U S Constitution Articles I VII 1

U. S. Constitution Articles I – VII 1

What is the Preamble? o Beginning of Constitution; states the goals of the Constitution 2

Article I o Establishes the Legislative Branch o Power to make laws 3

Describe Congress o Bicameral or two houses o House of Representatives & Senate 4

Qualifications for House of Representatives o Resident of state o At least 25 years old o U. S. citizen 7 years 5

Length of Term for House o 2 Year Terms 6

Describe House of Representative Membership o Representation is based on population o 435 members 7

Who is the House Leader? o Speaker of the House 8

Powers only the House has o Impeachment o Begin Appropriation Bills 9

Impeach o Formally accuse a person of wrongdoing 10

Describe Senate Membership o 100 senators o 2 from each state 11

Length of Senate Term o 6 year terms 12

Senate Qualifications o 30 years old o U. S. Citizen 9 years o Resident of state 13

Senate Leaders o Vice President is president of the Senate (Joe Biden) o President Pro Tem is day-today leader o Majority Leader 14

Senate Powers o Approves appointments o Tries impeachments cases 15

When General Elections Are Held o First Tuesday after 1 st Monday in November in even -numbered years 16

Congressional Session Rules o Sessions begin January 3 rd o Must meet at least once a year 17

Congressional reports o Day-to-day occurrences are recorded in the ‘Congressional Record’ 18

How a Bill becomes a law o Must pass both houses in same form o Conference Committees works out differences o Most work is done in committee 19

President’s Role in Passing Bills o Sign the bill into law o Veto the bill o Doesn’t sign – becomes law in 10 days (if Congress is in session) o Pocket veto, doesn’t sign within 10 days (Congress not in session) 20

Vote to Override a veto o Congress can override a veto with 2/3 vote of both houses 21

Congressional Powers (Enumerated or Expressed) o Tax o Borrow money o Regulate trade o Establish courts o o Declare war Coin money Counterfeiting Elastic clause (implied powers) 22

Implied Powers of Congress o Also called: n Elastic Powers n Come from Necessary and Proper clause 23

Powers Denied to Congress o o Writ of Habeas Corpus Bills of Attainder Tax exports Grant titles of nobility 24

Article II o Executive Branch o Enforces the law 25

Executive Branch o Made up of: n President (Barack Obama) n Vice President (Joe Biden) n President’s cabinet officers 26

Qualifications - President o U. S. citizen by birth o At least 35 years old o Resident of U. S. for 14 years 27

Presidential Term o 4 year term 28

Electoral College o Elect President & Vice President o Electors = total number of congressional representatives in a state 29

Powers of President o Commander of armed forces o Grant reprieves & pardons, commute sentences o Make Appointments 30

Duties of President o Delivers State of Union address o Prepares Federal budget o Calls special sessions of Congress 31

President’s Cabinet o o Secretary of State Secretary of Defense Secretary of the Treasury Attorney General 32

Choosing Cabinet Officers o President appoints them o Senate must approve the appointment 33

Article III o Judicial Branch o Interpret the laws 34

Federal Courts o Lower courts (District & Appeals) established by Congress o Federal judges are appointed for life 35

Supreme Court o 9 justices o One is Chief Justice o All appointed for life 36

Cases Heard in Supreme Court o Original jurisdiction n Cases involving two states n Cases involving foreign diplomats o All other cases on appeal 37

Treason o Only crime defined in Constitution (Article III) o Only in time of war o To be convicted: n At least 2 witnesses n Confession 38

Article IV o Relations among the states o Must recognize court records of other states o Can’t discriminate against residents of other states o Extradition o Congress approves new states 39

Article V o Amending process 40

Proposing Amendments o Proposing: 1. 2/3 vote of Congress 2. National Convention 41

Ratifying Amendments o Ratifying: 1. 3/4 ths of state legislatures 2. 3/4 ths of states in conventions 42

Article VI o Constitution is supreme law of the land 43

Article VII o Ratifying the Constitution o 9 of 13 states had to approve o Ratified 1788 44

Bill of Rights o First ten amendments o Ratified Dec. 15, 1791 45

Amendment I o Five basic freedoms o Religion, speech, press, assembly, petition 46

Amendment II o Right to bear arms 47

Amendment III o Quartering troops o Housing troops in private homes 48

Amendment IV o Searches & seizures o Search warrants 49

Amendment V o o o Rights of accused Double jeopardy Self-incrimination Due process Eminent domain 50

Amendment VI o o Speedy, fair trial Cross-examine witnesses Attorney Jury trial if wanted 51

Amendment VII o Civil suits o Jury trial or bench trial 52

Amendment VIII o Bail & punishment o Cruel & unusual punishment o Punishment must fit crime 53

Amendment IX o Powers reserved to the people o More rights than what are listed 54

Amendment X o Powers reserved to the states 55

Amendment XI o Suits against states o Must be tried in state courts 56

Amendment XII o Changed the way the Electoral College voted for President & Vice President o Now elected on separate ballots 57

Amendment XIII o Abolition of slavery 58

Amendment XIV o o Rights of citizens Defines citizen Due process clause Equal protection of the laws 59

Amendment XV o Right to vote regardless of race 60

Amendment XVI o Established income tax 61

Amendment XVII o Direct elections of U. S. Senators 62

Amendment XVIII o Prohibition of alcoholic beverages 63

Amendment XIX o Gave the right to vote to women o Could not discriminate based on gender 64

Amendment XX o Lame-Duck Amendment o Moved Inauguration Day to January 20 th o Congressional Session moved to January 3 rd 65

Amendment XXI o Repeal of prohibition 66

Amendment XXII o Limit on presidential terms o Limits president to 2 terms or 10 years 67

Amendment XXIII o Presidential electors for District of Columbia o Allowed Washington D. C. residents to vote for president 68

Amendment XXIV o Abolition of poll tax 69

Amendment XXV o Presidential disability & succession o Succession: Vice President to Speaker of the House to President Pro Tem of Senate 70

Amendment XXVI o 18 -year-old vote 71

Amendment XXVII o Restraint on congressional salaries o Delays increases in salaries 72