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| | '''American Government and the Constitution Lectures''': [[American Government and the Constitution Lecture One|1]]-[[American Government and the Constitution Lecture Two|2]]-[[American Government and the Constitution Lecture Three|3]]-[[American Government and the Constitution Lecture Four|4]]-[[American Government and the Constitution Lecture Five|5]]-[[American Government and the Constitution Lecture Six|6]]-[[American Government and the Constitution Lecture Seven|7]]-[[American Government and the Constitution Lecture Eight|8]]-[[American Government and the Constitution Lecture Nine|9]]-[[American Government and the Constitution Lecture Ten|10]]-[[American Government and the Constitution Lecture Eleven|11]]-[[American Government and the Constitution Lecture Twelve|12]]-[[American Government and the Constitution Lecture Thirteen|13]]-[[American Government and the Constitution Lecture Fourteen|14]] | | '''American Government and the Constitution Lectures''': [[American Government and the Constitution Lecture One|1]]-[[American Government and the Constitution Lecture Two|2]]-[[American Government and the Constitution Lecture Three|3]]-[[American Government and the Constitution Lecture Four|4]]-[[American Government and the Constitution Lecture Five|5]]-[[American Government and the Constitution Lecture Six|6]]-[[American Government and the Constitution Lecture Seven|7]]-[[American Government and the Constitution Lecture Eight|8]]-[[American Government and the Constitution Lecture Nine|9]]-[[American Government and the Constitution Lecture Ten|10]]-[[American Government and the Constitution Lecture Eleven|11]]-[[American Government and the Constitution Lecture Twelve|12]]-[[American Government and the Constitution Lecture Thirteen|13]]-[[American Government and the Constitution Lecture Fourteen|14]] |
| − | <br><br>Yesterday, September 17th, was "Consitution Day," in recognition of how the Constitution was completed and signed on that day in 1787. The last words of the Constitution, after Article VII and just above the signatures, are these: | + | <br><br>Yesterday, September 17th, was "Consitution Day," in recognition of how the Constitution was completed and signed on September 17, 1787. The last words of the Constitution, after Article VII and just above the signatures, are these: |
| | {{cquote|Done in convention by the unanimous consent of the states present the seventeenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven and of the independence of the United States of America the twelfth. | | {{cquote|Done in convention by the unanimous consent of the states present the seventeenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven and of the independence of the United States of America the twelfth. |
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| | G. Washington-Presidt. and deputy from Virginia ...}} | | G. Washington-Presidt. and deputy from Virginia ...}} |
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| − | Notice that George Washington was signing as President ("Presidt") of the Constitutional Convention, not of the United States. He could not become President of the United States until after the Constitution was ratified by at least nine StaTes, as required by Article VII. | + | Notice that George Washington was signing as President ("Presidt") of the Constitutional Convention, not of the United States. He could not become President of the United States until after the Constitution was ratified by at least nine StaTes, as required by Article VII. The Articles of Confederation, which is what was in place when the Constitution was drafted, did not establish an office of President. |
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| | == The most important provision? == | | == The most important provision? == |
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| − | In our last Lecture we discussed the Preamble (We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union ...."), and courts have construed it not to have any legally binding effect. The Preamble is merely "window-dressing", and does not establish any rights of the people, or any powers of government. It is a very eloquent introduction to the document. | + | In our last Lecture we discussed the Preamble (We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union ...."), and courts have construed it not to have any legally binding effect. The Preamble is merely "window-dressing", and does not establish any rights of the people, or any powers of government. It is a very eloquent introduction to the document, but does not create any rights, or establish or limit any governmental powers. |
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| | After the 52 words of the Preamble, what is the most important provision? The winner might be the very next sentence, Article I, Section 1, which states: | | After the 52 words of the Preamble, what is the most important provision? The winner might be the very next sentence, Article I, Section 1, which states: |