The U.S. Constitution

Study Guide

The Preamble

Can you pick out the purposes of the

government?

Preamble terms• union

• justice

• tranquility

• defense

• welfare

• liberty

Article I(Legislative Branch)

basic duty of L.B.

House of Representatives25-7-2-435

census every 10 years

ALL revenue bills

power of impeachmentSpeaker of the House

• Senate30-6-9-100 (2x50)-1/3

VP president of Senate

tries impeachment casesRequired vote to remove

How a Bill becomes a Law

Powers of Congress

• tax• borrow• naturalization laws• coin money• PO• patents• copyrights• declare war• raise army/navy• elastic clause

Constitutional protections for YOU!

• cannot suspend habeas corpus (“you have the body”) – writ of HC requires the person to be brought to court to determine whether she is being held legally

• no bills of attainder – singles out an individual or a group for punishment without a trial

• no ex post facto laws – applies law retroactively to an act or conduct that was legal when committed

Reserved powers for states

• Marriage and divorce laws• Education• Licenses

Article IIExecutive Branch

• P/VP/Cabinet• Qualifications for office• Commander-in-Chief• Pardons• Treaties (2/3 approval by Senate)

• Appointments (majority approval by Senate)

• Duties of President• May be impeached

treason, bribery, “high crimes and misdemeanors”

• Electoral College (270)

Qualifications for President

• 35• natural-born citizen• resident of U.S. for 14

years• Who can be president?

Treaties

• President negotiates• Senates approves (2/3)

How the

Electoral College

works

Electoral Votes

• #EV=# US Reps + 2• Minimum 3 votes

• 270 needed to win presidency• Win the right 11 states President!

2004 Electoral College Map

Example

http://www.multied.com/

Article IIIJudicial Branch

• Interpret the laws

• Judicial review • Supreme Court• Other federal

courts• Trial by jury• Treason

Articles IV - VII

IV Statesadmitting new states

V amendment processVI “supreme law of the land”VII Ratification

AmendmentsBill of Rights (1791)

1 speech . . .2 arms3 no quartering4 search and seizure

warrants5 rights of accused

due processdouble jeopardyno self-incriminationgrand jury

6 speedy and fair trial (public)8 no cruel and unusual

punishment

Amendments

12 Electoral College13 free14 citizens15 vote16 income tax17 direct election of Senators18/21 no/yes19 power to the women!26 18 yr. olds