The constitution a growth.—­The constitution was not an entirely new invention.  The men who prepared it were wise enough not to theorize very much, but rather to avail themselves of the experience of the ages.  Almost every state furnished some feature.  For instance:  The title President had been used in Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Delaware, and South Carolina; The term Senate had been used in eight states; the appointment and confirmation of judicial officers had been practiced in all the states; the practice of New York suggested the president’s message, and that of Massachusetts his veto; each power of the president had its analogy in some state; the office of vice-president came from that of lieutenant governor in several of the states.

Some of its peculiarities.—­And yet the instrument is one of the most remarkable ever penned by man.

1. It is short.  It would not occupy more than about two columns of a newspaper.

2. It covers the right ground.  It deals with things permanent, and leaves transient matters to legislation.  Its adaptation to our needs is seen in the fact that it has remained substantially unchanged, although in territory and population our country has grown immensely.

3. It is a model in arrangement and language.  The lucidity and perspicuity of the language of the constitution have called forth expressions of admiration from all who have studied it carefully.

Probably its master-stroke is the creation of the national judiciary.

Let us now proceed to a study of the instrument itself, prepared to weigh carefully every sentence.

Some Pertinent Questions.

Group all the defects of the government under the articles of confederation using these two heads:  1.  Defects in organization. 2.  Defects in essential powers.

In the constitutional convention there were several “plans” proposing forms of government.  State the provisions of the Virginia plan; of the New Jersey plan; of the Hamilton plan; the Connecticut plan.  Watch for traces of each as you proceed in your study of the constitution.

Memorize the following outline of the constitution: 

GENERAL OUTLINE OF THE CONSTITUTION.

PREAMBLE, giving reasons for the formation of the constitution.

ARTICLE I.—­The Legislative Department.

Sec. 1.  Vestment of power in a congress of two houses.

Sec. 2.  House of representatives:  apportionment, qualifications, election, term, sole powers.

Sec. 3.  Senate:  apportionment, qualifications, election, term, sole powers.

Sec. 4.  Congress:  time and place of election, time of meeting.

Sec. 5.  Houses respectively:  relations to members.

Sec. 6.  Provisions common:  privileges and disabilities.

Sec. 7.  Mode of passing laws.

Sec. 8.  Powers of congress.