1. ARTICLE 1 – The Legislative Branch
The United States Constitution
ARTICLE 1 – The Legislative Branch
Two Houses are set up
House of Representatives
each state should have at least one representative
term is 2 years
all seats are up each two-year cycle
number determined by population
Senate
each state has two representative
Term is 6 years
One-third of the seats are chosen every other year

2. ARTICLE 1 – The Legislative Branch
The United States Constitution
ARTICLE 1 – The Legislative Branch
House of Representatives
Membership requirements
25 years old
7 years as a citizen
Must be an inhabitant of the state where you are being elected
Number of Representative per State
1 Rep for every 500,000
Number of seats determined by Census (every 10 years)

3. ARTICLE 1 – The Legislative Branch
The United States Constitution
ARTICLE 1 – The Legislative Branch
Senate
Membership requirements
30 years old
9 years as a citizen
Must be an inhabitant of the state where you are being elected
Number of Representative per State
2 Senators for each state

4. ARTICLE 1 – The Legislative Branch
The United States Constitution
ARTICLE 1 – The Legislative Branch
Other points
All bills dealing with money must originate in the House
Congress must keep a journal of its proceedings – Congressional Quarterly
Congress must meet at least once a year and cannot move its location

5. ARTICLE 1 – The Legislative Branch
The United States Constitution
ARTICLE 1 – The Legislative Branch
Congress has the following powers
Borrow money
Regulate trade
Declare war
Maintain an army and navy
Set up federal courts
Establish rules on citizenship
Punish crimes on ships at sea
Make all laws “necessary and proper” aka (the elastic clause)

6. ARTICLE 1 – The Legislative Branch
The United States Constitution
ARTICLE 1 – The Legislative Branch
Congress CANNOT
suspend the writ of habeas corpus (right of being charged with a crime)
Tax exports
pass laws ex post facto (after the fact)
spend money they have not accounted for by law or by budget
make trade laws that only help one state over another

7. ARTICLE 1 – The Legislative Branch
The United States Constitution
ARTICLE 1 – The Legislative Branch
What States CANNOT do
make treaties with other countries
coin money
tax imports (without the consent of Congress)
keep a regular Army (State militias are okay)
wage war (unless it is defensive)

8. ARTICLE 1 – The Legislative Branch
The United States Constitution
ARTICLE 1 – The Legislative Branch
Impeachment
What does it mean?
An official can be removed from office if found guilty of committing an impeachable offense
The House has sole power to bring up charges of impeachment
The Senate conducts the trial of the official with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presiding.
Conviction (by a 2/3 vote) can only mean removal from office, but more can happen outside Congress.

9. ARTICLE 1 – How a Bill becomes a Law
The United States Constitution
ARTICLE 1 – How a Bill becomes a Law
Ideas are presented to Congress (ALL bills concerning money must originate in the House)
Both the House and the Senate must approve the idea (a bill) by a majority vote
Bill must be signed by the President or the President holds it for 10 days without signing it
Then it is a LAW

10. ARTICLE 1 – The Veto Process
The United States Constitution
ARTICLE 1 – The Veto Process
The President can veto a bill by not signing it and sending it back to Congress
The rejected bill must then pass both houses of Congress by a two-thirds vote
If it does, then it automatically becomes a law without the President’s signature

11. ARTICLE 2 – The Executive Branch
The United States Constitution
ARTICLE 2 – The Executive Branch
President’s term is 4 years
Each state selects “electors” who vote for the President
Electoral representation equals the number of Representatives + 2 for Senators
Congress sets when electors meet and vote for the President
Constitution did not originally determine how a VP was selected

12. ARTICLE 2 – The Executive Branch
The United States Constitution
ARTICLE 2 – The Executive Branch
Requirements to be President
Must be a natural-born citizen
Must be at least 35 years old
Must be a resident of the United States for 14 years
How has that affected who was eligible?

13. ARTICLE 2 – The Executive Branch
The United States Constitution
ARTICLE 2 – The Executive Branch
The President is paid for his duty
His salary cannot be adjusted during his current term
He must swear an oath to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States”
Why do we make a note that we pay the Prez?

14. ARTICLE 2 – The Executive Branch
The United States Constitution
ARTICLE 2 – The Executive Branch
Duties and Powers of the President
Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces
Can grant pardons (or delays in punishment) except for impeachment
Nominate ambassadors and Supreme Court Justices (with Senate approval)

15. ARTICLE 2 – The Executive Branch
The United States Constitution
ARTICLE 2 – The Executive Branch
Duties and Powers of the President
Gives a “State of the Union” address to Congress
Receives foreign ambassadors (official recognition of a country)
Make treaties (but Congress must approve them)

16. The United States Constitution
ARTICLE 2 – The Executive Branch
Duties and Powers of the President
He can call a special session of Congress
When the Senate is not in session, the President can make temporary appointments
“he shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed”

17. The United States Constitution
ARTICLE 2 – Impeachment
What is an impeachable offense?
“treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors”
If convicted, the President (or any other official shall be removed from office

18. ARTICLE 3 – The Judicial Branch
The United States Constitution
ARTICLE 3 – The Judicial Branch
Judicial power is vested in the Supreme Court
Congress sets up the “inferior courts” (What are those?)
Federal Courts (inferior courts) hear cases involving
the Constitution
treaties between the US and other countries
other federal laws
cases between states

19. ARTICLE 3 – The Judicial Branch
The United States Constitution
ARTICLE 3 – The Judicial Branch
Federal Courts (inferior courts) here cases involving
citizens and another country
states and another country
Any other cases where the US government is a party
Trial by jury is for all cases besides impeachment
Treason is defined here – waging war against the US and giving aid to anyone who does this
Congress decides punishment, but cannot take away their civil rights

20. The United States Constitution
The Rest of the Story!
States laws must recognize each others laws
Citizens cannot be denied their rights in other states
States must return criminals to the origin of the crime - extradition
Congress makes all rules governing territories
Congress decides when a state is admitted into the Union
THE CONSTITUTION SHALL BE CONSIDERED THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND

21. So, how do we change this thing?????
The United States Constitution
The Rest of the Story!
Oh yeah, and the government officials cannot be required to take a religious oath
This is where they get that idea of separation of church and state
Although it isn’t really mentioned by name!
So, how do we change this thing?????

22. Congress decides on the method used
The United States Constitution
Amending the Constitution
2/3 of BOTH Houses must approve and amendment proposal
2/3 of the States must call for a national convention
¾ of the State legislatures can adopt an amendment
¾ of the States hold special conventions
Congress decides on the method used

23. And it only took 9 states’ approval for this to be newly adopted!
The United States Constitution
Ratification Process
And it only took 9 states’ approval for this to be newly adopted!
Quite a revolution!