Constitution + Amendments summary ( AP GOV )

Article l - Legislative branch

Section 3 - the senate

  • Try all impeachments with 67 (2/3) of the members there

  • vice president is the president of the senate

Section 8 - Congress

Powers

  • lay and collect taxes

  • regulate commerce ( trade )

  • declare war

  • make all laws necessary and proper

Limits

  • cant imprison with accusations

  • can’t punish without trial

  • can’t punish for a crime done before it was a crime ( ex post facto )

  • can’t tax goods exported from states

  • can’t give titles of nobility ( etc. king, prince )

  • can’t spend money without it being approved

Section 10 - States

Limits

  • can’t enter a treaty/alliance/confederation

  • can’t lay imposts ( taxes ) on imports or exports

  • can’t keep troops or ships of war in peace time, or engage in war

Article ll - Executive branch

Section 2 - Military, Pardon, Cabinet

  • president is Commander in chief

  • president can pardon any offense except with impeachment

  • president can create treaties with consent from Senate

  • president can appoint judges of the supreme court

Section 4 - Disqualification

  • President and vp will be removed from office in the case of treason, bribery, and other crimes and misdemeanors

Article lll - Judicial branch

Section 2 - Trial by Jury

  • trials shall be held in the state the crime occurred

  • trials of all crimes ( expect impeachment ) shall have a jury ( LATER 6TH AMENDMENT )

Section 3 - Treason

  • Treason - levying war against the U.S and/ or supporting U.S “enemies”

  • No one can be convicted of treason without the testimony of two witnesses or confession in open court

  • Congress decides the punishment for treason

Article lV - The States

  • Full faith and credit clause - public records ( driver licenses, marriage licenses, court records

  • Privileges and Immunities clause - marijuana and abortion

Article V - Amendment

Amendment process

  1. Purposed by 2/3 of the house and senate

  2. Ratified by 3/4 of states

Article Vl - Debts, Supremacy, Oaths

  • All debts shall be as valid against the U.S under the constitution

  • Supremacy clause - The federal government has overruling power over the States

  • Officials in government are bound by oath to support the constitution

Article Vll - Ratification

  • The ratification of the conventions of nine states, shall be sufficient for the establishment of this constitution between the states so ratifying the same

Amendments

1. Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression

  • Establishment of religion : Separation of church and state

  • free exercise : free exercise clause

  • freedom of speech

  • press : media or news

  • assemble

  • petition : protest

2. Right to bare arms

3. No quartering of soldiers

4. Search and Seizure

  • Can’t be searched without a warrant on probable cause

  • Trial and Punishment

5. Trial and Punishment

  • No person shall answer to a capital crime without a Grand Jury

  • Right to remain silent

  • Can’t be deprived of natural rights

  • Due process of the government

  • Private property can’t be taken for public use without just compensation

  • No person shall be subject for the same offense to be twice in jeopardy

6. Right to a speedy trial

  • In all criminal law, the accused will have a speedy and public trial with an impartial jury

  • Accused able to obtain witnesses in his favor and have a lawyer

7. Trial by Jury

  • In civil law ( people suing each other ) they shall have a trial by jury

8. Cruel and Unusual Punishment

  • No excessive bails

  • death penalty

9. Construction of Constitution

  • Certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people

    • right to privacy., abortion

10. Powers of the States

  • Powers reserved to the states

11. Judicial Limits

  • Need to ask permission to sue another state

12. Choosing the President + VP

  • President and VP can’t be from the same state

13. Abolished slavery

14. Citizenship for all born in the United States

  • equal protection clause

  • due process clause

15. Ability to vote with no regards to race

16. Income tax

17. Senator elected by popular vote

  • voting directly for senators

18. Liquor abolished

19. Women can vote

20. Presidential , congressional terms

  • POTUS term begins January 20th

21. 18th Repealed

22. Presidential term limits

  • 2 terms ( 8 years )

23. People in D.C can vote for president

24. Pol tax barred

25. Presidential disability and succession

  • Temporary illness, such powers and and duties are given to up

26. Voting age set to 18 years

27. Limiting congressional pay increase