Constitution Week 2021, Day Four

To honor Constitution Week 2021, the City of Vilonia has partnered with the Vilonia Area Chamber of Commerce for a coloring contest! Please see our contest page for information and a downloadable contest packet.

Today's video is The Constitution Explained in One Minute by Hip Hughes

Forming a More Perfect Union
On May 25, 1787, the Constitutional Convention opened in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence had been adopted 11 years earlier. There were 55 delegates in attendance, representing all 13 states except Rhode Island, which refused to send representatives because it did not want a powerful central government interfering in its economic business. George Washington, who’d become a national hero after leading the Continental Army to victory during the American Revolution, was selected as president of the convention by unanimous vote.
The delegates (who also became known as the “framers” of the Constitution) were a well-educated group that included merchants, farmers, bankers and lawyers. Many had served in the Continental Army, colonial legislatures or the Continental Congress (known as the Congress of the Confederation as of 1781). In terms of religious affiliation, most were Protestants. Eight delegates were signers of the Declaration of Independence, while six had signed the Articles of Confederation.
-History.com 

The Constitution of the United States is only seven articles long, although is has grown to include a host of amendments. Each day of Constitution Week, we will cover one article.

Today is Article 4, which "outlines states’ powers in relationship to each other. States have the authority to create and enforce their own laws but must respect and help enforce the laws of other states. Congress may pass Federal laws regarding how states honor other states’ laws and records." -archives.org Click here to see the full transcript of Article 4.

Powers not granted to the Federal government are reserved for States and the people, which are divided between State and local governments. Learn more at Our Government: State and Local Government on whitehouse.gov