The+Constitution

[|Interactive Constitution]

=media type="custom" key="7551555"= =Electoral College= [|Electoral College Map] media type="custom" key="7534605" =How a Bill becomes a Law= [|THOMAS]--Research current proposed Bills media type="custom" key="7534613" =Amendment Process=
 * Amendments to the U.S. Constitution can be proposed either:
 * if 2/3 of both the Senate and House of Representatives agree
 * if 2/3 of all state legislatures call a convention for proposing new amendments
 * Amendments are ratified either when 3/4 of all the state legislatures agree to the amendment or when 3/4 of special ratifying conventions in each state agree. Congress shall decide which form of ratification to use.

=3 Branches of Government= **Legislative Branch** Congressman--Tim Holden (17th District) Senators--Robert Casey, Jr. and Pat Toomey (Senator-Elect) The legislative branch of US government is the US Congress, created by **article I** of the Constitution. The **upper-house** of Congress is the US **Senate**, the **lower-house** is the **House of Representatives**. **Main roles and powers**: **Special powers & Responsibilities**: >> ** Senate **: >> ** House of Representatives **: **Requirements and terms of service:** >> ** Senate **: >>> **(**note: The original Constitution called for Senators to be elected by the state legislatures, the **17th amendment** changed this to a popular vote) >> ** House of Representatives **: **Representation:** >> ** Senate **: >> ** House of Representatives **: President--Barack Obama Vice President--Joe Biden The executive branch of US government is composed of the President, his advisors and all federal agencies and their heads. The executive was created by **article II** of the Constitution. **Main roles and powers**: >> **Chief Executive** >> **Chief Diplomat** >> **Chief Legislator** >> **Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces** >> **Chief of State** **Special powers & Responsibilities**: >> **Judicial** **Requirements and terms of service:**
 * To pass legislation (laws)
 * Declare war
 * Regulate trade
 * Regulate money
 * Impeach federal officials
 * Override presidential vetoes (2/3 vote in each house)
 * Approve presidential nominations to the federal courts (including the Supreme Court, by majority vote)
 * Approve presidential appointments to federal positions (by a majority vote)
 * Approve treaties (by 2/3 vote)
 * Serve as jury in impeachment trials
 * Originate all spending ($$) bills
 * Serve as prosecution in impeachment trials
 * //**Term**//: Senators serve **unlimited 6 year terms**, elected by popular vote
 * //**Requirements**//: Senators must be over 30, 9 year citizens of the US and a resident of the state
 * //**Term**//: Representatives serve **unlimited 2 year terms**, elected by popular vote
 * //**Requirements**//: Representatives must be over 25, 7 year citizens of the US and a resident of the district which they represent
 * //**Representation**//: Each state has **2** Senators
 * //**Representation**//: Each state's number of representatives is **proportional to population**. The number of Representatives is fixed at **435** and division among the states is determined by the **census** (population count) conducted ever 10 years as required by the Constitution.
 * Executive Branch **
 * Enforce the laws passed by Congress
 * Nominate judges (including those to the Supreme Court, requiring Senate confirmation)
 * Appoint government officials (some requiring Senate confirmation, some not)
 * Act a representative of the United States to foreign governments
 * Make treaties with foreign nations (require 2/3 vote in Senate for approval)
 * Propose a federal budget
 * Recommend proposed laws to Congress
 * **Veto** legislation
 * Approve legislation passed by Congress
 * Supreme commander of all branches of US military
 * Authorize use of US military for up to 60 days (without approval of Congress or declaration of war)
 * Serve as ceremonial head of US Government
 * Grant **pardon** (forgiving an individual of his/her crime(s))
 * Grant **amnesty** (forgiving a group of people of a specific class of crime)
 * //**Terms**//: President serves a maximum of **2 terms** of **4 years** (**note: the original Constitution allowed of unlimited terms of service, this was revised by the 22nd amendment in 1951)**
 * //Requirements:// **President (or Vice-President) must over 35, a natural born citizen and a 14 year resident of the United States.**

**Judicial Branch** Chief Justice--John Roberts Main roles and powers**:**
 * The judicial branch of US government is composed of the Supreme Court and all of the lower federal courts as created by Congress. The judicial branch was created by** article III **of the Constitution. The most significant power of the judicial branch is that of** judicial review**, first stated by Chief Justice** John Marshall **in the 1803 case of** //Marbury vs. Madison// **, but not expressly granted the court by the Constitution.**

Judicial review:
 * **Interpret the law**
 * **Exercise the power of judicial review**
 * **Chief Justice presides over trials of presidential impeachment**

Jurisdiction (Supreme Court):
 * **Determine if laws passed by Congress are allowable by the Constitution**
 * **Determine if treaties negotiated by the President and approved by the Senate are allowable by the Constitution**
 * **Determine if actions by the President in enforcing the law are allowable by the Constitution**
 * **Determine if laws passed by states are allowable by the Constitution**

Requirements and terms of service:
 * **The Supreme Court hears cases of appeal from lower federal and state courts**
 * **The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction (may hear a case first) in cases involving a state vs. state matter or a branch vs. branch matter**

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 * //Terms// **: Judges serve for life, they are nominated by the president and approved by the Senate but may be removed by an impeachment proceeding**
 * //Requirements:// **There are no specific requirement for judgeship in the Constitution**

7 Principles of the Constitution

Organization of the Constitution
 * Term ||  Definition  ||
 * Popular Sovereignty || The people have the right to create, alter or abolish their government—power to the people!!! ||
 * Limited Government || Government only has the powers that are stated in the Constitution—and NO MORE!!! ||
 * Separation of Powers || The powers of government are divided among several branches—the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial ||
 * Checks and Balances || A safeguard against an abuse of power by giving each branch of government specific checks (or power) over the other branches ||
 * Federalism || A division of power between the national and state governments—each have specific responsibilities ||
 * Republicanism || A political system where voters elect representatives to make laws for them ||
 * Individual Rights || Specific rights guaranteed by the government—such as free speech, freedom of religion, right to trial by jury, etc… ||


 * Preamble || //“We the People…”—//**States the basic purposes of our government** ||
 * Article 1 || Legislative Branch**—Organizes Congress and how laws are made** ||
 * Article 2 || Executive Branch**—Organizes the Presidency and the powers of the office** ||
 * Article 3 || Judicial Branch**—Organizes the Supreme Court and other Federal Courts** ||
 * Article 4 || Relations among States—**Reorganizes relationships among States and how States are to enter the Union** ||
 * Article 5 || Amending the Constitution**—Spells out the process of changing the Constitution** ||
 * Article 6 || Natonal Supremacy**—States that the Constitution is the “Supreme Law of the Land”** ||
 * Article 7 || Ratification**—Spells out how the Constitution will be made official** ||
 * Amendments || Changes to the Constitution**—1st 10 are the Bill of Rights that guarantee citizens basic rights, 27 amendments in total. ||