1. The Constitution of The United States of America

2. Article One – The Congress Article Two – The Presidency Article Three – The Supreme Court Article Four – The Connection between States Article Five – Amending the Constitution Article Six – The Constitution as Supreme Law Article Seven - Ratification Amendments

3. Article One -The Congress Senate 2 for each state 30 Years Old 6 Year Terms 1/3 of the Senate sits for Election 100 Members House of Representatives Based on Population 25 Years Old 2 Year Terms Entire House sits for Election 435 Members

4. The House of Representatives Responsible for initiating spending bills Serves as prosecution during an impeachment Led by the Speaker of the House – elected by the membership May not serve in any other role while serving as a Representative

5. The Senate Grants approval for treaties,judges and cabinet officers Serves as jury during an impeachment The Vice President is the presiding officer – only voting in the case of a tie There is no limit to the time a member may speak on an issue – unless there is a vote of cloture

6. Article One – Section 8 Enumerated Powers Taxation Borrowing Foreign Trade and Naturalization Coin money, set weights Post offices Patents and Copyrights Declare War Armies and Navies

7. Article Two – The Presidency Must be a natural born citizen – 35 years old Elected by the electoral College – not directly The Vice President takes office when the President is unable to serve, dies or is removed Commander in Chief Makes Treaties but needs approval of Senate Must give a State of the Union Must sign all laws or can veto them in two ways

8. Electoral College Electors are chosen on the state level by the different parties Currently 539 Electoral college votes are available – 270 to win American territories have been given votes – this explains the difference between the Congress and the Electoral college Votes on the second Monday of December Votes are counted on as Congress opens in January Should no candidate get 270 then the vote goes to the House of Representatives – Each state getting one vote – a majority there wins the office

9. Vetoing a Bill Should the President not want to sign a bill, he can return it to the Congress as vetoed The Congress can override the veto by a 2/3 vote in each house The President can also veto a bill by refusing to sign it within the last ten days of a legislative session – the pocket veto

10. Article Three – The Supreme Court Justices shall serve for life terms with good behavior Original jurisdiction is limited to a few cases Primarily an appellate court Defines Treason as “Levying war” and “Giving aid and comfort” – requires 2 witnesses for a conviction or a confession in open court

11. Article Four – Connection between the States Citizens of one state are entitled to full protection in all states Congress can admit new states but not from within a state or by joining states Each state is guaranteed a republican form of government

12. Article Five – Amending the Constitution 2/3 of both Houses can propose Constitutional amendments 2/3 of the states can call for a Constitutional Convention Ratification of any amendments proposed requires the approval of ¾ of all the states To date there have been 26 amendments approved and only one of these repealed.

13. Article Six – The Supremacy of the Constitution Judges in each state are bound by the Constitution All governmental officers take an oath or affirmation to uphold the Constitution

14. Article Seven - Ratification Nine states of the original 13 were required to ratify the Constitution Ratification took place on December 15, 1791