Article I

1. Article I AJ, Betty, Corey, Jesse

2. The Main Idea of Article I The House of Representatives and The Senate work together to ensure that the Legislative Branch is fulfilling its responsibilities in making the government effective and protecting citizens’ rights. Representation in both Chambers: • Article 1 of the Constitution deals with the Legislative Branch • While representation in the Houseis allocated by population, representation in the Senateis equalbetween all states, regardless of its size. • The Legislative Branch is the law-making branch, and it is bi-cameral, meaning it’s divided into two chambers So…. All in all, the Senate is built to be stronger than the House. • The House of Representatives • Shorter terms – 2 years • The House is the initiator • When turning a bill into a law, the House is the first step. • Then, it’s carried up the ladder to the Senate. • The Senate • Longer terms – 6 years Both chambers of Congress have different powers and possess different obligations. • House of Representatives Senate For Example: While bills initiate in the House of Representatives, “Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills” (Art. I, Sec. 7, Cl. 1), demonstrating how the bill gets passed up the ladder from one house of congress to the next. In passing a bill, both houses have to check and ratify it. The power to try the president is conceivably more important than the power to impeach. While a handful of presidents have been impeached, none, to this day, have been removed. For Instance: While the House “shall have the sole Power of Impeachment” (Art. I, Sec. 2, Cl. 5), the Senate “shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments” (Art. I, Sec. 3, Cl. 6), serving as judge and jury. • Article 1 explains: • The “Do’s” and “Don'ts” of the Legislative branch, also known as Congress. • The qualifications for being a member of Congress • In order to obtain the role of Senator, an individual needs to be “attained to the Age of thirty Years” and “nine Years a Citizen of the United States” (Art. I, Sec. 3, Cl. 3).

3. The Most Important Section/Clause (Art. I, Sec. 8, Cl. 18) Also known as “the Elastic Clause” • It is important because it gives the Legislative Branch power • This Clause allows Congress to exercise powers that are not explicitly stated in the Constitution. (these are known as implied powers) • For Example: • As we all know, the government has the power to collect taxes. • However, there is nothing written in the Constitution that states where this money ought to be held. • The Elastic Clause gives Congress the implied power to establish a National Bank to hold this money. • All in all, this clause allows Congress to make new laws that are necessary and proper, but are not overtly written in the Constitution. Just like a rubber band, the elastic clause stretches the powers of the Legislative Branch, giving Congress more flexibility.

4. Constitutional Principles Checks and Balances Federalism Republicanism Separation of Powers • (Art. 1, Sec. 2, Cl. 1) • People living in the US vote for members who they want to represent their state in the House of Representatives. • It is republicanism because the public contributes their input into the government. • (Art. 1, Sec. 10, Cl. 1) • Only the federal government can “enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation”, “Coin money, emit Bills of Credit” etc. The states can not. • (Art. 1, Sec. 4, Cl. 1) • State governments have the power to choose the “Times, Places, and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives.” • This is federalism because it is granting powers solely to the State Legislatures. • (Art. 1, Sec. 8) • All of the clauses in Section 8 state the many powers given only to Congress; the Executive branch and Judicial branch do not obtain these powers. • The 3 Branches are all organized to possess different powers • Some powers given to the Legislative branch: • To declare war, provide a Navy, borrow Money • (At. 1, Sec. 7, Cl. 2) • The President has the right to veto a bill from Congress. • This is an example of the Executive branch checking the Legislative Branch, as the president is making sure that congress does not have too much power. • Also in this clause, if two-thirds of Congress strongly approve of a law, they can override the President’s veto. • This is an example of the Legislative branch checking the Executive Branch

5. Jesse – Lead Researcher Betty – Constitutional Historian Corey -Group Spokesperson AJ – Web Master