The 7 Articles to the Constitution

Article 1: The Legislature

The Legislative Branch *The Legislative branch, or Congress, makes the laws. *Congress includes two houses: The House of Representatives and Senate.

House of Representatives 1. Be at least 25 years old 2. Be a U.S. citizen for the past 7 years. 3. Live in the state they represent. 4. Each state has 1 representative for every 30,000 people. 5. Serve a 2 year term (no term limits)

Senate 1. Be at least 30 years old 2. Be a U.S. citizen for the past 9 years 3. Live in the state they represent. 4. Each state has 2 senators 5. Serve a 6 year term (no term limits) 6. Vice President of the U.S. is the President of the Senate.

Capitol Building

How a Bill becomes a Law *House and Senate introduces a bill to their own committee. *They can approve, rewrite, or kill the bill. *They vote on their own version of the bill. *If the bill passes, it goes to the President.

How a Bill becomes a Law *The president either passes or vetoes (declines) the bill.  *If vetoed, Congress can override the veto with 2/3 majority vote. *The bill is now a law.

Powers of Congress: *Levy and collect taxes. *Coin money/regulate its value *Establish post offices and roads. *Define and punish piracies and felonies.

Powers of Congress: *Declare war *Raise and support an armies/navy. *Make laws necessary and proper to execute the powers of Congress.

Article 2: The Executive

The Executive Branch *The Executive branch enforces the laws. *Headed by the President of the United States. *Also includes the Vice-President, cabinet members, and heads of other agencies.

Qualifications of President: *Must be at least 35 years old. *A natural born U.S. citizen. *Lived in the United States for at least 14 years. *Serves a term of four years.

Qualifications of President: *Can only serve two terms total – 8 yrs. (22nd amendment in 1951 limited the terms) *Elected by the entire country and electoral college.

President and Vice-President Barack Obama Joe Biden

Powers as President *Commander-In-Chief of armed forces. *Authorize the use of troops overseas without declaring war. *Make treaties with other nations (Senate must approve). *Appoints ambassadors, Supreme Court Justices, and other officials (Senate majority approval).

Powers as President *Approves laws passed by Congress. *Grants reprieves and pardons for Federal crimes. *Appoints federal judges (Senate majority approval). *Gives the State of the Union Address.

Article 3: The Judiciary

The Judicial Branch *The Judicial branch evaluates laws. *It hears cases that challenge legislation passed by Congress and signed by the President. *It consists of the Supreme Court and lower federal courts.

The Judicial Branch *The Supreme Court is the highest court and has final say. *Composed of one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. *Nominated by President and confirmed by the Senate.

Supreme Court Justice *Is appointed for life, unless they resign, retire, are removed due to a conviction of a crime, or die. *There is no minimum age. *No time of citizenship requirements.

Article 4: Relations Among States *States must honor one another’s laws, records, and court rulings. *Rights of citizens does not change from state to state – it is consistent. *It guarantees a republican form of government for every state.

Article 5: Amending the Constitution *Proposing Amendments: -2/3rd’s vote of both houses of Congress or 2/3rd’s of several state legislatures, will call a convention for proposing amendments.

Article 5: Amending the Constitution *Ratifying Amendments: -3/4th’s approval of state legislatures or 3/4th’s approval at a state convention.

Article 6: Supremacy of the National Gov’t. *Debts acquired or owed before adoption of the Constitution still remained. *The Constitution is the ultimate law. *All government officials must promise to be loyal and uphold the Constitution.

Article 7: Ratification *Nine of the 13 states (3/4 majority) had to ratify the Constitution before it could go into effect.