OUTLINE: The Constitution of the United States

1. Preamble – purpose
2. Article I – The Three Branches of Gov’t
   1. §1 – the legislative branch: organization of Congress
   2. §2 – House of Representatives

                                                               i.      [1] – election provisions and term of members

                                                             ii.      [2] – qualification requirements

                                                            iii.      [3] – apportionment of representatives; direct taxes (see 14^th Am.)

                                                           iv.      [4] – how vacancies are filled

                                                             v.      [5] – choosing officers and impeachment provision

3. §3 – Senate

                                                               i.      [1] – composition and number of years per term (see 17^th Am.)

                                                             ii.      [3] – qualification requirements; how vacancies are filled (see 18^th Am.)

                                                            iii.      [4] – Vice-president as President of the Senate

                                                           iv.      [6]-[7] – trial and judgment for impeachment proceedings

4. §4 – elections and meetings  (see 20^th Am.)
5. §5 – legislative proceedings, rules, Congressional Record
6. §6 – compensation, privileges, restrictions (see 27^th Am.)
7. §7 – bills; how laws are passed
8. §8 – enumeration of powers delegated to Congress

                                                               i.      [1] – declaration of war

                                                             ii.      [3] – Commerce Clause

9. §9 – Powers Congress may NOT exercise (see 16^th Am. re.:taxes based on pop.)

                                                               i.      [2] – writ of habeas corpus clause

                                                             ii.      [3] – ex post facto clause

10. §10 – Powers which States may NOT exercise
2. Article II – Executive Branch
   1. §1 – qualifications

                                                               i.      [1] number of years in a term

                                                             ii.      [2]-[4] – electoral college (see 12^th Am.)

                                                            iii.      [5] – age and citizenship requirements

                                                           iv.      [6] – how vacancies are filled (see 25^th Am.)

2. §2 – role/function of the President

                                                               i.      [1] – commander in chief of the army, navy, and militia

                                                             ii.      [2] – treaties

3. §3 – State of the Union address; commission of officers
3. Article III – Judicial Branch
   1. §1 – creation of courts
   2. §2 – judicial power defined (see 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 11^th Ams.)
   3. §3 – treason

E.      Article IV – Relationship between the States

1. §1 – full faith and credit
2. §2 – privileges and immunities
3. §3 – admitting new states into the Union
4. §4 – republican form of gov’t
5. Article V – Amending the Constitution
6. Article VI – The National Debt; Supremacy Clause
7. Article VII – Ratification of the Constitution
8. Amendments – first 10 are the Bill of Rights
   1. 1^st Am. [1791] – freedom of speech, religion, press, peaceable assembly, petition for a redress of grievances
   2. 2^nd Am. [1791]– right to keep and bear arms, militia
   3. 3^rd Am. [1791]– no quartering of soldiers
   4. 4^th Am. [1791]– protections against unreasonable searches and seizures; requirement of probable cause; warrant requirement
   5. 5^th Am. [1791]– right against self-incrimination; takings; due process; grand jury indictments
   6. 6^th Am. [1791]– criminal prosecutions (speedy trial, impartial jury, witnesses, and assistance of counsel)
   7. 7^th Am. – Re-examination clause; right to a jury trial
   8. 8^th Am. – no excessive bail; no cruel/unusual punishment
   9. 9^th Am. – Constitution shall not be construed to deny rights retained by the people
   10. 10^th Am. – powers not delegated to the federal gov’t by the Constitution à reserved to States or to the people
   11. 11^th Am. [1795]–  limit on federal judicial power; does not extend to suits against the U.S. by citizens of a State or by Citizens/subjects of a foreign state
   12. 12^th Am. [1804]– how the electoral college votes for the president and vice-president
   13. 13^th Am. [1865]– abolition of slavery
   14. 14^th Am. [1868]

                                                               i.      §1 – due process and equal protection of law

                                                             ii.      §2 – counting whole numbers of persons (not just “free” persons) è slaves now considered legal citizens of U.S.

15. 15^th Am.[1870] – citizen’s rights shall not be abridged based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude; African-Americans given the right to vote.
16. 16^th Am. [1913]– Congressional power to lay and collect income taxes
17. 17^th Am. [1919]– each state shall determine how senators are chosen
18. 18^th Am. [1919]– prohibition of the mfr, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors
19. 19^th Am. [1920]– women’s right to vote
20. 20^th  Am. [1933] – term limits

                                                               i.      §1 – dates when the terms of President, Vice-President, Senators, and Representatives end

                                                             ii.      §2 – Congress shall assemble at least once every year

                                                            iii.      §3 – in the event of the President elect’s death, Vice-President elect shall become President

                                                           iv.      §4 – House of Representatives shall choose a President and Senate shall choose Vice-President

21. 21^st Am.[1933] – prohibition repealed
22. 22^nd Am. [1951]– term limits for the office of President (2 terms only)
23. 23^rd Am. [1961]– women can vote in D.C.; number of electors to be appointed for the District of Columbia (or district where the seat of the federal gov’t resides)
24. 24^th Am. [1964]– elimination of the poll tax; right to vote in primaries
25. 25^th Am. [1967]

                                                               i.      §1 – removal, death, resignation of the president

                                                             ii.      §2 – provisions in the event of a vacancy in the office of the vice-president

                                                            iii.      §3-§4 – president unable to discharge his duties

26. 26^th Am. [1971]– Voting age qualification (18 years old)
27. 27^th Am. – requirement that an election of representatives must have intervened before pay raises take into effect