US ConstitutionUS Constitution

Article 1 – Article 1 –

The The LegislatureLegislature

Article 1 – The LegislatureArticle 1 – The Legislature

Congress is made up of the Congress is made up of the Senate and House of Senate and House of Representatives.Representatives.

House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives

each state will have 1 rep. each state will have 1 rep. for every 300,000; 2 year for every 300,000; 2 year term; 25 years old; live in term; 25 years old; live in the state in which elected; the state in which elected; be a citizen for at least 7 be a citizen for at least 7 yrs.yrs.

SenateSenate

2 senators from each state with 2 senators from each state with each having 1 vote; 6 year each having 1 vote; 6 year term; 30 years old; live in state term; 30 years old; live in state in which elected; citizen for 9 in which elected; citizen for 9 yrs; Vice-President is President yrs; Vice-President is President of the Senate but will not vote of the Senate but will not vote unless there is a tieunless there is a tie

Bill Becomes a LawBill Becomes a Law

House and Senate introduce House and Senate introduce a bill to their own committee; a bill to their own committee; both the House and Senate both the House and Senate may approve, rewrite or kill may approve, rewrite or kill their Bill. House and Senate their Bill. House and Senate vote on their own version of vote on their own version of the Bill. House and Senate the Bill. House and Senate pass revised Bill.pass revised Bill.

Bill Becomes a LawBill Becomes a Law

President either passes or President either passes or Vetoes the Bill, if vetoed Vetoes the Bill, if vetoed Congress can override Congress can override veto with 2/3 majority vote veto with 2/3 majority vote of Congress. Bill is now a of Congress. Bill is now a Law.Law.

Powers ofPowers of CongressCongress

declares war; money; Post declares war; money; Post Offices; regulate armed forces; Offices; regulate armed forces; taxes; credit; commerce; taxes; credit; commerce; Elastic Clause (allows future Elastic Clause (allows future generations to expand generations to expand meaning of the Constitution on meaning of the Constitution on issues not spelled out)issues not spelled out)

Article 2 – Article 2 –

The ExecutiveThe Executive

Article 2 – The ExecutiveArticle 2 – The Executive

President and Vice-President and Vice-PresidentPresident

PresidentPresident

is leader of Executive office; is leader of Executive office; selected by means of selected by means of Electoral College; serves 4 Electoral College; serves 4 years; 2 term max. Must be years; 2 term max. Must be at least 35 years old; live in at least 35 years old; live in US for 14 yrs; natural born US for 14 yrs; natural born citizen.citizen.

PresidentPresident

Must take oath before Must take oath before taking office. Can send taking office. Can send troops to war. Appoints troops to war. Appoints Supreme Court judges.Supreme Court judges.

PresidentPresident

Creates treaties, which Creates treaties, which must have a 2/3 approval must have a 2/3 approval of Congress. Gives State of Congress. Gives State of the Union Address. of the Union Address.

Article 3 – Article 3 –

The JudiciaryThe Judiciary

Article 3 – The JudiciaryArticle 3 – The Judiciary

Federal courts, judges, Federal courts, judges, Supreme Court – highest Supreme Court – highest court and has final saycourt and has final say

Supreme Court JusticeSupreme Court Justice

is appointed for life (only is appointed for life (only way to leave the court is to way to leave the court is to die, resign, or be die, resign, or be impeached). There is no impeached). There is no min. age and no time of min. age and no time of citizenship requirementscitizenship requirements

Article 4 – Article 4 – Relations Relations Among StatesAmong States

Article 4 – Relations Among Article 4 – Relations Among StatesStates

Says that each state’s Says that each state’s records and Acts are records and Acts are shared. Rights of citizens shared. Rights of citizens are the same as you travel are the same as you travel from one state to the next. from one state to the next. Guarantees every state a Guarantees every state a Republican form of govt.Republican form of govt.

Article 5 – Article 5 – Amending the Amending the ConstitutionConstitution

Proposal of AmendmentProposal of Amendment

2/3 vote of both houses of 2/3 vote of both houses of Congress or 2/3 of the Congress or 2/3 of the state legislatures’ call for state legislatures’ call for national convention.national convention.

Ratifying the AmendmentRatifying the Amendment

¾ approval of state ¾ approval of state legislatures, or ¾ approval legislatures, or ¾ approval at a state conventionat a state convention

Article 6 – Article 6 – Supremacy of Supremacy of the National the National Govt.Govt.

Article 6 – Supremacy of the Article 6 – Supremacy of the National Govt.National Govt.

Debts acquired or owed Debts acquired or owed before adoption of before adoption of Constitution still remained. Constitution still remained. The Constitution is the The Constitution is the ultimate law. Senate and ultimate law. Senate and House must be loyal to and House must be loyal to and uphold the Constitutionuphold the Constitution

Article 7 – Article 7 – RatificationRatification

Article 7 – RatificationArticle 7 – Ratification

9 of the 13 states (or ¾) 9 of the 13 states (or ¾) had to ratify the had to ratify the Constitution before it could Constitution before it could go in effect.go in effect.