NotesforConstitution

PREAMBLE:Wethepeople(POPULARSOVEREIGNTY)ofthisnation,inordertomake abettergovernmentthatwillbefair,keepussafeathomeandfromourforeignenemies, createconditionsforourwellbeing,andprotectourfreedomsdocreatethisconstitution. ARTICLEI(LegislativeBranch): Sec.1:Whentheyweremakingthisdocument,therewasanargumentwhether thereshouldbeequalvotesforeachstate(astherewasintheArticlesofConfederation)or whetheritwouldbemorefairtohaverepresentationbasedonastatespopulation.Itwas decidedtocreateatwohouseCongress,whereonehouse(Senate)wouldhaveequal votes,andtheother(HouseofRepresentatives)wouldbebasedonvotesper populationofastate.ThisagreementwascalledtheGreatCompromise. Sec.2:HouseofRepresentativesmembersareelectedfor2years,andthey canserveaslongastheyarewantedbytheirstate.Theymustbeatleast25,anda citizenoftheUSforatleast7years(oursisBillyLong).(Thereare435current members).Theymustalsoliveinthedistrictandstatetowhichtheywereelected.A censuswillbetakenevery10years,usingthosepopulationnumberstodecidehowmany representativesastategets.Afirst,wedidnotcountIndians(notcitizensthen),andwe onlycountedoftheslaves(Compromise). TheHousememberswillelecttheirleader,calledtheSpeakerofthe House(currentlyJohnBoehner)toruntheirmeetings. ONLYTHEHOUSECANIMPEACH(Bringanofficialuponchargesof misconduct:seeIMPEACHMENTinSec.3) Sec.3:The,Senateconsistsof2membersfromeachstate(ClaireMcCaskill andRoyBluntforMO)andtheyareelectedfor6yearterms(sowehave100).Senators mustbeatleast30andacitizenoftheUSforatleast9years.Ofcoursetheyneedto liveinthestatetheyrepresentaswell. Thesenatorselectionswerestaggered,sothatonlyathirdofthemare electedeveryelectionyear.ThiskeepsorganizationandcontinuityintheSenate. TheVicePresidentoftheUnitedStatesisthePresidentoftheSenate. Hecanonlyvotetobreakties.WhentheVPisgonetheSenateisheadedbyapresident protemporeelectedbythesenatemembers. IMPEACHMENTOnlytheSenatecantryimpeachmentcasesbroughtbythe House.Guiltypeoplecanonlybekickedoutofofficeandneverserveagain,although, oncetheyarekickedout,therecanbeanothertrialtoputtheminjailifneeded. Sec.4,5,and6:Thesesectionsgivespecificrulesforrunningthetwohouses,such asmeetingtime,etc.Theyalsosayacongresspersoncannotbearrestedwhileworking exceptforfelony.Theymustkeepajournalsothepeoplewillknowwhatgoeson.

Sec.7:AlltaxbillsmustbeginwiththeHouseofRepresentatives(sincetheyare closesttothepeople).Allbillsgothroughthefollowingprocedure A.Anyonecansuggestabill,butitmustbeintroducedinCongressbyaSenator orRepresentative. B.Afterintroducingthebill,itissenttoacommitteethatdealswiththatparticular subjectmatter(forexampleaschoolbussafetylawmightgototheTransportation Committee.Thatcommitteemayeitherrecommendthebill,sayitisworthlessandgetrid ofit,orapproveitwithchanges. C.Ifabillisrecommended,withorwithoutchanges,itgoesbacktothemainbody tobedebatedandvotedon.Ifitpasses(usuallyrequiresa51%vote)itissenttotheother houseandnditgoesthroughthesameprocedurethere. D.IfabillpassesbothhousesofCongress,itissenttothePresident.hehasten daystodecidewhetherornottosignit.Ifhesignsthebill,itbecomeslaw.Ifhedoesnot doanythingfortendays,itwillbealawanyway.ThePresidentcanveto(LatinforIforbid) alaw(acheckonCongresspower).ThenhemustsenditbacktoCongress.Theycan overridehisvetowithavotebybothhouses,anditwillstillbecomealaw(abalanceto hischeck). Sec.8:ThesearethepowersofCongress.Theycan: A.taxandborrowmoney B.regulatetrade C.coinmoneyandpunishcounterfeiters(peoplewhomakefake money), D.makelawsforimmigrantstobecomecitizens. E.createnationalcourtsandpostoffices. F.establishpatentandcopyrightlawstoprotectinventorsand artists. G.declarewarandmakerulesforrunningthemilitaryandmilitias, andcreatethefundsforthem. H.createandgovernthenationscapital(WashingtonD.C.)
I.Thefollowingiscalledthenecessaryandproperclause.Itisalsocalledthe elasticclause,becauseitallowsCongresstodowhatitneedstodoiftheConstitution doesnotsayanythingaboutthesituation(Congresscan)makeallLawswhichshall benecessaryandproperforcarryingintoExecutiontheforegoingPowers,andallother PowersvestedbythisConstitutionintheGovernmentoftheUnitedStates,orinany DepartmentorOfficerthereof. Sec.9:CongressCANNOT A.suspendtheWritofHabeasCorpusunlesswheninCasesofRebellionor Invasion B.passBillsofAttainderorexpostfactoLaw

C.taxexports. D.preferonestateovertheother E.takemoneyfromthetreasuryunlessalawwasmadeforwhattodowiththat money. F.createroyaltyandnobility. G.passbillsofattainder(alawdeclaringapersonisguiltyofalawsuchasa lawthatmakesallpeopleguiltywhodonotsupporttheking)orexpostfactolaws(alaw whichpunishesyouforsomethingyoudidwhenitwaslegalsuchasraisingthedriving ageto18thenarrestingthosewhodrovewhentheywere16beforethenewlawwas passed.) Sec.10:PowersdeniedtoStates: Statescannotdeclarewar,enterintotreaties,coinmoney,createanavy,etc. ARTICLEII:EXECUTIVEBRANCH: Sec.1:PresidentandVicePresident A.ConsistsofPresident(BarackObama)andaVicePresident(JosephBiden) whoholdofficefor4years.Electedbyelectoralcollege,whichismadeupofthenumber ofrepresentativesforeachstate(Missourihas10).Eachelectorhastwovotes,onefor PresidentandoneforVicePresident(revisedbyAmendment12).Whoeverwinsthe popularmajorityvoteinastatewillgettheirpartyselectors.However,anelectorisNOT requiredtovoteforthatcandidateonelectoralcollegeday. B.Presidentialelectionsareheldthe1stTuesdayafterthe1stMondayin Novembereveryfouryears(happenstocoincidewithleapyearandsummerOlympicyear). C.Mustbe35,andaNATURALBORNcitizenoftheU.S.,andmusthavelivedinthe countryforatleast14years. D.Upondeath,resignation,orremovalofaPresident,theVPwillbecome President.IfVPnotavailable,therewillbedecidedbyCongressareplacementsyetem(Today thatsystemwouldbePres,thenVP,thenSpeakeroftheHouse(JohnBoehner),thenSecretary ofState(JohnKerry),followedbyothermembersoftheCabinet. E.MusttakethisoathIdosolemnlyswear(oraffirm)thatIwillfaithfully executetheofficeofthePresidentoftheUnitedStates,andwilltothebestofmyability, preserve,protect,anddefendtheConstitutionoftheUnitedStates. Sec.2:Powers: A.Commanderinchiefofthemilitary,(butonlyCongresscandeclarewar). B.Makestreatiesandappointments(butonlySenatecanapprovethem). Sec.3:Duties: MustgiveStateoftheUnionmessageeveryyeartoCongress,statinghowitsgoingand whathethinksisnecessary.Willreceiveambassadorsfromothercountries,andseethatall lawsarecarriedout. Sec.4:Impeachment: PresidentandallcivilofficersoftheU.S.canbeimpeachedandremovedfromoffice uponconvictionfortreason,bribery,andotherhighcrimesandmisdemeanors.

ARTICLEIII:JUDICIALBRANCH: Sec.1:Courtsandtermsofoffice: OneSupremeCourtandothersdeemednecessarybyCongress.Judgesmay holdofficeforlifeafterappointed,andonlyremovedbyimpeachment.Thenumberofjudgeswill bedecidedbyCongress.(hasanywherefrom69). Sec.2:Jurisdiction: A.Willhearallcasesarisingfromfederallaw,anycaseinvolvingambassadors, andcasesbetweenstates. B.SupremeCourtcanonlyhaveoriginaljurisdictionincasesinvolving ambassadorsandbetweenstates,andonlyappellatecasesforotherreasons. Sec.3: Treason,theonlycrimedefinedbytheconstitution,willconsistofmakingwar uponthenationorhelpingtheenemytodoso.Onecanonlybeconvictedifthereareatleast twowitnesses,oruponconfession.Punishmentcannotincludetakingawaypropertyorcivil rights. ARTICLEIV:RELATIONSAMONGSTATES: Sec.1: Eachstatemustrecognizethelawsofanother(suchasrecognizingthatagay couplelegallymarriedinanotherstateisstillmarriediftheymovetoanotherstate). Sec.2: A.Acitizenofonestatemustgettheprivilegesandimmunitiesofcitizensin another. B.Apersonchargedwithacrimethatescapestoanotherstatemustbereturned forpunishmentbythestateheranoffto(unlessthatpersoncanprovehisrightsarebeing violatedbythefirststate). Sec.3: Discusseshownewstatescancomeintothenation,andthattheyhavethe samepowersoftheoldstates. Sec.4: AllstatesareguaranteedtheprotectionoftheUnitedStatesGovernment. ARTICLEV:AMENDMENTS: TheConstitutioncanbechangedifofthebothhousesofCongress(orofstates inaconvention)proposeanamendment,thenifthatproposedamendmentisapprovedofby oftheStatesinavote. ARTICLEVI:SUPREMACY: Thoughitsaysotherthings,theimportantideaisthattheConstitutionisthesupreme lawoftheland.Nolawcanbepassedthatviolatesthisconstitutionoritsamendments. ARTICLEVII:RATIFICATION:Thiswillbethelawafter9statesapproveit