Structure of the Constitution
Kaitlyn Johnson
The Preamble
An Example of the Preamble (How It Starts)
Section I Article I
Section II Article I
Elections will be held every other year
Representatives must be over 25 and have to have lived in the US for over seven years
Representation based on population is determined every 10 years
If there is a spot open the Governor will hold elections to fill the space
The House of Representatives will choose their own speaker and officers
The House of Representatives have full power of impeachment
In this section they also discussed the 14th amendment which abolished slavery (the 3/5th's person law)
Section III Article I
Two Senators are elected by the legislative state body
Serve 6 year terms with 1/3 of the seats being contested every other year
Must be at least 30+ years old to run for nine year term
Vice President presides over Senate but doesn't have vote unless there's a tie
Senate chooses officers and substitute president in case the Vice President is absent
Senate tries all impeachments and can remove ones deemed unworthy
Section IV Article I
Section V Article I
Section VI Article I
Section VII Article I
Section VIII Article I
- collect taxes
- borrow money
- regulate commerce
- coin money
- establish post offices and roads
- promote science and art
- declare war
- raise an army or navy
Section IX Article I
- the importation of slaves cannot be illegal until 1808
- cannot pass laws that allow citizens to be arrested without just cause
- cannot punish citizens for laws broken that didn't exist when broken
- cannot tax state exports
- cannot give preference to one state over another
- congress cannot grant titles of nobility
- cannot withdraw money from US Treasury without following correct procedures