ARTICLE I: LEGISLATIVE BRANCH Empowered to make the laws

ARTICLE II: EXECUTIVE BRANCH Empowered to enforce (carry out)

laws

ARTICLE III JUDICIAL BRANCH Empowered to interpret/explain the

laws

ARTICLE IV Governs relations

among the states ARTICLE V

Process for amending the Constitution

ARTICLE VI SUPREMACY CLAUSE

ARTICLE VII RATIFICATION

required by only 9 of the 13 states

27 AMENDMENTS

ARTICLE I - LEGISLATIVE BRANCHCONGRESS = HOUSE + SENATE / 535 MEMBERS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

2 year terms Must be 25 years old; citizen for 7 years Speaker of the House is selected by

the members of the House… so will always be what party? Currently – John Boehner of OH

Membership based on population Reapportioned every 10 yrs. after census

435 members total ; FL – 27 members Special Powers:

Revenue/tax laws may be introduced in House only

Only House can impeach (accuse) public officials

SENATE 6 year terms

Staggered - 1/3 of Senate up for reelection every 2 yrs

Keeps the Senate a more “continuous” body Must be 30 years old; citizen for 9 years and in the

state elected from Leader of the Senate is known as the President of

Senate Vice President of U.S. serves as President of the

Senate – currently Joe Biden President Pro Tempore serves as P of the Senate

in the VP’s absence –Patrick Leahy of VT 2 Senators from each state – 100 total

Florida’s U.S. Senators – Bill Nelson (D) and Marco Rubio (R)

Which one just got reelected in 2012? Special powers of Senate:

Power to ratify treaties & confirm P’s appointments

Senate holds the trials for all impeachments (Chief Justice serves as Judge and the Senate as “jury”)

ART. II THE EXECUTIVE BRANCHART. II THE EXECUTIVE BRANCHQualifications for P & VP:

- 35 years old- natural born citizen- U.S. resident for 14 years

Term of Office: 4 years - now limited by the 22nd

amendment to 2 terms(before this amendment,limited only by tradition)

- Election: Tuesday after the first Monday in November….why?- Inauguration: January 20, per the 20th amendment

HEAD OF THEEXECUTIVE BRANCH

Tradition provides that he may ask advice of his Cabinet (includes heads of Executive Depts., etc.)

POWERS OF THE PRESIDENTPOWERS OF THE PRESIDENT

COMMANDER IN CHIEFhead of the armed forces –

may send out troops

GRANTS REPRIEVES & PARDONSReprieves = delay of punishmentPardon = forgiveness

POWER TO VETO LAWS PASSED BY CONGRESS(2/3 of Congress can override

veto)

MAKE TREATIES with other countries

must be approved by 2/3 of Senate

MAKE APPOINTMENTSto cabinet, Supreme Court, etc.Must be approved by Senate

DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT:

Must give the annual State of Must give the annual State of the Union address to the Union address to Congress & the American Congress & the American peoplepeople

Must serve as Official Host of Must serve as Official Host of the U.S. -- receives the U.S. -- receives ambassadors & other public ambassadors & other public foreign officialsforeign officials

Chief Executive -- responsible Chief Executive -- responsible for making sure all federal for making sure all federal laws are carried out laws are carried out (enforced)(enforced)

PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION:

If the President dies, resigns, is If the President dies, resigns, is removed from office or is removed from office or is unable to carry out his duties, unable to carry out his duties, the order of succession is as the order of succession is as follows:follows:

Vice PresidentVice President Speaker of the HouseSpeaker of the House President Pro TemporePresident Pro Tempore Secretary of State……Secretary of State……

“Impeach” means to “accuse” President, Vice-President, Judges, etc. may be

impeached for treason, bribery and other high crimes and misdemeanors

Who are the only 2 Presidents to have been impeached? Andrew Johnson & Bill Clinton

No U.S. President has been convicted of the impeachment charges & removed from office.

Chief Justice presides over impeachment trials.

Only court established is the Supreme Court

Power given to Congress to establish remaining courts

Judges serve for “good behavior” – they serve for life (unless they resign, retire, get removed from office)

Qualifications: NONE Number has fluctuated, but there

are currently nine justice positions

The Roberts Court(The Court is referred to bythe name of the Chief Justice)

Chief JusticeJohn Roberts

Justice Kagan (newest)

Justice Alito

Justice ScaliaJustice Kennedy

Justice Sotomayor

Justice Thomas

Justice Ginsburg

Justice Breyer

TREASON is the only crime defined by the Constitution

TREASON consists of making war against the U.S. or aiding the enemies of the U.S.

No person shall be convicted of treason unless: two witnesses testify to some overt act of

treason OR there is a confession in open court.

Punishment for treason is death in times of war & up to lifetime imprisonment in time of peace.

“FULL FAITH & CREDIT” CLAUSE What about gay marriage?

Citizens have same rights in all states

Provides for “extradition” of criminals

Provided for the return of escaped slaves

Only Congress can admit new states to the Union

INFORMAL – through judicial interpretation, political practice, etc.

FORMAL AMENDMENT – ARTICLE V 2 step process – proposal & ratification

PROPOSAL: 2/3 of Congress 2/3 of states request Congress to call

National convention RATIFICATION:

¾ of state legislatures approve ¾ of state special conventions approve

According to Art. V, what cannot be amended?

Supreme law of the United States consists of THREE things:

1. The Constitution2. All federal laws3. All federal treaties

ARTICLE VIIARTICLE VIIRATIFICATIONRATIFICATION

9 states required9 states required Constitution signed 1787Constitution signed 1787

27 Total amendments The first Ten are Bill of Rights

1. Freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly & petition2. Right to bear arms3. Prohibits quartering of troops in homes4. Prohibits unreasonable search & seizure5. Protects against self-incrimination and double jeopardy,

power of eminent domain (with just compensation)6. Right to a fair and speedy trial7. Right to a jury in civil trials8. Prohibits excessive bail and fines and cruel and unusual

punishment9. Reserves rights to the people10. Reserves powers to the states

Amendments granting/increasing suffrage: 15th – black males 19th – women 23rd – electoral votes to Washington, D.C. 26th – lowered voting age from 21 to 18

Presidential Amendments: 20 (inauguration) and 22 (two terms)

Only amendment ever repealed was the 18th Amendment prohibiting the manufacture, sale and distribution of alcohol. The 21st amendment repealed the 18th.

CIVIL WAR AMENDMENTS: 13 – Abolished slavery 14- Provided citizenship to former

slaves 15 – Gave black men the right to vote

Which amendment took the longest to pass?

Add power to national government: 16 (tax) & 18 (prohibition)

Deny power to the national government: 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 21

Limit the power of state governments 13, 14

Reduce the power of the electorate 22 (2 terms in office for the P)

Make changes in the machinery of government 12 (electoral college), 20 (inauguration date), 25

(presidential disability)

Protect the rights of individuals 1, 2, 6, 7 and 9