Sections

Amendaments (In order):
1st: freedom of speech,press, religion
2nd:right to bear arms
3rd: government cannot force you to house soilders (quater)
4th:right to privacy (porbable cause) (search warrant) (arrest warrant)
5th: double jeapordy, self incrimination
6th:right to speedy trial, change in venue, araignment
7th:$20
8th:bans excessive bail, bans cruel and unusual punishment
9th:Protects the rights not laid out in 1-8 prevent gov from claiming 1-8 are the only rights
10: reserved powers to states and federal government
11: two ways a Supreme court decision can be overruled (1 supreme court changes the ruling, 2 its unconstitutional)
12: electoral college
13th: Abolished slavery
14th: gave african americans equal rights
15th: gave african american males the right to vote
16th: congress can levy income taxes
17th: people can elect U.S. senators
18th: prohibited alcohol
19th: gave women the right to vote
20th: changed the dates of congress start time
21st: repealed the 18th and brought back alcohol
22nd: limits the presidential terms to 2 terms and years to 10 years
23rd: Three electoral votes are assigned to DC
24th: prohibits poll taxes
25th: Created presidential succession
26th: lowered the voting age
27th: senate cannot get pay raises until after the previous serve time



Sections (Articles):
Article 1: Legislative branch
Article 2: Executive branch
Article 3: Judicial Branch
Article 4: Federalism (relationship of states with the fed gov)
Article 5: explains amendament process in detail
Article 6: Supremacy Clause (Supreme court is the supreme law their decisions are supreme over the land)
Article 7: constitution took place after 3/4 or nine states approval

Amendament Process:
1. Proposal can be by congressional proposal or National Convention (National convention is too nonspecific so it has never been used)
2. Ratification State legislature 3/4, Special State Ratification Conventions 3/4 (21st amendament)
3. Rules congress sets ratification limit (7years)
*President has no impact in Amendament process*
Equal Rights Amendament
prohibited discrimination on gender
Illustrates federalism by fed proposal states vote

Constitutional Change:
Can happen in one of 5 ways
1. Basic Legislation
2. Executive Action
3. Court Rulings
4. Political Parties
5. Custom and Usage

Basic Legislation:
The constitution provides basic goals or principles for the government to follow. However, for the government to effectively do this detailed laws are needed to accomplish the task
EXAMPLES:
Article 3 section 1: One supreme court
Article 2: executive power
Article 1 sectioon 8 clause 3: regulate commerce (trade)

Executive Action
Article 1 section 8 clause 11: Only congress can delcare war
Article 2 named the president chief commander of armed forces (loop[ hole for presidents to send troops)
Article 2 section 2: President needs advice and consent of senate to make treaties (2/3)
Executive Agreement: informal agreement made by the U.S. President directly with a head of a foreign government

Court Decisions
Supreme court intreprets the meaning of the constitution and determines wether legislative action or executive action ois constitutional

Party Practices
Political Parties
George Washington dissapproved of them
Electoral College

Custom and Usage
Senatorial courtesy
no third term
constitution must be a formal written change (amendaments)
Interpretation led to 4 departments under GW
Powers and Duties (succession)