​Layout

The Constitution is made up of 3 parts...

• Preamble-- Introduction

• Articles-- main sections

• Amendments​-- "changes to the document"

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​Preamble

The preamble explains the why the Constitution was written.​

• "We the people of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union..."

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​Articles

The Articles each cover a different topic about how the government is structured. ​

• There are 7 Articles.

• Articles I, II, III all describe the branches of government.

• Article IV discusses the relationship between the states and the federal government.

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​Articles

The Articles each cover a different topic about how the government is structured. ​

• Article V explains constitutional amendments.

• Article VI establishes the Constitution as the "Supreme Law of the Land"

• Article VII addresses ratification.

​Amendments

The Constitution has been amended to protect individual rights or to modify the structure of the government. ​

• There are 27 Amendments in the Constitution.

• Several amendments are concerned with the right to vote.

• The first 10 amendments make up the Bill of Rights.