1. Preamble Form a more perfect union Establish justice
Mission Statement – not law
Form a more perfect union
Establish justice
Ensure domestic tranquility
Provide for the common defense
Promote the general welfare
Secure the blessings of liberty

2. Article I The Legislative Branch
House of Reps
Must be at least 25
Been citizen for 7 yrs
Elected every 2 yrs
Live in state elected
435 members
# of Reps determined by pop.
Senate
Must be at least 30
Been citizen for 9 yrs
Elected every 6 yrs
Live in state elected
100 members
2 per state
VP presides over it

3. Article I Rules of Congress
Free from arrest during a session.
Session begins on January 3 and ends when both houses adjourn.
Members of each house make their own rules.
Members vote on their salaries.
Cannot hold any other public office.

4. Article I Powers of Congress
Make Laws
Override Presidential veto by 2/3
They may coin money, borrow money, and collect taxes.
They alone have power to declare war.
They alone can make treaties.
The regulate trade and commerce.

5. Article I Powers Denied Congress
Can’t mess with slavery until 1808.
Cannot levy an export tax.
No money to be spent unless appropriated by Congress.
No titles of nobility can be granted.

6. Article II The Executive Branch
Elected to a 4 yr. term by the Electoral College.
Must get a majority of the electoral votes
Term begins on January 20 when sworn in by the Chief Justice.
Must be 35 years of age and a natural born citizen – 14 yrs in U.S.

7. Article II Powers of the President
Commander in Chief of Armed Forces.
Can appoint members to head executive offices.
Can appoint judges to federal courts; including the Supreme Court.
Can negotiate treaties.
Can call a special session of Congress

8. Article III The Judicial Branch
Appointed for life; as long as they’re nice
They interpret all Constitutional law and may be called to settle interstate law.
The Constitution says what they say it says.
Today, there are nine Justices w/ one being the Chief Justice.

9. Article III Actions of the Supreme Court
Judicial Review – The power of the court to determine what laws are constitutional
Judicial Activism – A court which seeks to influence society by it’s rulings. Sometimes called legislating from bench
Judicial Restraint – A court which seeks to avoid controversy and allows legislatures to clarify laws.

10. Article IV Relations of States
You are free to move about the country!
Deals with extradition from one state to another of criminals.
Sets up procedure to admit new states
Each state is guaranteed protection by federal government.

11. Article V Amending Process
2/3 of Congress to propose – ¾ of state legislatures to ratify.
2/3 of States to call convention – and ¾ of state legislatures to ratify.
And the mixture of both.

12. Article VI The Supremacy Clause
The Constitution is the supreme law of the land.
No law trumps the Constitution.

13. Article VII Ratification of Constitution
9 of the 13 states must ratify for it to become the law of the land.

14. Amendments There are currently 27 amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
The first 10 are known as the Bill of Rights.
They protect our personal freedoms from
the government.
They were added so states would ratify the Constitution.

15. Bill of Rights #1 – Religious and political freedom
#2 – Right to bear arms
#3 – Quartering troops is forbidden (?)
#4 – Search and Seizure
#5 – Rights of the accused

16. Bill of Rights #6 – Right to speedy, public trial
#7 – Trial by jury in civil cases
#8 – Limits of fines and punishments
#9 – Rights of the people
#10 – Powers of states and people

17. Basic Principles
Federalism is the idea that power is shared between state and federal gov’t.
Because we do not want the government to have too much power the constitution is based on limited government.
The main source of power in the U.S. gov’t is the people.
In order to keep one branch from gaining too much power, we have a system of checks and balances.

18. Amendment 11 and 12 11 – Citizens cannot sue other states
12 – President and VP must run together as a team (ticket).

19. Amendments 13 - 15 13 – Freed the slaves
14 – Former slaves are now citizens
15 – Black suffrage – right to vote
Civil War Amendments

20. Amendments 16 - 18 16th – Federal Income Tax
17th – Direct election of Senators by state populations
18th - Prohibition

21. Amendments 19-21 19th – Women’s Suffrage
20th – Lame Duck Session – moved Presidential Inauguration to Jan. 20
21st – Repealed prohibition

22. Amendments 22 - 25 22nd – Term limit for President
23rd – Federal elections in D.C.
24th – Abolition of Poll Taxes
25th – Presidential disability and succession

23. Amendments 26 - 27 26th – Voting age lowered to 18
27th – Congressional Pay