1. The 7 Articles to the Constitution

2. Article 1: The Legislature

3. The Legislative Branch
*The Legislative branch, or Congress, makes the laws.
*Congress includes two houses: The House of Representatives and Senate.

4. House of Representatives
1. Be at least 25 years old
2. Be a U.S. citizen for the past 7 years.
3. Live in the state they represent.
4. Each state has 1 representative for every 30,000 people.
5. Serve a 2 year term (no term limits)

5. Senate 1. Be at least 30 years old
2. Be a U.S. citizen for the past 9 years
3. Live in the state they represent.
4. Each state has 2 senators
5. Serve a 6 year term (no term limits)
6. Vice President of the U.S. is the President of the Senate.

6. Capitol Building

7. How a Bill becomes a Law
*House and Senate introduces a bill to their own committee.
*They can approve, rewrite, or kill the bill.
*They vote on their own version of the bill.
*If the bill passes, it goes to the President.

8. How a Bill becomes a Law
*The president either passes or vetoes (declines) the bill.
 *If vetoed, Congress can override the veto with 2/3 majority vote.
*The bill is now a law.

9. Powers of Congress: *Levy and collect taxes.
*Coin money/regulate its value
*Establish post offices and roads.
*Define and punish piracies and felonies.

10. Powers of Congress:
*Declare war *Raise and support an armies/navy. *Make laws necessary and proper to execute the powers of Congress.

11. Article 2: The Executive

12. The Executive Branch
*The Executive branch enforces the laws. *Headed by the President of the United States. *Also includes the Vice-President, cabinet members, and heads of other agencies.

13. Qualifications of President:
*Must be at least 35 years old. *A natural born U.S. citizen. *Lived in the United States for at least 14 years. *Serves a term of four years.

14. Qualifications of President:
*Can only serve two terms total – 8 yrs. (22nd amendment in 1951 limited the terms) *Elected by the entire country and electoral college.

15. President and Vice-President
Barack Obama
Joe Biden

16. Powers as President
*Commander-In-Chief of armed forces. *Authorize the use of troops overseas without declaring war. *Make treaties with other nations (Senate must approve). *Appoints ambassadors, Supreme Court Justices, and other officials (Senate majority approval).

17. Powers as President
*Approves laws passed by Congress. *Grants reprieves and pardons for Federal crimes. *Appoints federal judges (Senate majority approval). *Gives the State of the Union Address.

18. Article 3: The Judiciary

19. The Judicial Branch *The Judicial branch evaluates laws.
*It hears cases that challenge legislation passed by Congress and signed by the President.
*It consists of the Supreme Court and lower federal courts.

20. The Judicial Branch
*The Supreme Court is the highest court and has final say. *Composed of one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. *Nominated by President and confirmed by the Senate.

21. Supreme Court Justice
*Is appointed for life, unless they resign, retire, are removed due to a conviction of a crime, or die.
*There is no minimum age.
*No time of citizenship requirements.

22. Article 4: Relations Among States
*States must honor one another’s laws, records, and court rulings. *Rights of citizens does not change from state to state – it is consistent. *It guarantees a republican form of government for every state.

23. Article 5: Amending the Constitution
*Proposing Amendments: -2/3rd’s vote of both houses of Congress or 2/3rd’s of several state legislatures, will call a convention for proposing amendments.

24. Article 5: Amending the Constitution
*Ratifying Amendments: -3/4th’s approval of state legislatures or 3/4th’s approval at a state convention.

25. Article 6: Supremacy of the National Gov’t.
*Debts acquired or owed before adoption of the Constitution still remained.
*The Constitution is the ultimate law.
*All government officials must promise to be loyal and uphold the Constitution.

26. Article 7: Ratification
*Nine of the 13 states (3/4 majority) had to ratify the Constitution before it could go into effect.