US Constitution
The government of the United States. A set of principles (guidelines) that describe the duties and powers of the government.
USC Article 1 Section 1
Defined “congress” as the Senate and House of Representatives.
USC Article 1 Section 2
- Defined the qualifications and means of Delegates for the House of Representatives to become elected.
- Delegates were now elected by the people.
- Defined how many delegates a state could have based on it’s population.
USC Article 1 Section 3
- Defined the qualifications of delegates to the US Senate.
- The US VP will be president of the Senate.
- The Senate will try all impeachments. (Senate 2/3rd vote for guilty results in removal from office.)
USC Article 1 Section 4
Congress was to meet once a year. (1st Monday in December).
USC Article 1 Section 5
Each house could police itself.
- Each house would keep a journal of it’s proceedings.
- Each house must have the consent of the other to adjourn for more than 3 days.
USC Article 1 Section 6
Senators and House Representatives will be paid from the treasury
Cannot hold office in another section of the US govt.
3. A delegate cannot be arrested except in cases of treason, felony, and breach of the peace.
USC Article 1 Section 7
House of Representatives will initiate raising revenue.
Senate will approve and president will sign.
3. If president does not sign house and senate will pass with 2/3rds agreement and bill will become law.
USC Article 1 Section 8
Powers of congress:
- Collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises.
- Pay debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare.
- May borrow money.
- May regulate commerce with foreign nations.
- May coin money.
- Establish post offices and roads.
- Promote Science and arts.
- To declare war.
- Created the District of Colombia.
USC Article 1 Section 9
- Habeas Corpus (arrested person may be brought into court to determine legality of arrest). “after the fact” law.
- Duty free within the US.
- No title of nobility.
USC Article 1 Section 10
An individual state could not accept “gifts” from foreign rulers.
A state could not declare war unless attacked.
USC Article 2 Section 1
US President
- Describes the eligibility requirements:
a. natural born citizen
b. 14 years residency
c. . Min. Age of 35) - Election process of the US President.
- Details the course of action if the president could no longer function.
- Presidential oath.
USC Article 2 Section 2
Places the president as commander in chief of the armed forces. Essentially puts the military under civilian control.
(May) fill vacancies that happen during the recess of the senate.
USC Article 2 Section 3
State of the union address. Originally intended to report how the president thinks the country is doing.
USC Article 2 Section 4
All Civil Officers (The President, Vice President, etc) can be removed from office by the House of Representatives. Military are tried by martial courts.
USC Article 3 Section 1
Supreme Court Judges who perform good behavior cannot be removed from office.
USC Article 3 Section 2
Court cases involving Ambassadors, public ministers and consuls, and individual states will be heard by the supreme court directly.
Other cases must work their way up through appeals.
3. All trials will occur in the state where the crime occurred with the exception of impeachment.
USC Article 3 Section 3
Two witnesses must testify on the guilt of a third accused of treason.
The relatives of someone guilty of treason cannot be punished.
USC Article 4 Section 1
Gives congress the ability to determine how and whether acts legal in one state will be enforced in another.
USC Article 4 Section 2
Citizens of one state have the same freedom as citizens in all states.
Felons are expedited to the state where the crime was committed.
3. Slaves escaping to free states would be returned to their owners if requested.
USC Article 4 Section 3
Allows the admittance into the union of new states as long as :
- The states were not within the jurisdiction of another state,
- Was not formed by the joining of two states
- Did have the consent of congress.
- Texas can break into 4 states.
USC Article 4 Section 4
Every state a representative government without a monarch and will protect from invasion.
USC Article 5
Amendments can be proposed and passed with a 3/4th vote.
USC Article 6
All debts to be paid.
Supremacy Law - the constitutional law trumps all other laws.
3. All officers are required to take a oath of office.
