What are the important clauses in Article 3 of the Constitution?

Asked by: Prof. Mollie Wintheiser  |  Last update: February 1, 2026
Score: 4.8/5 (24 votes)

Article 3 of the U.S. Constitution establishes the Judicial Branch, creating the Supreme Court and empowering Congress to establish lower courts, defining their jurisdiction, ensuring judicial independence with life tenure for judges (good behavior), guaranteeing jury trials (except impeachment), and defining treason. Key clauses include vesting judicial power (Section 1), defining the scope of federal court cases (Section 2), and specifying treason (Section 3).

What are the key points of Article 3 of the Constitution?

Article III of the Constitution establishes the federal judiciary. 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."

What is the Article 3 clause?

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 are the most important clauses in the Constitution?

The following includes some of the more important clauses:

  • Commerce Clause.
  • Confrontation Clause.
  • Commander-in-Chief Clause.
  • Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment.
  • Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
  • Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
  • Full Faith and Credit Clause.
  • General Welfare Clause.

What is the Article 3 2 Clause 1?

The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority;—to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls;—to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;— ...

Constitutional Clauses Lesson 3

18 related questions found

What is Section 3 Clause 1 of the Constitution?

Clause 1 Meaning

No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

What is the exception clause in Article 3 Section 2?

art III, § 2, cl. 2. Congress and the Court have construed this provision, sometimes called the Exceptions Clause, to grant Congress significant control over the Court's appellate jurisdiction and proceedings.

What are the important clauses in Article 4?

The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.

What are major clauses?

Clauses in a contract are distinct sections or provisions that outline specific terms, conditions, and obligations agreed upon by the parties involved. They ensure clarity, define rights and responsibilities, and mitigate risks in legal agreements.

What are the important clauses in Article 1?

Article One also establishes the procedures for passing a bill and places limits on the powers of Congress and the states from abusing their powers. Article One's Vesting Clause grants all federal legislative power to Congress and establishes that Congress consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

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.

What is the Article 3 rule?

Article 3 (Draft Article 3) was debated on 17 and 18 November 1948, and 13 October 1949. It empowered Parliament to make law relating to the formation of new states and alteration of existing states.

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.

What is the Article 3 Good Behavior Clause?

In other words, the Good Behavior Clause simply indicates that judges are not appointed to their seats for set terms and cannot be removed at will; removing a federal judge requires impeachment and conviction for a high crime or misdemeanor.

What is the Article 3 clause of the Constitution about treason?

Article III, Section 3, Clause 1: Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort.

What are 5 main clauses examples?

Here are 5 examples of main clauses (independent clauses), which contain a subject and verb and express a complete thought, allowing them to stand alone as sentences: "The dog barked loudly," "She loves to read books," "They went to the park," "He finished his homework," and "The sun shines brightly".
 

What are the four major clauses?

A clause is a group of related words that contain a subject and a verb. There are four main types of clauses: independent, dependent, relative, and noun. An independent clause is a complete sentence that can stand-alone. It contains a subject, verb, and complete thought.

What are the 7 types of clauses with examples?

Types Of Clauses with Examples and Sentences

  • Independent: "I enjoy reading." ( ...
  • Dependent: "When the sun sets" (Needs more to be complete)
  • Noun: "What she did was right."
  • Adverb: "He finished early because he worked fast."
  • Adjective: "The book which is on the table is new."
  • Independent: "My dog sleeps."

What is the Article 4 Clause 2?

Clause 2 Interstate Extradition

A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in another State, shall on Demand of the executive Authority of the State from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction of the Crime.

Does Article 3 establish the Supreme Court?

Article III authorizes one Supreme Court, but does not set the number of justices that must be appointed to it. Article One, Section 3, Clause 6 refers to a "chief justice" (who shall preside over the impeachment trial of the president of the United States).

What is the Article 5 of the Constitution?

art. V (stating that amendments to the Constitution may be ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress ). Jump to essay-11United States v.

Can the president overturn a Supreme Court ruling?

No, the President cannot directly overturn a Supreme Court decision; only the Court itself (through a new ruling), the Constitution (via amendment), or new legislation by Congress can overturn a major ruling, though Presidents can try to influence future decisions by appointing new justices or challenge rulings through appeals, and historically, some have selectively enforced or ignored certain rulings, as seen with Lincoln and the Dred Scott case. 

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 is Article 3 Section 3 Clause 2 simplified?

Clause 2 Punishment

The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.

What is article IV section 3 clause 1 about?

New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the ...