4: Constitution and its Articles 1-7 (branches of gov)

Constitutions organization

• 7 articles detailing how the branches of gov work

• 27 amendments were added to get it passed 

  • First 10 Bill of Rights

  • Add 17 more

• Constitution is vague focusing on broad principles rather than specific details

  • Pros and cons -> created debates

What is the focus of Article I?

Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution grants Congress its powers and limits.

• Congress is the legislative branch of the government making the laws

• sections of Congress (bicameral legislature): senate + House of reps

House of Representatives (facts + powers)

1: Legislative Branch:

• 435 members

• proportional rep (reps based on pop.)

• serve 2 yrs

• propose bills (taxation bills begin in house), states + territories are reps (Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa)

• Most representative of ppl therefore laws/taxes start her

• requires 218/435

Senate (facts + powers)

1: Legislate Branch:

• 100 members

• 2 reps each state (equal rep)

• each serve 6 yrs

• propose, object or approve bill/law

• requires 51/100 to pass bill

What is the focus of Article II?

The main focus of Article II is the executive branch and its role in U.S. government.

• The executive branch is responsible for enforcing laws.

• Grants Presidents, Vice, and Cabinets their powers

President (facts + powers)

2: Executive Branch: limited power -> not given much authority but a leading figure is needed

• veto laws

• issues executive orders having force of law

• Makes nomination for Supreme Court who serve for life (usually approved by senate regardless of party)

• Commander in chief of Military (congress declares war)

• runs Department of Treasury and Health and Human Services

• allows Pres to pardon any felon, he fills vacancies in Supreme Court, US attorney

Vice President (facts + powers)

2: Executive Branch

• limited power

• break ties in cabinet

Cabinet (facts + powers)

2: Executive Branch

• nominated by prez

• approved by senate

What is the focus of Article III?

3: The main focus of Article III is the judicial branch/ federal court system

• the judicial branch interprets and reviews laws

• Grants U.S. Supreme Court and other lower courts the power to make decisions in legal cases.

• Defines treason, laws regarding punishment of treason, and the creation of inferior courts.

Supreme Court (facts + powers)

3: Judicial Branch

• 9 justices (# subject to change), serve for life

• nominated by the president (usually align w party), approved by senate

• their decision is final -> decide whether case is “constitutional”

• **** if ppl don't like decision constitution must be changed -> or the court must counteract the previous ruling

Constitutional Frameworks

How to interpret constitution (supreme court)

• Living constitutionalism

• Originalism

• Textualism

Living Constitutionalism

•  Belief that the Consitution can evolve over time responding to changing values + circumstances -> looser reading -> gives lots of rights and powers

• Liberal

Originalism

• The belief that the Constitution should be interpreted as it was written w/ its meaning fixed -> what were ppl thinking when they wrote it 

• Conservative

Textualism

• The Constitution should be interpreted by the plain meaning of its words what do these words mean

• both?

What is the focus of Article IV (4)?

In two words: states' rights.

What is the focus of Article V (5)?

The amendment process

What is the focus of Article VI (6)?

The power of the constitution and that all prior debts stand.

What is the focus of Article VII (7)?

Ratification of the constitution.

How many amendments have been ratified?

27