United States Constitution

General Layout Article I Legislative Branch Article II Executive Branch Article IIIJudicial BranchArticle IV Relationship between states Article V Amendment Process Article VI Debt, no religious tests, Constitution is Supreme Law of the Land Article VIIRatification

General Layout Cont Executive Branch President, Vice President, Cabinet Legislative Branch House and Senate Judicial Branch Supreme Court and other federal courts

– 30 years old – 9 years citizen – Live in state representing – 2 per state – Total of 100 – Six year terms – 1/3 elected every two years – Approve Presidential appointments – Ratify treaties – Try impeachments – 30 years old – 9 years citizen – Live in state representing – 2 per state – Total of 100 – Six year terms – 1/3 elected every two years – Approve Presidential appointments – Ratify treaties – Try impeachments Legislative Branch House – 25 years old – 7 years citizen – Live in state they are representing – 1 per 30,000 (according to constitution, today more like 1 per 750,000 – Total of 435 – 2 year terms – Revenue (money) bills start in House – Sole power of impeachment – 25 years old – 7 years citizen – Live in state they are representing – 1 per 30,000 (according to constitution, today more like 1 per 750,000 – Total of 435 – 2 year terms – Revenue (money) bills start in House – Sole power of impeachment Senate

Delegate Powers (can do) Tax Regulate commerce (trade) Borrow money Naturalization laws Bankruptcy laws Coin money Weights and measure Punish counterfeiting Post offices and roads Patents and copyrights Punish Piracy Raise and support an army/navy Declare War D.C. All laws necessary and proper to carry out the above powers Tax Regulate commerce (trade) Borrow money Naturalization laws Bankruptcy laws Coin money Weights and measure Punish counterfeiting Post offices and roads Patents and copyrights Punish Piracy Raise and support an army/navy Declare War D.C. All laws necessary and proper to carry out the above powers

Congress Can’t do Ex post facto laws Suspend Writ of Habeas Corpus unless in emergencies No capitation or direct taxes Can’t take money out of treasury unless by law No title of nobility Bills of attainder Tax exports Favor one state over another in tariffs Ex post facto laws Suspend Writ of Habeas Corpus unless in emergencies No capitation or direct taxes Can’t take money out of treasury unless by law No title of nobility Bills of attainder Tax exports Favor one state over another in tariffs

States Can’t Do Make treaties Letters of Marque Coin money Bills of Attainder Ex post facto laws Title of Nobility Laws impairing contracts they signed Duties on imports or exports Keep troops in peace time Engage in war unless invaded

Executive Branch Presidential and Vice President 35 years old 14 year resident Natural Born Citizen Four year terms Can serve 2 terms or 10 years Gets compensation Takes the Oath of Office

Electoral College President and VP are elected by the electoral college – Each state gets one electoral vote for each Senator and member of the House of Representative they have – When the people vote for the President they are actually telling the electors who to vote for them – If one candidate doesn’t get a majority then the House chooses from the top five President and VP are elected by the electoral college – Each state gets one electoral vote for each Senator and member of the House of Representative they have – When the people vote for the President they are actually telling the electors who to vote for them – If one candidate doesn’t get a majority then the House chooses from the top five

Executive Branch Powers Commander- in-chief of the armed forces Appoint judges, ambassadors, cabinet secretaries, etc. Negotiate treaties Sign bills into law Enforce Laws Grant Pardons State of the Union Convene Congress

Presidential Succession President Vice President Speaker of the House President Pro temp of Senate Secretary of State Secretary Of Treasury Secretary of Defense Attorney General

Judicial Branch Supreme Court – 9 Judges – Hold position for life or good behavior – No Qualifications Federal District Courts Federal Appeals Courts Military Courts Tax Courts Supreme Court – 9 Judges – Hold position for life or good behavior – No Qualifications Federal District Courts Federal Appeals Courts Military Courts Tax Courts

Supreme Court Jurisdictions Original Jurisdiction Actual trial The Supreme Court has Original Jurisdiction in the following areas – Ambassadors and other public ministers – State is a party Actual trial The Supreme Court has Original Jurisdiction in the following areas – Ambassadors and other public ministers – State is a party Appellate Jurisdiction Any case arising under the Constitution Laws of the US Treaties Ambassadors Maritime jurisdiction United States government is a party Between two or more states Citizens of different states Any case arising under the Constitution Laws of the US Treaties Ambassadors Maritime jurisdiction United States government is a party Between two or more states Citizens of different states

Rights Guaranteed by Article III and Treason Trial by Jury Trial will be held in the state where the crime was committed Treason= levying war against the US or giving aid to the enemies of the US Congress decides the punishment for treason Trial by Jury Trial will be held in the state where the crime was committed Treason= levying war against the US or giving aid to the enemies of the US Congress decides the punishment for treason

Article IV Full Faith and Credit – Each state must recognize each states’ legal proceedings Extradition Congress can admit new states, no state can be created within boundaries of other states without the other states’ permission and Congressional approval US government guarantees a Republican form of government to every state and shall protect them from invasion

Article V, VI, VII Amendment Process – 2/3 congress and ¾ of states US debt shall be paid by the new government Constitution and Federal law is supreme law of land Senators, Representatives and state legislatures take oath to protect US Constitution 9/13 needed to ratify the Constitution

Checks and Balances President – Signs/Veto bills passed by Congress – Appoints Judges, ambassadors, ministers, etc – Enforces the law – Grants Pardons Supreme Court – Decides if laws/executive orders are Constitutional or not – Interpret the laws – Chief Justice sits as the Judge during Impeachment Trials Congress – Make laws – Impeachment – 2/3 vote to override presidential veto – Approve presidential appointments President – Signs/Veto bills passed by Congress – Appoints Judges, ambassadors, ministers, etc – Enforces the law – Grants Pardons Supreme Court – Decides if laws/executive orders are Constitutional or not – Interpret the laws – Chief Justice sits as the Judge during Impeachment Trials Congress – Make laws – Impeachment – 2/3 vote to override presidential veto – Approve presidential appointments