Articles 4-7

Section Objectives1. Describe how the states are interdependent and subject to the federal government.

2. Cite ways of proposing and ratifying amendments.

3. Explain the authority of federal law.

4. Describe how the Constitution was ratified.

1. Article 4 Relations Among StatesSection 2 Rights of CitizensClause 2 Extradition

• Someone charged with a crime who flees to another state must be returned to the original state, by the state he or she has gone to, if the governor of the original state requests it.

Section 3 New States

Clause 1 Admission

• New states may be admitted to the Union if approved by Congress.Clause 2 Congressional Authority

• The acquiring of any new territory by states is decided by Congress.

• The federal government decides how states will be added to the Union and how much territory they will have (boundaries).

2. Article 5 Amending the Constitution

• The Constitution can be amended if the change is approved by a two-thirds majority of both houses of Congress (Senate and House of Representatives) or three-fourths of the states.

3. Article 6 Supremacy of the National GovernmentSection 2 Supreme Law• The Constitution is “the supreme law of the land”

Section 3 Loyalty to Constitution

• A person cannot serve as a member of a state legislature or hold federal office unless he or she swears an oath of loyalty to the Constitution.

4. Article 7 Ratification• Nine states were needed to ratify the Constitution.

• Famous men who signed the Constitution: 1. George Washington 2. Alexander Hamilton 3. Roger Sherman 4. Benjamin Franklin 5. James Madison