1. The Constitution
By MR. Eichmann

2. Article I: The Legislative Branch
Congress is a bicameral legislature, meaning there are two houses where legislation is introduced, debated, and voted upon
Congress
House of Representatives The Senate
Two houses created due to The Great Compromise during the Constitutional Convention.

3. The Lower House: The House of Representatives
The number of representatives in each state is based on the population of each state.
A census is taken every 10 years on a year that ends in 0 (ex: 2010). This leads to the creation of districts, where each representative represents about the same number of people.
To be a representative: you must be:
At least 25 years of age
7 years a citizen of the U.S.
An inhabitant of the state in which you serve
2 year term (Congressional elections every two years)

4. Current Makeup of the House of Representatives
Democrats
Republicans
Other vacancies
Total
The party that has the majority of seats in the House has control of the agenda in the House. That party also has the majority of members in various committees, as well as the head of the committee.

5. The House of Representatives
Representative of Montclair –
Donald Payne, Jr.
A Speaker of the House is voted in by the majority party. The person currently holding the position is John Boehner from the Republican Party.

6. The Upper House: The Senate
Two senators represent each state. Their terms end at different times, allowing for a junior senator and a senior senator. This leads to a 1/3 change in the Senate every two years.
Qualifications:
At least 30 years of age
9 years a citizen of the United States
An inhabitant of the state in which you serve
6 year term for a Senator. It is longer than the president!!

7. Current Breakdown of the Senate
Democrats
Republicans
Independent
Total
Like the House, the party with the majority has the ability to set the agenda and control committees.

8. The Senate
The Vice President of the United States is the President of the Senate. This person cannot express opinions during proceedings of the Senate. However, this person is allowed to have a tiebreaking vote on any Senate bill which comes to the floor.
Democrats-57 , Republicans-41, Independent(other)-2, Total=100

9. Senators of New Jersey
The Senators for New Jersey are:
Robert Menendez
Corey Booker
Senators and Congressmen serve on various committees to oversee the powers of the Legislative Branch.

10. Some of the Roles and Duties of the Legislative Branch
Congress has the power to…
Tax
Borrow money
Legislate commerce
Coin money
Issue patents
Create lower courts
Declare war
Appropriate money

11. How a Bill is Passed
See pages in the textbook for the process

12. How A Bill is Passed
All money legislation must begin in the House of Representatives.
To debate a bill to death is called a filibuster.
A 2/3 majority in both houses is needed to override a veto.
A member of Congress who commits a crime can face impeachment, which is a charge of wrongdoing. The Speaker and other offices have the sole power to carry this forward.

13. Article II: The Executive Branch
To be President you must be:
At least 35 years of age
14 years a citizen of the U.S.
Born in the United States
4 year term

14. The Electoral College
Elections for the presidency are not done by popular vote. Rather, each state legislature directs a number of electors equal to a formula.
All electors are part of the Electoral College. The candidate that receives the majority of the electoral votes becomes president.

15. Example of How Electors are Determined
New Jersey (as of 2008)
# of Congressmen
# of Senators
Total
Note: This can change depending on the Census, since population affects the House of Representatives.

16. Term Limits for President
Thanks to the 22nd Amendment, the president can only serve a maximum of 2 terms.
This came in after the presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He was elected 4 times !!!!

17. Duties of the President
Commander in chief of the armed forces
Right to make treaties with a 2/3 vote of the Senate.
Appoints judges, cabinet members, and other key officials with the approval of the Congress.
He can call the Congress to a special session.
Give a “State of the Union” from “time to time.”
Can veto any legislation from Congress; a 2/3 vote in both houses is needed to override a veto.

18. The Vice President
To be a Vice President, you must meet similar qualifications to the President.
A Vice President is expected to :
Advise the President on foreign and domestic matters.
Be the President of the Senate and have a tiebreaking vote.
The VP cannot give their opinion during debates in Congress.
The current Vice President is Joseph Biden.

19. The Cabinet
A group of adviser s to the President expected to inform him of matters in their department.
Each Secretary head an agency or department. These areas have large numbers of people who work under the secretaries.

20. Particular Departments and Agencies
Department of State – Hillary Clinton
Treasury Department
Defense Department
Department of Agriculture
Department of Transportation
Attorney General – Eric Holder
Central Intelligence Agency
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Joint Chiefs of Staff

21. Succession
If the President is unable to finish his term, the VP will complete it. This was established by John Tyler in the early 1840s.
If the VP wins the election, they can run again, thus allowing a former VP to be president for more than 8 years.
Current order of succession:
President
Vice President
Speaker of the House.

22. Removal of a Person From Office
Impeachment is a formal charge of wrongdoing brought against an official of the government.
This leads to removal, if convicted of treason, perjury, or other major crimes or misdemeanors.
Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were two presidents who were impeached.

23. Resignation
Richard Nixon is the only president to resign. He did so before impeachment proceeding were concluded.
This is known as the Watergate scandal.
The same laws apply to members of Congress and judges as well.

24. Article III:The Judicial Branch
The Court System
Congress has the right to establish courts in various regions of the country
The court system is based on this hierarchy:
District courts – where local cases are held
Appelate or appeals courts – Regional courts that take challenging cases
Supreme Court – takes cases concerning Constitutional law (final say)

25. Judges
To become a justice in either a district or the Supreme Court, you must be:
Nominated by the President
Approved by Congress
Term: Life
Ends only with death or decided retirement by the judge
3 justices on an appelate court
9 justices on the Supreme Court (5 to 4 needed to pass)
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court – John Roberts
Judicial Review – Supreme Court has the duty and right to review any acts passed by the Congress or the President to determine whether they are constitutional or unconstitutional.

27. Other Articles of the Constitution
Article V – provides for the method of amendments (adding to or changing) the Constitution and the way to get them ratified.
Article VI – The Constitution, laws, and treaties of the United States are the “supreme law of the land.” Laws of Congress prevail over any conflicting laws in the states.
Article VII. – Declares that the Constitution would go into effect if 9 of the 13 original states ratified the document.

28. Seven Principles of The Constitution
1. Separation of powers – The division of roles and responsibility of different branches of government
2. Checks and balances – The ability of each branch of government to control another branch of government

29. Example of checks and balances

30. Seven Principles of The Constitution
3. Popular sovereignty – a government in which the people rule
4. Republicanism – Belief that people exercise their power by voting for representatives (a republic)
5. Federalism – A system of government where power is divided between a central government and smaller political units, like states.

31. Example of Federalism Federal Government (Washington D.C.)
Executive – President, VP, Cabinet and Agencies
Legislative – House of Rep, Senate
Judicial – Supreme, Appellate, and District courts
State Government (Example: New Jersey-Trenton)
Executive – Governor
Legislative – State house, State Senate (assemblyman, State senator)
Judicial – State Supreme Court
County Government (Example: Essex County)
Executive – County Executive
Legislative – Freeholders
Judicial – Local county courts (Essex County Courthouse)
City and town – (Example: Newark)
Executive – Mayor
Legislative – City Council
Judicial – Local court

32. Seven Principles of The Constitution
6. Limited Government – All citizens and leaders are not “above the law.”
7. Individual rights – People have the ability to have personal liberties and privileges. Protected by the Bill of Rights.