The United States Constitution - Reading Comprehension
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The United States Constitution Reading Comprehension
     The United States Constitution reading comprehension (sample is shown below)


The United States Constitution
By Phyllis Naegeli 		  
1     When James Madison wrote down the words of our Constitution, he created a document that has endured over two hundred years of testing. It has stood as an example of democracy, not only in America, but also around the world. The first draft contained seven articles outlining the structure of government, the relationships between the states, and a way to amend the document.
 
2     Article I created the lawmaking portion of our government. The legislative branch would consist of a congress divided into two houses - the Senate and the House of Representatives. During the Constitutional Convention, states argued over proper representation until "The Great Compromise" was reached. Under this compromise, the Senate satisfied the concerns of the smaller states by granting two Senators to each state. The House of Representatives was created to satisfy the larger states by granting representatives based on population. Laws would be approved by both parts of the Congress, ensuring an equal voice for all states. Powers granted to Congress included coining money, collecting taxes, establishing a military, approving executive department appointments, and making laws. In addition, it set the rules for who was eligible to serve in this branch.
 
3     Article II established the executive branch, granting it the responsibility of carrying out the laws made by the Congress. It created the office of president and granted the powers of this office. The president is commander-in-chief of the military, appoints judges and ambassadors, negotiates treaties, and approves or vetoes laws made by the Congress. This Article also set the qualifications for president. A president must be a natural born citizen, at least 35 years old, and have resided in America for fourteen years.

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