US History: United States constitution

Constitution of the United States

Article 1

Legislative branch; Law

Art 1: sect.1

• Congress

  -house

  -senate

-congress makes law

Art 1: sect.2

• House

-Elections every 2 years, 2 years term

-based on population

-free+ 3/5 include indentured slaves, re-assessed every 10 years

-Qualifications; 1. 25 years old 2. 7 years citizen 3. Resident of state

-choose their own speaker

-power of impeachment

Art 1: sect 3

• senate

-two senate per state, 6 years trem

-rotating system

-vice president; president of the Senate, casts tie-breaking votes.

-power of conviction impeachment; 2/3 majority for conviction.

Art 1: sect 4

-Congress shall assemble at least once a year.

-state legislature administer; determine the times, places, and manner of elections, won’t look the same in every state.

Art 1: sect5

-Each house makes its own rules

-2/3 majority to expel

-meet at the same time and place for both houses

-not everyone in required to be present for a quorum call

Art 1:sect 6

-congressmen is payed

-immunity; can’t be arrested

-no dual offices

Art 1:sect 7

• Bill becomes law

1. starts at either house; 51% majority to pass

-majority of other house to pass to president

2. President

-veto; goes back to house it originated from, both house 2/3 majority agree= law

-sits on desks 10 days; law

-pass, sign it; law

Art 1:sect 8

• Congress makes all Laws

  -congress can Tax; trades between states, nation, native indians, not in state.

  -currencies

  -copyrights

  -re-authorize funds every 2 years

  -can declare war

  -fed land in state (giving land)

Art 1:sect 9

• congress

  -not ban slavery until 1808

  -can’t tax individuals(overturned; Amendment 16, 1913)

  -can’t bias regulations towards some states

  -no title of nobility(Your majesty, highest)

  -no ex post facto(laws made after you commit a crime)

Art 1:sect 10

• “No state shall”

  -enter to treaty, alliances, etc.

  -impead free trades between states

  -no state shall prepare for war(military stuff)

Article 2

Executive branch; carry out the law

Art 2:sect 1

• President

  -How elections work (Amendment Xll)

  -electors vote for president; no. of representatives + senators.

  -count votes in presence of senate & house

• Qualifications

  1. 35 years old

  2. natural born citizen

  3. 14 years of resident

  -4 years term

  -payed

  -contingency plan; vp=> president

  -oath of office

Art 2:sect 2

• Power

  -President=> Commander in Chief; lead the army

  -executive departments/ cabinet; advise the president

  -pardon someone(crime to U.S.A)

  -nominate someone(senate confirms); judges, executive employes

Art 2:sect 3

-State of the union

-executive law; president’s job

Art 2:sect 4

• Crime

  -president convict crime= conviction impeachment+ impeachment

Article 3

Judicial Branch; Power to judge

Art 3:sect 1

• judicial power

  -Supreme court+inferior

  -judges serve “during good behaviour”

  -judges are paid

Art 3:sect 2

• Jurisdiction; authority to try a case

  -laws (federal) made by congress; suing the USA, anything against the US

  -jury trial(decided by a lot of people)

  1. Original; first time in that court

     -public offices or state is a party

  2. Appellate; tried in another court first(inferior)

     -other cases

Art 3:sect 3

• Define Treason

  -War against the US

  -Joining the enemy

  -provide help to the enemy