Constituition - AP Gov

Article 1

Describes the Legislative Branch aka Congress and outlines their powers and structure.

Article 1 Section 1

All legislative power is put into Congress and Congress is made of two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Article 1 Section 2

The stuctures and qualifcations to be a member of the House of Representaives which is the Representatives are chosen every two years by the people, the amount of house members are propotionate to the size of the state, must be at least 25 years old, 7 years as a citizen of the US, and has to live in the state they will represent.

Article 1 Section 3

The structures and qualifactions to be a member of the Senate which is there are two senators for each sate, chosen by the legislature, must be at lest 30 years old, and 9 years as a citizen.

Article 1 Section 4

Aka the Election Clause and it outlines the rules of elections for federal Senators and Representatives. Specifically it expalins that each state’s legislature determines the time, manner, and place for elections, Congress can make laws or regulations, and Congress will assemble at least once every year.

Article 1 Section 5

Describes the procedures and powers of each House in Congress and it says that each house is a judge of its own member’s elections, returns, and qualifications, the House determine their own rules and procedures for punishing members or expeling with two-thirds vote, mandates that each House has to keep a record of proceedings and publish it periodically, and it restricts both houses from to adjourn more than three days or to another place without the consent of the other House during a Congress session.

Article 1 Section 6

Focues on the rights and disabilites for members of Congress which includes compensation, privileges from arrest, and restrictions on the holding of other federal offices. Their compensation comes from the US Treasury. The privileges from arrest are that they are immune from arrest for all cases except treason, felony, and breach of peace, For the holding of federal offices a member of both Houses cannot be appointed to a newly created office.

Article 1 Section 7

Describes the process of how bills become laws and the president’s role in approving or vetoing bills, and how Congress can overide this veto. To get specific the bill must be passed through the House of Representatives and the Senate, next the president can sign the bill or veto, Then Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds vote from both houses.

Article 1 Section 8

Describes the enumerated powers of Congress and this includes power to borrow money on credit of the US, to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among states, to create uniform laws on the subject of bankrupticies, to coin money

Article 1 Section 9

Describes the powers denied to Congress such as Congress can’t pass bills of attainder or ex post facto laws, can’t impose direct taxes unless proportional to the census, restricts Congress from granting titles of nobility, and limits the abilities for public officials to recieve gifts or tiles from foreign nations.

Article 1 Section 10

Describes the limits of power on States such as states can’t form treaties or alliances with other nations and states without Congressional consent, they can’t engage in war without it being authorized by Congress, cain’t create their own currency, and can’t pass cetain laws such as bill of attainder and ex post facto laws.

Article 2

Describes the Executive Branch and outlines their powers and structure.

Article 2 Section 1

Describes the presidential office, outline’s the president’s term length, electoral college system, and who can be president. Specifically that presidents will have four-year terms, to be president you have to be a natural born citizen, at least 35, 14 year residency in the US, and the president has to take an oath to protect and defend the constitution.

Article 2 Section 2

Describes the President’s powers as Commander-in-Chief , president’s role in treaties, and pardon process. Specifically presidents can grant pardons for offenses, the president can make treaties with foreign nations with the advice and consent of Senate (two-thirds vote), and is the head of the military.

Article 2 Section 3

Describes the duties of the president, receiving foreign diplomats, and ensuring that laws are faithfully executed. Specifically the president must enforce the laws that Congress pass and the president receives ambassadors and public ministers.

Article 2 Section 4

Describes the process for removal of the president, VP, and other civil offices through impeachment. Specifically they can be removed if they committ and convicted for treason, bribery, misdeamonrs, and other high crimes.

Article 3

Describes the Judicial e Branch and outlines their powers and structure.

Article 3 Section 1

Vest the judicial power of the US into one Supreme Court and lower courts.

Article 3 Section 2

Describes court jurisdictions for the different levels of courts, how the federal courts have authority over cases about the constitution, laws, treaties, disputes between states and foreign powers, and that trials for all crimes (excluding impeachment) must have a jury.

Article 3 Section 3

Describes the treason for judges and process of conviction and punishment for judges. Specifically that treason is levying war against the US and giving aid to enemies and Congress has the power to declare punishment for treason.

Article 4

Describes the relationship between state government and federal governments.

Article 4 Section 1

Aka the Full Faith and Credit Clause where each state gives full faith and credit to public acts, records, judicial proceedings of other states, respecting law and court decisons of other states, and Congress can legislate these acts, records, and proceedings.

Article 4 Section 2

Aka the Privileges and Immunities Clause which means that citizens of one state are guaranteed to the privileges and immunities as a citizen in another state and prevents state discrimiantion to other state citizens, explains interstate extradition.

Article 4 Section 3

Gives Congress the power to admit new states to the United States Union, limits the creation of new states within boundaries of existing states, and Congress manage and regulate territory, lands, and property.

Article 4 Section 4

Guarantees to every state that there will be a Republican form of government for each state and the federal government will protect states from invasion and domestic violence.

Article 5

Describes the process for amending the constitution. Specifically that a two-thirds vote from both houses are needed to propose an amendment or two-thirds of states call for a convetion to propose an amendment, and the amendment can be ratified through three-fourths vote from state legislation.

Article 6

Aka Supremacy Clause establishes that the Constituiton is the supreme law for the US and makes a mandate where all states and federal officials take an oath to follow the constitution.

Article 7

Describes how the constitution was ratified through the convention of 9 states and the constition is now iniatiated and will be the system of government that the US uses.