Constitution in a Nutshell Preparation Packet

for the United States Constitution Exam

http://lsnhs.leesummit.k12.mo.us/twhiting/amgovt.htm

NAME ___________________________ Hr _____

Preamble

We the People of the

United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, 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.

The Preamble to the Untied States Constitution in the thesis and

introductory statement of the Constitution that explains the philosophy and purpose of this document.

Constitutional Structure

LIST THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION

Preamble ___________________

Article One ___________________

Article Two ___________________

Article Three ___________________

Article Four ___________________

Article Five ___________________

Article Six ___________________

Article Seven ___________________

Amendments ___________________

Preamble

Author of the Declaration of Independence Father of the United States Constitution

ARTICLE I (Structure)

House Number of Members ________ Term of Office ________ Head of House _________________________ # per state _________________________ Constitutional Plan _________________________ Qualifications _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ Role in Impeachment _________________________________ _________________________________ Specific Powers _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________

SenateNumber of Members ________ Term of Office ________ Head of Senate _________________________ 2nd Head _________________________ # per state _________________________ Constitutional Plan _________________________ Qualifications _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ Role in Impeachment _________________________________ _________________________________ Specific Powers _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________

ARTICLE I (Powers & Restrictions)

Financial Powers

Restrictions of Congress

Restrictions of the States

Joint Privileges

Non-Financial Powers

Judicial BranchHighest Court __________________ # of Members ________ Head of Branch _________________________ Who makes Lower _________________________ Courts? Length of Term _________________________ Types of Cases Original Appellate ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ Definition of Treason ____________________________________________________

ARTICLE II & III

Term of Office ________ Term Limit ________ Elected By… _________________________ Must take an _________________________ Qualifications _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ Specific Powers _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ Removal from Office _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________

President

MAP OF THE NINETY-FOUR (94) DISTRICT COURTS & ELEVEN (11) APPEALS CIRCUITS………

CIRCUIT ONE ME - NH - MA

RI - PR

CIRCUIT TWO NY - VT - CT

CIRCUIT THREE

PA - DE - NJ VI

CIRCUIT FOUR MD - VA - WV

NC - SC

CIRCUIT FIVE MS - LA - TX

CIRCUIT SIX MI - OH - TN

KY

CIRCUIT SEVEN WI - IL - IN

CIRCUIT EIGHT

ND - SD - NE MN - IA - MO

AR

CIRCUIT NINE CA - OR - WA ID - MT - NV AZ - AK - HI

GU - AS

CIRCUIT TEN WY - CO - UT KS - OK - NM

CIRCUIT ELEVEN

AL - GA - FL

FEDERAL CIRCUIT DC

Judicial System Geography

Judicial System Hierarchy

Supreme CourtWashington, DC

Appeals CourtsOne Appeals court for each of the 11 Circuits, One in the District of Columbia,

And One Federal Circuit for Specific Subject Matters

District CourtsEach Circuit has several District Courts. District Court is the lowest Federal Court. There is

at least ONE per state & territory of the United States. (American Samoa is the only territory without a Federal Court)

OTHER FEDERAL COURTS: Federal Bankruptcy Courts, Federal Military Courts, US Tax Court, Federal Claims Court, International Trade Court, Appeals for Veteran’ Claims, Armed

Forces Appeals,

Full Faith & Credit Clause: Art. IV Extradition: Art. IV New States: Art. IV Territories (non-states): Art. IV States’ Forms of Government: Art. VI Supremacy Clause: Art. VI

ARTICLE IV & VI

Amendment Process

CONGRESSIONAL METHOD CONVENTION METHOD AMENDMENT HISTORY

N

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g j

o

L Wu G

w

O

HOUSE

Con

gres

sion

al M

etho

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SENATE f

tJ

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STATES

__________

d A

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eh v

Convention Method

V

UD

M

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ARTICLE V

1st Amendment 2nd Amendment 3rd Amendment 4th Amendment 5th Amendment 6th Amendment 7th Amendment 8th Amendment 9th Amendment 10th Amendment

Bill of Rights

Other Amendments (Selected)

11th Amendment 12th Amendment 13th Amendment 14th Amendment 15th Amendment 16th Amendment 17th Amendment 18th Amendment 19th Amendments 20th Amendment 21st Amendments

Other Amendments (Selected)

22nd Amendment 23rd Amendment 24th Amendment 25th Amendment 26th Amendment 27th Amendment

House of Representatives

HOUSE BEGINS BILLS ABOUT

House Committee Senate Committee

Senate

PRESIDENT

SIGN / APPROVE

VETO

POCKET VETO

Conference Committee

Federal Lawmaking

dWy

j

pT

oD

LC

cALL VOTES ARE COUNTED IN EACH STATE

bF K

A NO

N Formula HP+S=EV

S=2 H>1

Missouri 9+2=11

Electoral Votes

*Except in Nebraska & Maine

-

Electoral Votes are counted…the candidate with a majority of votes wins. If no candidate has a majority (greater than 270 votes), the President will be decided by the House of Representatives and the Vice President will be chosen by the Senate. In both houses, each state

will have only one vote, regardless of representation.

Thanks to the 23rd Amendment to the US Constitution, the District of

Columbia is allowed to have THREE electoral votes and the residents there

are allowed to vote for President.

Electoral Votes e cast in State apitols…then nt to Senate

arCse

t fP v

w G

Electoral College

Impeachment

Who can be impeached?

House of Representatives Senate

Punishments

1st

2nd

3rd

Presidential Succession

1. ________________________________

2. ________________________________

3. ________________________________

4. ________________________________

Principles of American Gov’t

What is Popular Sovereignty? What is the Principle of Limited Government? What is the Principle of Federalism? What is the Principle of Majority Rules, Minority Rights? What is the Principle of Judicial Review?

Ch

eck

s &

Bal

ance

s

FederalismPOWER:

POWER:

POWER:

POWER:

Odds & Ends

Foundation of American Government Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation 1 2 3 4 5 6

Odds & Ends

Declaration of Independence Constitutional Convention Constitution Structure

Political Leadership

President of the United States

Vice President of the United States

Speaker of the House of Representatives

President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate

Majority Leader of the House of Representatives

Minority Leader of the House of Representatives

Majority Leader of the United States Senate

Minority Leader of the United States Senate

Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court

Missouri Senator

Missouri Senator

Representative of the 5th Congressional District

Notes…