US History The Constitution

The US Constitution Preamble - lists six goals for the U.S. government (p. 220) Preamble - lists six goals for the U.S. government (p. 220) Body of the document - broken into seven articles Body of the document - broken into seven articles Outline how the government will be set up Outline how the government will be set up

Article I - Legislative Branch Purpose is to make the laws Purpose is to make the laws Congress is made up of House of Representatives & Senate Congress is made up of House of Representatives & Senate HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (Population) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (Population) elected to 2 year terms elected to 2 year terms must be 25 years old must be 25 years old must be a citizen of the US for 7 years must be a citizen of the US for 7 years must be a resident of the state represented must be a resident of the state represented

Article I - Legislative Branch SENATE (Equal Representation) SENATE (Equal Representation) elected to 6 year terms elected to 6 year terms must be 30 years old must be 30 years old must be citizen of US for 9 years must be citizen of US for 9 years must be a resident of the state represented must be a resident of the state represented originally chosen by state legislatures originally chosen by state legislatures 1/3 of Senators elected every 2 years 1/3 of Senators elected every 2 years VP – President of the Senate...only votes to break a tie VP – President of the Senate...only votes to break a tie

Article I - Legislative Branch Section 8 - powers given to Congress Section 8 - powers given to Congress tax, borrow money, issue currency, declare war, maintain army & navy, and more tax, borrow money, issue currency, declare war, maintain army & navy, and more Section 9 - powers denied to Congress Section 9 - powers denied to Congress ‘habeas corpus’ shall not be suspended except in cases of “rebellion or invasion” ‘habeas corpus’ shall not be suspended except in cases of “rebellion or invasion” no ‘ex post facto’ laws shall be passed no ‘ex post facto’ laws shall be passed cannot grant titles of nobility cannot grant titles of nobility Section 10 - powers denied to the States Section 10 - powers denied to the States states cannot enter into treaties or alliances states cannot enter into treaties or alliances cannot issue currency cannot issue currency cannot grant titles of nobility cannot grant titles of nobility

Article II - Executive Branch Purpose is to enforce the laws Purpose is to enforce the laws PRESIDENT PRESIDENT elected by Electoral College elected by Electoral College must be a “natural born citizen” of the US must be a “natural born citizen” of the US must be 35 years old must be 35 years old must be resident of US for 14 yrs must be resident of US for 14 yrs elected to a 4 year term…max of 10 years added later elected to a 4 year term…max of 10 years added later Presidential Succession Act of Pres., VP, House Speaker, Senate Pres., Sec. of State, Sec. of Treasury, etc. Presidential Succession Act of Pres., VP, House Speaker, Senate Pres., Sec. of State, Sec. of Treasury, etc. LINK

Article III - Judicial Branch Purpose is to interpret the laws Purpose is to interpret the laws SUPREME COURT SUPREME COURT Supreme Court has 9 justices Supreme Court has 9 justices Justices are appointed by the President, must be approved by the Senate Justices are appointed by the President, must be approved by the Senate Justices serve for life or until retirement Justices serve for life or until retirement

Remaining Articles Article IV - Relations Among the States Article IV - Relations Among the States Article V - The Amending Process Article V - The Amending Process to propose an amendment - need 2/3 of the state legislatures or 2/3 members of both houses of Congress to propose an amendment - need 2/3 of the state legislatures or 2/3 members of both houses of Congress to ratify an amendment - need 3/4 of the state legislatures or 3/4 members of both houses of Congress to ratify an amendment - need 3/4 of the state legislatures or 3/4 members of both houses of Congress

Remaining Articles Article VI - National Supremacy Article VI - National Supremacy “This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States…shall be the supreme Law of the Land” “This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States…shall be the supreme Law of the Land” also, “no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States” also, “no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States” Article VII - Ratification of the Constitution Article VII - Ratification of the Constitution 9/13 states needed to ratify 9/13 states needed to ratify

The Amendments Bill of Rights - First Ten Amendments Bill of Rights - First Ten Amendments FREEDOMS ARE NOT ABSOLUTE!!! FREEDOMS ARE NOT ABSOLUTE!!! #1 - Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition (no libel, slander, or “FIRE!!”) #1 - Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition (no libel, slander, or “FIRE!!”)

#2 - Right to Bear Arms #2 - Right to Bear Arms “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” The Amendments

#3 - Quartering Troops (soldiers cannot live in others’ homes without owner’s consent) #3 - Quartering Troops (soldiers cannot live in others’ homes without owner’s consent) #4 - Search and Seizure (must have search warrant) #4 - Search and Seizure (must have search warrant)

The Amendments #5 - Rights of the Accused #5 - Rights of the Accused double jeopardy - cannot be tried twice for same crime double jeopardy - cannot be tried twice for same crime cannot be a witness against yourself cannot be a witness against yourself govt. cannot take property without compensation govt. cannot take property without compensation #6 - Right to Speedy, Public, and Fair trial (and an attorney!!) #6 - Right to Speedy, Public, and Fair trial (and an attorney!!)

The Amendments #7 - Civil suits #7 - Civil suits #8 - Bail and Punishment (no cruel or unusual punishment or excessive bail) #8 - Bail and Punishment (no cruel or unusual punishment or excessive bail) #9 - Powers Reserved to People (means people’s rights are not limited to those listed) #9 - Powers Reserved to People (means people’s rights are not limited to those listed) #10 - Powers Reserved to the States (powers not listed or denied to the states are given to the states) #10 - Powers Reserved to the States (powers not listed or denied to the states are given to the states)

The Amendments #13 - Abolition of Slavery #13 - Abolition of Slavery #14 - Rights of Citizens (all people born in the U.S. are now citizens) #14 - Rights of Citizens (all people born in the U.S. are now citizens) #15 - Right to Vote #15 - Right to Vote “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied...on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied...on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” #16 - Income Tax #16 - Income Tax

The Amendments #17 - Direct Election of Senators #17 - Direct Election of Senators #18 - Prohibition (no more alcohol) #18 - Prohibition (no more alcohol) #19 - Women’s Suffrage #19 - Women’s Suffrage #21 - Repeals #18 (alcohol is back) #21 - Repeals #18 (alcohol is back) #22 - Limit on Presidential Terms (only 2) #22 - Limit on Presidential Terms (only 2) #26 - Right to Vote (given to all 18 or older) #26 - Right to Vote (given to all 18 or older)