Article 1, Section 3)
Impeachment (Answers may vary)
d. Identify a power that the legislative branch holds over the judicial branch. (Article 1, Section 8)
Establishing courts (Answers may vary)
