Article I: Legislative Branch
Section 1: Congress
	Legislature consists of a Congress, which is made up of a House of Representatives and a Senate.
Section 2: House of Representatives
1.	Elected every 2 years.
2.	Must be at least 25 years old, US citizens for 7 years, & residents of the state they represent.
3.	Number of representatives for each state is based on population.
a)	The number of Representatives cannot exceed 1 for every 30,000 citizens.
b)	A census is required every 10 years.
4.	Vacancies in the House are filled by special elections called by the governor of the state.
5.	THEY HAVE THE SOLE POWER OF IMPEACHMENT (It doesn't specify HOW, but they do it with a simple majority vote).
Section 3: Senate
1.	Two senators from each state.
2.	1/3 of the Senate is elected every 2 years, for 6-year terms (under the 17th Amendment, governors can appoint vacant Senate seats).
3.	Must be 30 years old, citizens for 9 years, & residents of the state they represent.
4.	Vice President is the President of the Senate, and may ONLY vote in the event of a tie.
5.	A President Pro Tempore or any other Senate officer may be appointed within and by the Senate.
6.	The Senate is the ONLY body that can try impeachments
a)	When the President is impeached, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court will preside.
b)	A 2/3 vote is needed for conviction on any impeachment.
7.	If a conviction is reached, the Senate may only permanently kick a defendant out of office.
a)	Defendant is also subject to criminal prosecution, if applicable.
Section 4: Both Houses
1.	Election regulations set by the states, but Congress may pass laws to override state regulations.
2.	Congress must meet at least once a year. (Amendment 20 sets it at January 3). 
Section 5: The Houses Separately
1.	Organization
a)	Each house can decide whether its members have been elected fairly or not.
b)	A Quorum (majority) is required to do business. 
c)	Members may also be COMPELLED to attend in cases of absence.
2. They can set the rules of their meetings, punish people for disorderly behavior, and (with a 2/3 vote), expel a member.
Section 6: Privileges and Restrictions
1.	They get paid a base salary, and are granted extra money for expenses.
a)	Immune from arrest except in cases of treason, felony, or breach of the peace while Congress is in session.
b)	Can't be sued or arrested for anything they say while in Congress.
2.	All members of Congress cannot:
a)	hold any other office while serving
b)	resign and then accept federal jobs that were created during their term in Congress.
Section 7: Method of Passing Laws
1.	Revenue bills HAVE to originate in the House of Representatives, but the Senate can propose changes in them.
2. Process for bills to become laws:
a)	After passing the House and Senate, they go to the President
b)	If he signs it, it becomes a law.
c)	If he vetoes it, it goes back to the house that it started in.
d)	If that happens, the veto can be overridden by a 2/3 vote of both houses of Congress.
e)	If the President holds it for 10 days (excluding Sundays) while Congress is in session, it becomes a law.
f)	If those 10 days are within the last 10 days of that session, the law does NOT pass (pocket veto).
3.	Every "order, resolution, or vote" (something that HAS to have a concurring vote by both houses) MUST either be signed or vetoed by the President.
Section 8: Powers Granted to Congress: [DELEGATED POWERS]
1.	To levy and collect UNIFORM taxes to pay debts and for defense and general welfare of the nation.
2.	To borrow money
3.	To regulate interstate and foreign trade
4.	To set up uniform laws on immigration and bankruptcy
5.	To coin money and fix standards on weights and measures
6.	To punish counterfeiters
7.	To establish post offices and post roads
8.	To issue patents and copyrights--for a limited time
9.	To set up a system of federal courts BELOW THE SUPREME COURT
10.	To define and punish piracy 
11.	To declare war
12.	To raise and support armies FOR NO LONGER THAN TWO YEARS
13.	To provide and maintain a navy
14.	To make rules and regs for the armed forces
15.	To call out the militia [NATIONAL GUARD?] to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions
16.	To help states maintain their militias
17.	To govern the capital, and other federal property
18.	"TO MAKE ALL LAWS WHICH SHALL BE NECESSARY AND PROPER FOR CARRYING INTO EXECUTION THE FOREGOING POWERS, AND ALL OTHER POWERS VESTED BY THIS CONSTITUTION IN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES, OR IN ANY DEPARTMENT OR OFFICER THEREOF."
Section 9: Powers Forbidden to the Federal Government (Congress CANNOT):
1.	Suspend the writ of habeas corpus, "UNLESS WHEN IN CASES OF REBELLION OR INVASION THE PUBLIC SAFETY MAY REQUIRE IT."
2.	No bills of attainder or ex post facto laws
3.	No direct tax except in proportion to population
4.	No taxes on exports
5.	No laws passed to favor trade in one state over another
6.	"NO MONEY SHALL BE DRAWN FROM THE TREASURY, BUT IN CONSEQUENCE OF APPROPRIATIONS MADE BY LAW; AND A REGULAR STATEMENT AND ACCOUNT OF THE RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES OF ALL PUBLIC MONEY SHALL BE PUBLISHED FROM TIME TO TIME."
7.	No granting titles of nobility

Section 10: Powers Forbidden to the States
1.	"No state shall . . ."
a)	make treaties or alliances
b)	coin money
c)	pass bills of attainder (condemns and punishes without a trial)
d)	pass ex post facto laws
e)	pass laws excusing people from carrying out their lawful obligations
f)	Grant titles of nobility
2.	No state can lay any kind of tax on goods going through their territory except for inspection
a)	Also: Those taxes will go straight to the federal Treasury
b)	Any laws of this kind will be subject to review and control by Congress
3.	No state may keep a military in peacetime, deal with another nation unless Congress OKs it, or go to war UNLESS INVADED.

Article II: Executive Branch
Section 1: President, Vice President
1.	President has all executive power: 4 year term
2.	State legislatures pick ELECTORS who then elect the President and Vice-President
a)	Number = senators + representatives
b)	THEY CAN'T HOLD "AN OFFICE OF TRUST OR PROFIT UNDER THE UNITED STATES"
3.	How to elect the President and Vice-President: SEE AMENDMENT 12 . . . 
4.	Congress determines the time of choosing the electors who give their votes, NOWADAYS--ELECTIONS ARE HELD ON THE FIRST TUESDAY AFTER THE FIRST MONDAY IN NOVEMBER.  THE ELECTORS' VOTES ARE CAST ON THE FIRST MONDAY AFTER THE SECOND WEDNESDAY IN DECEMBER.
5.	The President MUST be:
a)	a natural-born citizen of the United States
b)	at least 35 years old
c)	US resident for at least 14 years
6.	If the Prez leaves office for whatever reason, then the VP takes over, & if they're both out, Congress can provide laws for choosing another.
7.	Prez. gets a salary, and it can't change while he's in office. (it’s currently $400,000 + $50,000 for expenses)
8.	Before he can take over, the President must take this oath: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."
Section 2: Powers of the President
1.	Military (and other) Powers:
a)	He's CINC of the armed forces
b)	"May require the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive departments, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices . . ."
c)	May grant pardons except in cases of impeachment.
2.	About treaties and the power of appointment:
a)	Can make treaties "with the advice and consent of the Senate (by a 2/3 vote)" 
b)	Can appoint "ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls, judges of the Supreme Court and all other officers of the United States, whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by law; but the congress may by law vest the appointment of such inferior officers, as they think proper, IN THE PRESIDENT ALONE, IN THE COURTS OF LAW, OR IN THE HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS."
3.	If Congress isn't in session, the Prez. may appoint temporary officials in the interim.
Section 3: Duties of the President
1.	"He shall from time to time . . ."
a)	Send or read a State of the Union report at each opening session of Congress
b)	Call special sessions of Congress "ON EXTRAORDINARY OCCASIONS"
c)	Receives ambassadors and other public ministers
d)	"Take care that the laws be faithfully executed"
e)	Has to commission all military officers
Section 4: Impeachment
President, VP, "and all civil officers of the United States" can be impeached for treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.
(see also Art. 1, Sect. 3, clauses 6-7)

Article III: Judicial Branch
Section 1: Federal Courts
1)	Judicial power goes to a Supreme Court and other federal courts that Congress establishes.
2)	Federal appointments are for life, but they may be removed by impeachment.
Section 2: Jurisdiction of the Federal Courts
1)	Federal courts may try cases involving:
a)	The Constitution
b)	Federal Laws
c)	Treaties
d)	Maritime Laws
e)	The U.S. Government itself
f)	Foreign Diplomatic officials
g)	Two or more State Governments
h)	Citizens of Different States
i)	State (or its citizens) v. foreign countries or citizens of foreign countries
2)	The Supreme Court tries these cases directly--ORIGINAL JURISDICTION:
a)	Cases involving ambassadors or other foreign officials
b)	Cases involving states
c)	ANY OTHER CASES ARE APPELLATE JURISDICTION (PASSED UP TO THEM ON AN APPEAL)
3)	Every person accused of a federal crime is tried BY JURY, except for impeachment
a)	The trial must be held in the state that the crime took place (THIS IS EXPANDED BY AMENDMENTS 5-7)
Section 3: Treason
1)	Defined: "TREASON AGAINST THE UNITED STATES SHALL CONSIST ONLY IN LEVYING WAR AGAINST THEM, OR IN ADHERING TO THEIR ENEMIES, GIVING THEM AID AND COMFORT."
a)	Must have two witnesses to the act, OR the defendant confesses in court.
b)	Punishment: Up to Congress, but it doesn't extend to the defendant's family.

Article IV: Relations of the States to Each Other
Section 1: Official Acts
1)	ALL STATES ARE REQUIRED TO GIVE "FULL FAITH AND CREDIT" TO EACH OTHER'S LAWS, RECORDS, AND LEGAL DECISIONS.
Section 2: Privileges of Citizens
1)	Each state must treat its citizens as it treats its own citizens.
2)	EXTRADITION: IF A PERSON COMMITS A CRIME, FLEES, & IS CAUGHT IN ANOTHER STATE, THAT PERSON MUST BE EXTRADITED BACK TO THE STATE WHERE THE CRIME OCCURRED.
Section 3: New States and Territories
1)	Can't divide up an existing State w/o the state legislature's AND Congress's permission.
2)	Congress may make laws for territories and federal property.
Section 4: Guarantees and Protection for the States
1)	Each state is guaranteed:
a)	A republican form of government
b)	Protection from invasion
c)	Against domestic violence (if requested by the state legislature or executive, BUT ONLY THEN if the state legislature is not in session).

Article V: How Amendments are Made
1)	PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT OR A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION: By 2/3 vote in both houses of Congress, OR if 2/3 of the states request constitutional conventions.
2)	RATIFYING ANY AMENDMENT:
A)	By legislatures in 3/4 of the states
B)	by conventions in 3/4 of the states.
3)	No amendment can deprive a state of equal suffrage in the Senate

Article VI: General Provisions
1)	The Federal Gov't will take on all debts assumed before this Constitution's ratification.
2)	THE CONSTITUTION IS THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND! (no other laws may conflict with them).
3)	All federal and state officials must promise to support the Constitution.
a)	RELIGION MAY NOT BE A QUALIFICATION FOR FEDERAL OFFICE.

Article VII: Ratification
	ALL IT TOOK WAS NINE STATES TO RATIFY IT, AND IT HAPPENED, ON SEP.17, 1787.

Amendment 1: Freedom of Speech, Press, Assembly, and Religion (1791)

Amendment 2: Right to Keep and Bear Arms (1791)

Amendment 3: Quartering of Soldiers (1791)

Amendment 4: Search and Seizure: Warrants (1791)
	-Unreasonable searches and seizures
-Warrants only issued upon PROBABLE CAUSE, ISSUED BY A JUDGE

Amendment 5: Rights of Persons Accused of a Crime (1791)
	-Must be indicted (or accused), by a grand jury, in cases of "a capital, or otherwise infamous, crime."
	-No double jeopardy
	-No testifying against oneself: "Taking the Fifth"
-Can't be deprived of life, liberty, or property except by DUE PROCESS OF LAW
-Government can't take your property without paying a fair price for it.

Amendment 6: Right to a Speedy Trial (1791)
	-Accused WILL have a speedy trial
-They will be trials by jury
-Right to an attorney
-Accused may question anyone giving testimony against them
-Accused may question witnesses

Amendment 7: Jury Trial in Civil Cases (1791)
	-Jury trials are guaranteed when the amount in question exeeds $20.

Amendment 8: Excessive Bail or Punishment (1791)
	-No "cruel and unusual punishment"
	-No excessive bails or fines

Amendment 9: Powers Reserved to the People (1791)
-JUST BECAUSE THERE ARE CERTAIN RIGHTS LISTED, THEY AREN'T THE ONLY ONES, NOR CAN THEY BE RESTRICTED.

Amendment 10: Powers Reserved to the States (1791)
	-ALL POWERS NOT GIVEN TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE GIVEN TO THE STATES OR THE PEOPLE.

Amendment 11: Suits against States (1798)
	-If a person sues a state, it is tried in a state court--NOT A FEDERAL COURT!

Amendment 12: Election of President and Vice-President (1804)
	-The Procedure:
1)	Electors meet in their respective states, and vote for Pres. And VP, naming who gets which office
a)	At least one elector can't be from that state
2)	Results are sealed, signed by the electors, and transmitted to the President of the Senate
3)	In front of the whole Congress, the President of the Senate counts the votes
a)	The candidate with a majority of electoral votes becomes the President
b)	If there's no majority, then the House of Representatives chooses the President.
1)	Each state Congressional delegation has one vote
2)	Must have at least 1 member from 2/3 of the states present to do this--QUORUM
3)	Majority vote decides the President
c)	The VP candidate with the majority of electoral votes becomes Vice-President
1)	If no majority, then there's a runoff between the two highest candidates in the Senate--majority winner in this case becomes VP.
2)	QUORUM TO DO THIS: 2/3 of Senators present
3)	IF THE VP CANDIDATE IS CONSTITUTIONALLY INELIGIBLE, HE/SHE CAN'T BE ELECTED.

Amendment 13: Slavery Abolished (1865)

Amendment 14: Rights of Citizens (1868)
1)	Citizenship is defined as people being born in the U.S.
a)	No state can make laws that deny equal protection and privileges
b)	The Bill of Rights apply to state governments as well as the Federal Government
2)	If a state denies the right to vote to any eligible citizen, its representation in Congress may be reduced proportionally.
3)	Certain former Confederates were barred from holding political office.
4)	About paying off Civil War debt
a)	USA debts are to be paid
b)	CSA debts are declared illegal and won't be paid by the USA
c)	No reparations for losing slaves will be paid
5)	Congress may enforce this by appropriate laws.

Amendment 15: Right of Suffrage (1870)
1)	Can't be denied on the basis of "race, color, or previous condition of servitude."
2)	Congress will enforce this with appropriate legislation

Amendment 16: Taxes on Income (1913)
"The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and WITHOUT REGARD TO ANY CENSUS OR ENUMERATION."

Amendment 17: Election of Senators (1913)
1)	To be elected directly by the people of each state

Amendment 18: National Prohibition (1919)--REPEALED BY THE 21ST AMENDMENT!
	
Amendment 19: Women's Suffrage (1920)
	-Voting can't be denied on the basis of sex

Amendment 20: "Lame Duck" Amendment (1933)
1)	Terms of President and VP end at noon on January 20
a)	Terms of Senators and Representatives end at noon on January 3

2)	Congressional Sessions will:
a)	happen at LEAST once a year, and the first meeting will be at noon on January 3, UNLESS they appoint a different day by law.

3)	Presidential Succession
a)	If the President-Elect should die before Jan. 20 or fail to qualify, the Veep takes over TEMPORARILY until a new President is decided upon by Congress.

4)	Filling Presidential Vacancies
a)	When the House has to choose the President or the Vice President, and either one dies, the House can choose either one as they see fit

Amendment 21: National Prohibition Repealed (1933)
1)	18th Amendment is repealed
2)	STATES MAY BAN ALCOHOL IF THEY WANT

Amendment 22: Two-Term Limit for Presidents (1951)
A President is limited to two full terms.  If a Vice-President (or someone acting as President) has already served more than two years as President, this person may be elected only once.

Amendment 23: Presidential Electors for the District of Columbia (1961)
	Washington, D.C. gets electoral votes equivalent to what it would be if it were a state.

Amendment 24: Prohibition of National Poll Taxes for National Elections (1964)
	Can't have poll taxes (taxes to be able to vote).

Amendment 25: Presidential Disability and Succession (1967)
	1) If the President dies while in office, then the VP becomes President

2)	If there's a vacancy in the office of VP, then the President can nominate one, who takes office after a majority vote by both houses of Congress.

3)	If the President feels he cannot do his duties, he sends a letter to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House, the VP takes over, and does so until the President can go back to work.

4)	If the VP and a majority of the Cabinet members feel that the President isn't able to carry on his duties, they notify Congress in a written message, and the VP takes over as acting President.  When the President feels ready to resume his duties, he lets Congress know.  But if the VP and a majority of the Cabinet do not agree, then Congress must decide who is President by a 2/3 vote within 21 days.

Amendment 26: Voting Age Lowered to 18 (1971)

Amendment 27: No member of Congress can receive a pay raise until the next session of Congress.  (1992)