Article IV： States powers and limits
ArticleⅣdescribes the relationship between the states and the federal government and amongst the states. For instance， it requires states to give“full faith and credit”to the public acts， records， and court proceedings of the other states. Congress is permitted to regulate the manner in which proof of such acts， records， or proceedings may be admitted. The“privileges and immunities”clause prohibits state governments from discriminating against citizens of other states in favor of resident citizens （ e.g.， having tougher penalties for residents of Ohio convicted of crimes within Michigan） . It also establishes extradition between the states， as well as laying down a legal basis for freedom of movement and travel amongst the states. Today， this provision is sometimes taken for granted， especially by citizens who live near state borders； but in the days of the Articles of Confederation， crossing state lines was often a much more arduous and costly process. ArticleⅣalso provides for the creation and admission of new states. The Territorial Clause gives Congress the power to make rules for disposing of federal property and governing non-state territories of the United States. Finally， the fourth section of ArticleⅣrequires the United States to guarantee to each state a republican form of government， and to protect the states from invasion and violence.
Article V： Amendments
An amendment may be ratified in three ways：
1. The new amendmentmay be approved by two-thirds of both Houses of Congress， then sent to the states for approval.
2. Two-thirds of the state legislatures may apply to Congress for a constitutional convention to consider amendments， which are then sent to the states for approval.
3.Congress may require ratification by special convention. The convention method has been used only once， to approve the 21st Amendment （ repealing prohibition， 1933） .
Regardless of the method of proposing an amendment， final ratification requires approval by three-fourths of the states.
Today ArticleⅤplaces only one limit on the amending power： no amendment may deprive a state of equal representation in the Senate without that state s consent. The original ArticleⅤincluded other limits on the amending power regarding slavery and taxation； however， these limits expired in 1808.
Article VI： Federal power
ArticleⅥestablishes the Constitution， and the laws and treaties of the United States made according to it， to be the supreme law of the land， and that“the judges in every state shall be bound thereby， any thing in the laws or constitutions of any state to the contrary notwithstanding.”It also validates national debt created under the Articles of Confederation and requires that all federal and state legislators， officers， and judges take oaths or affirmations to support the Constitution. This means that the states constitutions and laws should not conflictwith the laws of the federal constitution and that in case of a conflict， state judges are legally bound to honor the federal laws and constitution over those of any state.
ArticleⅥalso states“no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States”.
Article VII： Ratification
ArticleⅦsets forth the requirements for ratification of the Constitution. The Constitution would not take effect until at least nine states had ratified the Constitution in state conventions specially convened for that purpose， and it would only apply to those states that ratified it.
preamble /primbl/ n.前言，序言，导言
tranquility /trkwil ti/n.安宁，宁静
posterity /p s teriti/n.后代；子孙，后裔
ordain /dein/vt.（上帝、法律等）命令；注定；
颁布命令
vest /vest/vt.授予
enumerate /i nju m reit/vt.列举；枚举；计算
supersede / sju p si d/vt.取代，代替
succeed /s k si d/vt. &；； vi.继承，继任，接替
succession /s k sn/n.连续，继位
compensation /k mpen sein/n.补偿，报酬，赔偿金
militia /mi li/n.民兵
consul / k ns l /n.领事
expire /ik spai /vi.终止；期满
convene /k nvi n/vt. &；； vi.召集，集合；传唤
adjourn / dn/vt. &；； vi.休会；延期；换地方
adjournment/ dnm nt/n.休会，延期；休会期间
notwithstanding / n twi st ndi /prep.尽管，虽然
validate / v lideit/vt.确认，使生效，证实
generalwel fare 公共福利
executi ve power行政权
presi denti alterm总统任期
presi denti aloath总统就职宣誓
grantrepri eves and pardons发布缓刑令和赦免令
congressi onalrecess国会休会
at one s di screti on自行裁量
pri vi l eges and i m m uni ti es特权与豁免
1.ouse of Representatives （众议院）： The United States House of Representatives， ommonly referred to as the House， is the lower house of the bicameral United States ongress. Each state receives representation in the House in proportion to its population ut is entitled to at least one Representative. Each representative serves for a two-year erm. Thepresiding officer of theHouseis the Speaker， and is elected by the members of theHouse. TheHousewas granted its own exclusivepowers： the power to initiaterevenue bills， impeach officials， and elect the president in electoral collegedeadlocks.
2. Senate （参议院）： The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral United tates Congress. Each U.S. state is represented by two senators， regardless of population. This ensures equal representation of each statein the Senate. Senators servestaggered sixyear terms. The Senate has several exclusive powers not granted to the House， including consenting to treaties as a precondition to their ratification and consenting or confirmation of appointments of Cabinet secretaries， federal judges， other federal executive officials， military officers and other federal uniformed officers， as well as the impeachment trials of federal officials.
3. original jurisdiction （初审管辖权） ： Theoriginal jurisdiction of a courtis therightto hear a case for the first time as opposed to appellate jurisdiction （上诉管辖权） when a court has the right to review a lower court s decision.
4. trial by jury （陪审）： A trial by jury （ or jury trial） is a legal proceeding in which a jury ither makes a decision or makes findings of fact which are then applied by a judge. It is distinguished froma bench trial， in which a judge or panel of judges make all decisions.
5. extradition （引渡）： Extradition is theofficial process whereby onenation or state requests and obtains fromanother nation or statethe surrender of a suspected or convicted criminal. Between nation states， extradition is regulated by treaties. Where extradition is compelled by laws， such as among sub-national jurisdictions， the concept may be known more generally as rendition.
6. Articles of Confederation （《联邦条例》）： Articles of Confederation was the first constitution f the United States of America and legally established the union of the states. The rticles were replaced by the U.S. Constitution on June21， 1788.
7. national debt （国债）： National debt（ also known as public debt or government debt ） is money （ or credit） owed by any level of government； either central government， federal government， municipal government or local government.
