1. The Constitution

2. Article I: The Legislature (Congress)
Senate
# in Senate is always two people per state no matter their population
The president of the Senate is the Vice President
Must be at least 30 years old, a citizen of the US for at least 9 years, and must live in the state represented at the time of election
Elected for six year terms
House of Representatives
# of representatives is based on the population of each state
Must be at least 25 years old, a citizen of the US for at least seven years, and must live in the state represented at the time of election
Elected for two year terms
Requirements for election

3. Legislative Rules, Privileges, and Restrictions
Required to meet at least once a year
Sessions begin JANUARY 3rd each year.
Each house of Congress has the right to judge the elections and qualifications of its members.

4. Legislative Powers Make Laws
All money bills must start in the House
Congress can override a Presidential veto with a 2/3 vote of both houses.
Congress Has the Power to:
Collect taxes, provide for the defense and welfare of the United States.
Establish laws concerning citizenship and bankruptcy.
Money

5. Legislative Powers, cont.
Congress has the power to:
Declare War and the treatment for prisoners of war.
MAKE ALL LAWS WHICH SHALL BE NECESSARY AND PROPER.

6. Impeachment House of Representatives has sole power to impeach
The President, Vice President and other officials can be impeached on charges of treason, bribery, or high crimes and misdemeanors
House of Representatives has sole power to impeach
Impeachment means to bring official charges for high crimes and misdemeanors
The Senate holds impeachment trials
If convicted, the official is removed from office

7. Article II: Executive (President)
The President must be:
A natural-born citizen of the United States
At least 35 years old
And a resident of the United States for at least 14 years.
The President may only serve TWO four year terms.
Executive powers include:
Commander-in-Chief of the military
Make and sign treaties with the advice and consent of the Senate
Appoint judges/heads of departments with the advice and consent of the Senate

8. Duties of the President
The President is required:
to report to Congress annually on the condition of the nation. The State of the Union address.
To receive ambassadors
To carry out the laws
He also has to power to call special sessions of Congress and to adjourn congress if necessary.

9. Article III: Judicial (Courts)
A Supreme Court will be created with other federal courts as needed. The federal courts try all cases involving:
the Constitution
Treaties
Federal laws
Cases involving Ambassadors
Public officials
The United States government
Cases between States or citizens of different states

10. Article III, cont. Treason
It is considered an act of treason to wage war against the United States or give aid to its enemies.
Congress may decide the punishment for traitors, but it may not punish the families of convicted traitors by taking away their civil rights or property.

11. Constitutional Amendments Bill of Rights
First Amendment Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Second Amendment A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

12. Constitutional Amendments Bill of Rights
Third Amendment No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quarantined in any house without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Fourth Amendment The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things being searched.

13. Constitutional Amendments Bill of Rights
Fifth Amendment A person cannot be tried for a capital crime (a crime punishable by death) unless charged by a grand jury, be tried twice for the same crime, nor be forced to testify against himself or herself. A person may not be deprived of life, liberty, or property except by lawful means. The government must pay a fair price for property taken for public use.
Sixth Amendment A person accused of a crime has a right to a speedy public trial by jury, to information about the accusation, to help from the court in bringing favorable witnesses to the trial, and to aid the lawyer.

14. Constitutional Amendments Bill of Rights
Seventh Amendment In civil lawsuits involving more than $20, the right to a jury trial is guaranteed.
Eighth Amendment Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

15. Constitutional Amendments Bill of Rights
Ninth Amendment The basic rights of the people, even those not specified in the Constitution, cannot be denied.
Tenth Amendment The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
***The powers not given to the federal government are to be held by the states or by the people.

16. Constitutional Amendments
Thirteenth Amendment Slavery is prohibited. Congress is given the power to enforce the abolition of slavery.

17. Constitutional Amendments
Fourteenth Amendment All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Due Process
Equal Protection Clause

18. Constitutional Amendments
Fifteenth Amendment gives the right to vote to all men over the age of 21 regardless of race, color, or previous slavery
Sixteenth Amendment Congress has the power to tax people’s income.

19. Constitutional Amendments
Seventeenth Amendment requires that state senators be directly elected by the citizens of the rather than by an electoral college. Also, if a senate seat becomes vacate during term, the governor of the state must call for an election to fill the vacancy.
Eighteenth Amendment prohibits the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages.

20. Constitutional Amendments
Nineteenth Amendment Women’s Suffrage. Women have the right to vote.
Twentieth Amendment changes the ending date of terms for members of Congress from March 4 to January 3, and the terms of the President and Vice President from March 4 to January 20.

21. Constitutional Amendments
Twenty-first Amendment repeals prohibition.
Twenty-second Amendment limits the President to two terms in office.

22. Constitutional Amendments
Twenty-third Amendment guarantees citizens of the District of Columbia the right to vote for President and Vice President.
Twenty-fourth Amendment states that no citizen can be made to pay a tax for the right to vote in a federal election.

23. Constitutional Amendments
Twenty-fifth Amendment clarifies the line of presidential succession.
Twenty-sixth Amendment gives eighteen-year-olds the right to vote.

24. Constitutional Amendments
Twenty-seventh Amendment states that if members of Congress give themselves a pay raise, the increase cannot go into effect until after the next

25. Presidential Succession
1. Vice President of the United States 2. Speaker of the House 3. President pro Tempore of the Senate
4. Secretary of State 5. Secretary of the Treasury 6. Secretary of Defense 7. Attorney General 8. Secretary of the Interior 9. Secretary of Agriculture Secretary of Commerce Secretary of Labor Secretary of Health & Human Services Secretary of Housing & Urban Development Secretary of Transportation Secretary of Energy Secretary of Education 17. Secretary of Veterans' Affairs 18. Secretary of Homeland Security