What do articles 1, 2, and 3 of the Constitution establish?

Asked by: Prof. Aaron Kutch  |  Last update: February 3, 2026
Score: 4.1/5 (55 votes)

Articles 1, 2, and 3 of the U.S. Constitution establish the three branches of the federal government, creating a system of separation of powers: Article I creates the Legislative Branch (Congress) to make laws, Article II creates the Executive Branch (President) to enforce laws, and Article III creates the Judicial Branch (Supreme Court and lower courts) to interpret laws, all working within a framework of checks and balances.

What does article 1, 2, and 3 of the Constitution establish?

Articles 1, 2, and 3 of the U.S. Constitution establish the three branches of the federal government, embodying the principle of separation of powers: Article I creates the Legislative Branch (Congress) to make laws, Article II establishes the Executive Branch (President) to enforce laws, and Article III creates the Judicial Branch (Supreme Court and lower courts) to interpret laws. 

What is Article 1 Section 2 Clause 3 of the United States Constitution?

Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included 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, ...

What does Article 3 of the Constitution establish?

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 do the three articles of the Constitution establish?

The U.S. Constitution establishes three separate but equal branches of government: the legislative branch (makes the law), the executive branch (enforces the law), and the judicial branch (interprets the law).

Article I Section 1, 2, and 3 Explained

27 related questions found

What did Article 1 establish?

The supremacy of the people through their elected representatives is recognized in Article I, which creates a Congress consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The positioning of Congress at the beginning of the Constitution affirms its status as the “First Branch” of the federal government.

What is article 2 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 is the Article 2 Section 1?

Article II, Section 1 establishes that the president and vice president are to be elected at the same time and serve the same four-year term. Until 1951, presidents could serve for as many four-year terms as they could win.

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.

What does article 2 and 3 say?

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 is the purpose of Article 1 Section 2 of the Constitution?

To ensure that House members were accountable to the people, Article I, Section 2 provided for relatively frequent elections, to take place every two years. This contrasted with the terms of Senators under Article I, Section 3, which take place every six years.

What does Article 1 Section 3 of the Constitution deal with?

The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.

What is the purpose of article 2 section 3 of the Constitution?

The second clause of Article II, Section 3 authorizes the President to convene or adjourn the Houses of Congress in certain circumstances. The President has frequently summoned both Houses into extra or special sessions for legislative purposes, and the Senate alone for the consideration of nominations and treaties.

What does article 1 say in simple terms?

Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution creates the Legislative Branch (Congress), establishes its two parts (the Senate and House of Representatives), and outlines its powers, how members are elected, and the process for making laws, serving as the foundation for U.S. lawmaking and government structure.
 

What is the Article 1 of the Constitution simplified?

Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution simplified creates Congress (the legislative branch), made of the Senate and House, gives it power to make laws (taxes, war, commerce, etc.), sets rules for elections and terms (House: 2 yrs, by population; Senate: 6 yrs, 2 per state), and lists powers Congress can't have, establishing our law-making system.
 

What do articles 1-3 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).

What is the Article 2 of the Constitution for kids?

Article Two of the U.S. Constitution sets up the executive branch of the U.S. government. This branch is in charge of carrying out the country's laws. It includes the President, the Vice President, and the Cabinet. It also includes many government departments and agencies, like the Department of State and the CIA.

What did Article 3 of the Constitution do?

Article III separates and places the judicial power in the judiciary. This idea is most often attributed to Montesquieu. Although not the progenitor, Montesquieu's writing on the separation of power in The Spirit of Laws was immensely influential on the U.S. Constitution.

What does article 2 establish?

The Executive Branch: Article II of the Constitution establishes the executive branch of the national government, headed by a single President.

What does article 1 section 1 do?

Article I, Section 1 vests all legislative powers in Congress, which means the President and the Supreme Court cannot assert legislative authority.

What is Article 1 Section 2 Clause 2 simplified?

Clause 2 Qualifications

No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been 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.

What are the Article 2 and 3 of the Constitution?

(1) Any law referred to in article 2 or article 3 shall contain such provisions for the amendment of the First Schedule and the Fourth Schedule as may be necessary to give effect to the provisions of the law and may also contain such supplemental, incidental and consequential provisions (including provisions as to ...

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 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.