THE FOLLOWING IS IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR YOUR CONSTITUTION TEST Constitutional Extras: Amendments, Principals, and more (if its here, its on the test!)

Constitutional Principals Preamble (introduction)  Lists the goals of the Constitution Republicanism (not the Republican Party)  Elected representatives make legislative decisions Democracy – the people make the laws Supremacy Clause  Constitution is highest law, then Federal, then State, then local Federalism  Power in the country is divided between a national government and several state governments Full Faith and Credit  Honor decisions of other states (marriage/drivers license)

Amending the Constitution To amend means to change  To change the Constitution you need to officially propose and then ratify the changes. There are two ways to propose an amendment and 2 ways to ratify an amendment  Propose an Amendment  2/3 of State legislators call for a National Convention  2/3 of both Houses of Congress  Ratify an Amendment  ¾ of State legislators approve  ¾ of State conventions approve

Constitutional Amendments 1 st Amendment  Freedom of speech, press, petition, assembly, and religion  Cannot “say” anything (no libel/slander) 4 th Amendment  No illegal search and seizure (need a warrant) 5 th Amendment  Right to trial, right to (grand) jury 16 th Amendment  Income tax is legalized 17 th Amendment  Senators are elected by the people, not State legislators

Constitutional Amendments (continued) Civil Rights Amendments  13 th Amendment – abolished slavery  14 th Amendment – all citizens, regards of race/color have the same rights  15 th Amendment – insured Freedmen the right to vote  24 th Amendment – abolished the poll tax Voting Rights  19 th Amendment – Women can vote  26 th Amendment – 18 year olds can vote Bill of Rights (Amendments 1-10)  Added because States feared the national government was too strong Reconstruction Amendments {

Extra Rights (on the test) Writ of Habeas Corpus  The write to know what you are being held for  Police cannot hold you indefinitely, you have a right to a trial Due Process (5th/ 14 th Amendments reinforce it)  Trial by jury, right to an attorney, grand jury used in “capital” cases Legal searches (4 th Amendment)  Need a search warrant, suspicion of contraband, or probable cause Informal Amendments  Changing the Constitution without changing the language  Done with the “necessary and proper” Clause (expands Congressional power) Levels of US Government – National, State, Local (township, county, city, village) Political Parties are NOT in the Constitution

THE FOLLOWING IS IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR YOUR CONSTITUTION TEST Congress

What is Congress? The Legislative Branch  They make the laws Bicameral Legislature (split into 2 houses)*  The House of Representatives (435 members)  Assigned to states based on proportional representation  Which state would have the most representatives?  The Senate (100 members)  Assigned to states based on equality (2/State) *The Great Compromise at the Constitutional Convention established the 2 house legislature **Congress has the power to declare war

Congressional Qualifications Senators  Serve 6 year terms  Must be at least 30 years old  Must be a resident of the state they represent, and a citizen for at least 7 years  100 altogether Representatives (from the House of Representatives)  Serve 2 year terms  Must be at least 25 years old  Must be a resident of the state they represent, and a citizen for at least 9 years  435 all together Congress – 535 altogether

Checks and Balances Congress can check the President  With a 2/3 vote Congress can override a Presidential Veto  Not approving Presidential appointments  Not ratifying treaties the President negotiates The President can check Congress  By vetoing legislation Impeachment  Can happen to ANY elected official in the National Government  ½ of House to Accuse, 2/3 of Senate to Convict

THE FOLLOWING IS IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR YOUR CONSTITUTION TEST The Presidency

The President Leader of the Executive Branch  Enforces the law Other Presidential duties  Can negotiate treaties with foreign nations  Subject to Senate approval President by the numbers  Must be at least 35 years old  Must be a native born citizen  Must be a resident for at least 14 years  Serves a 4 year term once elected  Maximum of 2 terms as President

THE FOLLOWING IS IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR YOUR CONSTITUTION TEST The Supreme Court

What is the Supreme Court The Judicial Branch  They interpret the Law Source of power is called judicial review  This is the power to declare laws unconstitutional (think of Brown v. Board overturning Plessey v. Ferguson) Supreme Court judges are called justices (there are 9)  Must be appointed by the President and approved by the Senate  Appointed FOR LIFE

Flag stuff (its on there) If a flag is on longer fit for public display  It should be burned (or destroyed in another “dignified” way) If the flag is at half staff  It indicates an important person has died

THE FOLLOWING IS IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR YOUR CONSTITUTION TEST The State of Illinois

Illinois Government Became a State way back in branches, just like US Government  Legislative Branch  Called the General Assembly instead of Congress  Executive Branch  Lead by the Governor instead of the President  Judicial Branch  Still lead by a Supreme Court (just for Illinois) State Capital is in Springfield, IL Redistricting every 10 years (after the census)  This reassigns seats based on demographic changes  Just like national government

More on the Courts in Illinois The Supreme Court is Illinois is aided by other levels of courts  Most to least important: Supreme Court, Appellate Court, Circuit Court All Judges/Associate Judges in Illinois must  Be a US citizen  Be a licensed attorney in Illinois  Be a resident of the District they are elected in

State Government Extras The Secretary of State will issue your driver’s license  Can register to vote at the DMV To qualify as a voter in Illinois you must  Be 18 by election day  Be registered to vote  Be a resident of the state of Illinois