1. History, Structure, and Content of the United States Constitution
Constitutional Law
12th Edition
The University of Adelaide, School of Computer Science
18 February 2019
Chapter 1
History, Structure, and Content of the United States Constitution
Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer 1

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Introduction
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
—Preamble to the U.S. Constitution 
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3. Structure of the Constitution
Article I: legislative branch
Article II: executive branch
Article III: judicial branch
Article IV: duties states owe one another
Article V: procedures for amending the Constitution
Article VI: “supremacy clause”
Article VII: historical importance only
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Separation of Powers
legislative branch
House of Representatives
Senate
executive branch
judicial branch
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5. Federal Government (Part I)
Most important powers from Article I, Section 8:
levy taxes
borrow money
regulate interstate and foreign commerce
establish national rules for immigration, naturalization, and bankruptcy
coin money
establish post offices and post roads
secure for authors and inventors exclusive right to writings and discoveries for a limited time
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6. Federal Government (Part II)
establish judicial tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court
make and enforce laws related to piracy or felonies committed on the high seas
declare war
raise an army and navy
organize a militia
govern the District of Columbia and all federal enclaves and establishments
enact all laws necessary and proper
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7. The Fourteenth Amendment
makes most of the Bill of Rights apply to the states
prevents the states from depriving people of the following without due process of law:
Life
liberty
property
makes it illegal to deny any person equal protection under the laws
gives Congress the power to pass legislation enforcing these restrictions
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Due Process
procedural due process
the government must give notice and a hearing before depriving a person of life, liberty, or property
substantive due process
protection of fundamental rights
remedies for egregious misconduct by public officials
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9. Equal Protection of the Laws
Three levels of scrutiny:
low
statutory classifications not based on race, color, religion, national origin, or gender
intermediate
gender classification
strict
classifications based on race, color, religion, and national origin
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10. Constitutional Questions
Cases from state prisoners generally reach the Supreme Court by two routes:
direct review
available after the defendant has received a final judgement from the highest state court
appeal must involve a federal question
habeas corpus review
used to secure release from unlawful confinement
allows state prisoners to have a federal judge review the constitutionality of their conviction in state court
collateral attack on a state court judgement
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11. Constitutional Violations
Constitutional violations carry serious consequences, including:
exclusion of evidence
reversal of criminal conviction
disciplinary action
civil liability
criminal conviction 
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