What are the Article 2 and 3 of the Constitution?

Asked by: Mr. Nico Koch  |  Last update: February 2, 2026
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In the U.S. Constitution, Article II establishes the Executive Branch, headed by the President, detailing their election, powers (like Commander-in-Chief, making treaties, appointments), and duties (like giving the State of the Union, ensuring laws are executed). Article III creates the Judicial Branch, establishing the Supreme Court and empowering Congress to create lower federal courts, defining their jurisdiction.

What is article 2 of the Constitution?

Article II of the U.S. Constitution establishes the Executive Branch, vesting power in the President, outlining their role as Commander-in-Chief, head of the executive departments, chief diplomat (making treaties with Senate consent), and chief law enforcer, detailing qualifications, election process via the Electoral College, and impeachment procedures for removal from office, all centered on ensuring the faithful execution of laws.
 

What is the Article 2 and Art 3?

Article 2 – Admission and establishment of the new state. Article 3 – Formation of new states and alteration of areas, boundaries, and name of existing states.

What's in article 3 of the Constitution?

Article III, Section I states that "The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish." Although the Constitution establishes the Supreme Court, it permits Congress to decide how to organize it.

What is article 2 section 3 of the Constitution summary?

This Section invests the President with the discretion to convene Congress on “extraordinary occasions,” a power that has been used to summon the chambers to consider nominations, war declarations, and emergency legislation.

Article II Sec 3 and 4 Explained

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What is article 2 all about?

Article II of the U.S. Constitution establishes the Executive Branch, vesting power in the President, outlining their election via the Electoral College, defining their duties (enforcing laws, Commander-in-Chief, making treaties, granting pardons), and detailing succession and removal processes. It forms the foundation of the American presidency, balancing executive power while setting limits, ensuring separation of powers. 

What does Article 3 Section 2 say in simple terms?

Section 2 Continued –

The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any State, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have directed.

What is Article 3 of the Constitution for dummies?

Article III – The Judicial Branch.

The article states that the court of last resort is the U.S. Supreme Court and that the U.S. Congress has the power to determine the size and scope of those courts below it. All judges are appointed for life unless they resign or are charged with bad behavior.

Why is article 3 so important?

Section One of Article III is a cornerstone of our legal system. It establishes the Supreme Court, and it is the basis of the federal court system. It has served those purposes from the very beginning.

Why is Article 2 important?

Article II of the United States Constitution vests “the executive power” in the President. For more than two hundred years, advocates of presidential power have claimed that this phrase was originally understood to include a bundle of national security and foreign affairs authorities.

Is God mentioned in the US Constitution?

No, the U.S. Constitution does not explicitly mention God, Jesus, or Christianity; its framework is secular, focusing on governmental structure, though it mentions "religion" in the First Amendment to protect religious freedom and prohibit an established religion. The only divine reference is in the signing date, "in the Year of our Lord," a common phrase of the era, not a theological statement, notes TCU Magazine.
 

What do articles I, II, and III of the Constitution establish?

The first three articles establish the three branches of government and their powers: Legislative (Congress), Executive (office of the President,) and Judicial (Federal court system). A system of checks and balances prevents any one of these separate powers from becoming dominant.

What is an example of Article 3?

Article 3 provides a legal framework for the reorganization of states based on administrative, linguistic, cultural, and historical considerations. For example, the creation of Telangana from Andhra Pradesh in 2014 was based on demands for a separate state due to distinct cultural and historical factors.

What is article 2 simplified?

The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the ...

What can the President not do?

A PRESIDENT CANNOT . . .

  • make laws.
  • declare war.
  • decide how federal money will be spent.
  • interpret laws.
  • choose Cabinet members or Supreme Court Justices without Senate approval.

What is article 2 known as?

Article Two of the United States Constitution establishes the executive branch of the federal government, which carries out and enforces federal laws.

What is article 3 in simple terms?

Article Three of the United States Constitution establishes the judicial branch of the U.S. federal government. Under Article Three, the judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court of the United States, as well as lower courts created by Congress.

Can the Supreme Court overrule the Constitution?

Although the Supreme Court has shown less reluctance to overrule its decisions on constitutional questions than its decisions on statutory questions, the Court has nevertheless stated that there must be some special justification—or, at least “strong grounds”—that goes beyond disagreeing with a prior decision's ...

Why is article 3 an absolute right?

This right is absolute. It is never justifiable to torture someone, whatever the circumstances. On a basic level, the reason why this ban is absolute is very simple: torture and inhuman or degrading treatment is wrong because it violates our human dignity.

Why is article 3 of the constitution important?

Article III was more specific in its protection of several rights and liberties, such as the guarantee of trial by jury in criminal cases and freedom from bills of attainder or vague charges of treason. Other articles of the Constitution also shaped the structure and operation of the federal judiciary.

What is article 3 of the constitution called?

Article III of the U.S. Constitution establishes the judicial branch as one of the three separate and distinct branches of the federal government. These three branches — legislative, executive, and judicial — operate within a constitutional system of “checks and balances.”

What's the difference between articles & amendments?

More generally, the Constitution can be divided into three main parts: the preamble, articles, and amendments. The preamble explains why the Constitution was written, while the articles spell out how the government is to be run. The last part, the amendments, deal with subsequent changes made to the Constitution.

What happens if a president violates the Constitution?

The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors. The Federalist No. 65 (Alexander Hamilton); Peter Hoffer & N.E.H. Hull, Impeachment in America, 1635–1805 59–95 (1984).

Is the President the chief law enforcement officer?

The Attorney General is the head of the DOJ and chief law enforcement officer of the Federal Government. The Attorney General represents the United States in legal matters, advises both the President and the heads of executive departments in the government, and occasionally appears in person before the Supreme Court.

What does Article 3 of the Constitution dumbed down?

Article 3 – Establishes Judges, called the Judiciary. They decide if a law is allowable, or if it goes against the Constitution. Section 1 A. Establishes the Supreme Court, the highest court in the United States.