Sec. 9.  Prohibitions on congress.

Sec. 10.  Prohibitions on the states.

ARTICLE II.—­The Executive Department.

Sec. 1.  Vestment of power, term, qualifications, election, etc.

Sec. 2.  Powers.

Sec. 3.  Duties.

Sec. 4.  Responsibility.

ARTICLE III.—­The Judicial Department.

Sec. 1.  Vestment of authority, appointment, term, etc.

Sec. 2.  Jurisdiction.

Sec. 3.  Treason, definition, procedure.

ARTICLE IV.—­The States.

Sec. 1.  Mutual credit of official papers.

Sec. 2.  Inter-state relations.

Sec. 3.  New states and territories.

Sec. 4.  Republican form of government guaranteed.

ARTICLE V.—­Mode of Amending the Constitution

ARTICLE VI.—­Miscellaneous

ARTICLE VII.—­Ratification

AMENDMENTS.

1-10.  Personal rights guaranteed.

11.  Limitation on Jurisdiction of U.S.  Courts.

12.  Mode of electing the president and vice-president.

13-15.  Fruits of the Civil War.

[Illustration:  PRINCIPAL STORY (For Key see back of page.)]

[Illustration:  THE PRINCIPAL STORY OF THE CAPITOL.]

CHAPTER XX.

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

THE ENACTING CLAUSE [1] OR PREAMBLE.

We, the people of the United States,[2] in order to form a more perfect union,[3] establish justice,[4] insure domestic tranquillity,[5] provide for the common defense,[6] promote the general welfare,[7] and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity,[8] do ordain and establish this constitution for the United States of America.

[1] The preamble or enacting clause is very important, because it states the purposes for which the constitution was framed, and is, therefore, a valuable aid in interpreting its provisions.

[2] These words are important, because:  First, they recognize the people as the source of power.  Second, they show that the constitution is different in nature from the articles of confederation.  The latter was a compact between states, adopted by state legislatures acting for the states as such; the former was “ordained and established” by “the people of the United States,” one people, acting as a unit.  And the expression, which was inserted in the preamble after due deliberation, is, therefore, an argument in favor of the proposition that this is a nation and not a mere confederacy.

[3] “More perfect” than under the articles of confederation, in which the states were declared sovereign and independent.  The sovereignty is given by the constitution to the general government, which is clothed with ample power to maintain its independence.  At the same time such limitations are placed upon its power as will prevent its becoming despotic.