The Articles of Confederation.

20. What was the great defect in the Articles of Confederation? The want of sufficient power in the General Govern

ment.

21. When did the present Constitution go into operation? In September, 1788.

22. What is the introductory paragraph of the Constitution called? The Preamble.

THE PREAMBLE.

"We, the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

23. What is the main object of the Preamble?

The main object of the Preamble is to set forth the purposes for which the Constitution was adopted.

24. What were the purposes for which the Constitution was ordained and established?

1st, To form a more perfect union; 2d, To establish justice; 3d, To insure domestic tranquillity; 4th, To provide for the common defence; 5th, To promote the general welfare; and 6th, To secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.

25. Why is this part of the Preamble important?

Because the purposes for which the Constitution was adopted form a valuable aid in interpreting its principles.

26. What else is contained in the Preamble ?

It sets forth the parties who established the Consti

The people of the United States.

28. How does the Constitution compare in this respect with the ticles of Confederation?

The Articles of Confederation emanated from the 'tates; the Constitution of the United States emanated irectly from the People.

29. Why is this part of the Preamble important? Because it shows the authority upon which the Contitution rests.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES.

30. Into how many departments is the government of the United tates divided?

Into three;

Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.

31. What is the Legislative power?

are v

The power which makes the laws.

32. What is the Executive power?

33. What is the Judicial power?

41.

C

42.

two bri

The power which carries the laws into effect.

The power which interprets the laws.

34. What may be remarked in regard to this separation of the owers of Government?

It is indispensable to the existence of good govern

ent.

35. What kind of government is that in which these powers are

Il vested in the same hands?

It is an absolute government, or despotism.

36. Why is such a government dangerous?

Because it gives no security against the abuse of

ower.

37. To what do the three main articles of the Constitution relate?

To the distribution of the powers of government mong the three departments, the Legislative, the Cxecutive, and the Judicial.

38. To what does Article I. relate?

To the Legislative Department.

ARTICLE I. THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.
SECTION I. Congress in general.

"All legislative powers herein granted, shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives."

39. To what does this section relate?

To the establishment of the National Legislature.

40. In what body are the legislative powers of the United States vested?

All Legislative powers granted in this Constitution. are vested in a Congress of the United States.

41. Of what does the Congress of the United States consist? Of a Senate and House of Representatives.

42. What advantage is there in dividing the legislative body into two branches?

The two Houses of Congress act as a check upon each other.

43. Repeat Section I.

SECTION II. House of Representatives.

CLAUSE I. "The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several States, and the electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislature.”

44. To what does this clause refer?

To the organization of the House of Representatives.

АК How often

the me hare of the House of Representatives

Every second year.

46 Why is a comparatively short term of service fixed for the House of Representatives?

That they may come more frequently and more directly under the supervision of popular opinion.

47. By whom are they chosen?

By the People of the several States.

48. What qualifications are requisite to enable a citizen in any State to vote for members of the National House of Representatives

The same qualifications which are necessary to enable him to vote for the most numerous branch of he State legislature.

49. Repeat the words of Clause I.

CLAUSE II. "No person shall be a Representative, who hall not have attained the age of twenty-five years, and Seen seven years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen."

50. To what does this clause relate?

To the qualifications of the Representatives.

51. How old must a Representative be?

No person shall be a Representative, who shall not mave attained the age of twenty-five years.

52. How long must he have been a citizen of the United States? Seven years.

53. What is necessary in regard to residence?

He must, when elected, be an inhabitant of that

State in which he is chosen.

54. Repeat the words of Clause II.

CLAUSE III. " Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be inclu

ded within this Union, according to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, threefifths of all other persons. The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law diThe number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand, but each State shall have at least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to choose three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.

rect.

55. To what does this clause relate?

To the Apportionment of Representatives and direct taxes among the States.

56. In what manner are Representatives and direct taxes appor tioned among the several States?

According to their respective numbers.

57. In determining the number to be represented in the different States, are any counted besides free persons?

Yes.

58. Who are meant by "those bound to service for a term of years ?"

Apprentices.

59. What is provided in regard to apprentices ?

They are included in the number of free persons.

60. What is provided in regard to Indians?

T

cluded from the num