constitution

article 2

section 1: president and vp

person with most electoral votes would be president, while second place would be vice president

if no majority of electoral votes, house of representatives elect president from among five candidates with most votes

section 2: advice and consent

senate grants advice and consent to president through majority vote for a nomination to federal office or 2/3 vote for the ratification of a treaty

president has power to “grant reprieves and pardons for offences against us except in cases of impeachment”

article 3

section 2: admiralty and maritime law

“the judicial power shall extend… to all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction”

admiralty and maritime law pertains to ships on the sea

1815 justice joseph story (de lovio v boit) extends supreme court’s admiralty jurisdiction to all transactions relating to “navigation, business, or commerce of sea”

misc

federal judges’ jurisdiction extends only to real cases and controversies “arising under this constitution” (cannot issue statements about hypothetical cases)

article 5

misc

2/3 of both houses find necessary to propose amendments, ratified by 3/4 of state legislatures