Most lawyers have a limited need to consult the five articles of the U.S. Constitution, and probably have not done so since attending law school. Most of the cases involving constitutional law invoke rights and responsibilities under the amendments, primarily the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment.

The actual body of the Constitution sets out the framework of our government. Each article addresses a different branch of government—how it is constituted and what powers are allotted to it. Article I addresses the legislative branch, Article II addresses the executive branch, Article III addresses the judicial branch, and Article IV addresses the rights reserved to each state and addresses how the states interrelate with each other. Article V sets out the process to amend the Constitution.