article IV - Addresses states & Guarantee of Republic
Section 1
Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. The Congress may, through general Laws, prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records, and Proceedings shall be proved and determine the Effect thereof as outlined in Articles IV-VII of the U.S. Constitution.
Section 2
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other Crime who flees from Justice and is found in another State shall, upon 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. Additionally, no Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another shall, due to any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service or Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due, as supported by the Constitutional Amendments.
Section 3
New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; however, no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State, nor shall 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 that of the Congress. The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States, ensuring that nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to Prejudice any Claims of the United States or of any particular State.
Section 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 upon Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened), shall act against domestic Violence, as provided in Articles IV-VII of the U.S. Constitution.
Map of the 50 states in the Union
article V - Addresses amendment process
Article V
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Constitutional Amendments to this U.S. Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments. These amendments, whether proposed under Article V or under the provisions of Articles IV-VII, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes as part of this Constitution when 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; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.
article VI - addresses law of the land, oaths of office
All debts contracted and engagements entered into before the adoption of this U.S. Constitution shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution as they were under the Confederation. This Constitution, along with the laws of the United States made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made or which shall be made under the authority of the United States, shall constitute the supreme law of the land. Judges in every state shall be bound by these laws, notwithstanding anything in the Constitution or laws of any state to the contrary. Furthermore, the Senators and Representatives mentioned, along with the members of the several state legislatures and all executive and judicial officers of both the United States and the individual states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation to support this Constitution, including all Articles IV-VII and any future constitutional amendments. Importantly, no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.
U.S. Constitution - Supreme Law of the Land
Article VII - addresses ratification of constitution
Article VII states that the ratification of the conventions of nine States shall be sufficient for the establishment of this Constitution, as outlined in the Constitutional Amendments, between the States so ratifying the U.S. Constitution.
Photo - Signing the Constitution - September 17, 1787 - Ratified June 17, 1788
George Washington presided over the signing of the U.S. Constitution. The American flag hangs on the wall on the right, with thirteen stars to represent the thirteen united states. Artist: H.C. Christy (source: loc.gov).
See biographies of the signers for details of the brave men pictured who risked their lives for a dream of what could be under self-rule.
From Articles of Confederation to the Constitution
Signing Declaration of Independence, by Trumbull.
The Declaration has 1,458 words including signatures. The Declaration was signed in the Philadelphia State House.
The first known formal use of "united" States of America was in the Declaration of Independence.
Signing U.S. Constitution, by C. Christy.
The document is 4,543 words, including the signatures. George Washington presided.