The Constitution

1. The Constitution �We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.� ~Preamble of the Constitution ~

2. The Outline Article I: Legislative Branch Article II: Executive Branch Article III: Judicial Branch Article IV: Relations among the States Article V: Amendment Procedure Article VI: Supremacy Clause, et al. Article VII: Ratification Procedure 27 Amendments 1-10: Bill of Rights

3. Article I: House of Representatives 435 members Apportioned by population Elected every 2 years Congressmen/women must be: At least 25 years old Citizen for at least 7 years Citizen of the state to be represented 13 Representatives from New Jersey

4. Article I: Senate 100 members 2 from each state 6 year terms 1/3 of Senate elected every 2 years Senators must be: At least 30 years old A citizen for at least 9 years Resident of the state represented

5. NJ Senators: Frank R. Lautenberg (D) Robert Menendez (D)

6. Article I: Leadership Presiding officer Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R) Floor Leaders Majority leader (R) Minority leader (D) Presiding officers President of Senate Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Breaks ties Floor Leaders Majority leader (R) Minority leader (D)

7. Article I: Powers 17 Enumerated/ Expressed powers Implied powers Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 Necessary and Proper Clause Elastic Clause House of Representatives Must originate all money bills Senate Confirms appointments Ratifies treaties (2/3 necessary) �Little Bill of Rights� Habeas Corpus Bill of Attainder Ex Post Facto

8. Article I: Impeachment Presidents, Judges, etc. House impeaches Similar to indictment Majority necessary Hearing Chief Justice of SCOTUS presides Senate acts as jury 2/3 necessary to removed from office 2 Presidents have been impeached None convicted

9. How a Bill Becomes a Law

10. Article II: The Presidency Commander-in-chief of armed forces Chief diplomat Appointment SCOTUS Justices Cabinet members Pardon The President must be: At least 35 years old Natural born citizen Resident for 14 years Powers Veto May be overridden by a 2/3 majority in both houses of Congress If President does not veto bill within 10 days, automatically becomes law

11. Article II: The Cabinet State Condoleezza Rice Defense Donald Rumsfeld Justice (Attorney General) Alberto Gonzales Homeland Security Michael Chertoff

12. Article III: Supreme Court Judicial Review SCOTUS may declare laws unconstitutional Justices Appointed by POTUS Confirmed by Senate Removal of justices Resignation Impeachment Death 9 Justices William Rehnquist Chief Justice

13. Articles IV, V, & VI Article IV: The States Full Faith and Credit Extradition Article V: Amendments Proposed By Congress (2/3 majority in both Houses) By new national convention called by 2/3 of states Ratified By 3/4 of state legislatures By 3/4 of special state conventions Article VI No religious requirements Supremacy Clause

14. Article V: Amendments

15. Bill of Rights 1st Amendment Religion No establishment Free exercise Speech Press Assembly Petition 2nd Amendment Right to bear arms 3rd Amendment No quartering of troops

16. Bill of Rights 7th Amendment Right to trial by jury 8th Amendment No excessive bail No cruel or unusual punishment 9th Amendment Other rights not mentioned 10th Amendment Powers reserved to the states