U.S. Constitution study guide: Difference between revisions

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'''[[Constitution (US)|Constitution]] of the United States Popup Study Guide'''

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'''Notes on the format and use of the Constitution Popup Study Guide''':

'''Notes on the format and use of the Constitution Popup Study Guide''':

• hover over '''{{#tip-text: underlined/ bolded words|explanations and definitions will show in these hover boxes}}''' for explanations and definitions

• the Constitution's '''{{#tip-text:Article, Section & Amendment headings|the Constitution's "Article", "Section" and "Amendment" headings in the table of contents will include "hover" and parenthetical information about their purposes (parenthetical information here is not in the original text)}}''' "Article", "Section" and "Amendment" headings in the table of contents will also include "hover" and parenthetical information about their purposes

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and so the description will show up in the Table of Contents}}''' that are not from the text of the Constitution

• note that the table of contents entries are hyperlinks and therefore are underlined by default

• if the hover box text is cut off in your browser view, scroll your browser up/ down to reposition it

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• Additional sources":

• '''Additional sources''':

•• [https://constitution.congress.gov/ Constitution Annotated from Congress.gov]

•• [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_United_States Constitution of the United States (wikipedia)]

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••• the U.S. Constitution study guide provides easy-to-consume definitions, explanations and background information upon mouse hover of '''bolded words or phrases'''

'''Notes on the adoption of the Constitution''':

'''Notes on the adoption of the Constitution''':

• Articles I through VII are the original Constitution as adopted by the Constitutional Convention of 1787 on '''{{#tip-text:September 15, 1787|known as "Constitution Day"}}'''

the '''{{#tip-text:Congress of the Confederation|the Congress and national government as operating under the authority of the "Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union"

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•• George Washington became the first President on April 30, 1789

•• a series of Amendments, known as the "Bill of Rights", were transmitted to the states for ratification on September 25, 1789

•• most of the Bill of Rights was fully ratified by the states and officially became Amendments 1-10 on December 15, 1791

•• most of the Bill of Rights was fully ratified by the states and officially became Amendments 1-10 on December 15, 1791

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~~ ~~

<big>The following is the text of the '''{{#tip-text: Constitution|a constitution =

* fundamental law

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* the Constitution has been amended 27 times, with the first ten amendments being known as the "Bill of Rights"

* the U.S. Constitution was adopted by the Constitutional Convention of 1787, and went into effect once it was ratified by nine of the thirteen original states.

* the new government it formed was opened on March 4, 1789}}''' of the United States</big>

* the new government it formed was opened on March 4, 1789}}''' of the United States</big>

• Please note:

•• '''{{#tip-text: hover your mouse over bolded text|hover for definitions, notes & explanations}}''' for popup definitions, notes and explanations

•• Section headers that appear in the table of contents are in '''bold''' but do not have hover popup notes

•• [bracketed words] are not in the original text but are there to provide context to Article and Section headers and for hover popup notes on each Section

~~== WE THE PEOPLE (the "Preamble" states general purpose of the Constitution)==~~

'''{{#tip-text: The Preamble overview| The Preamble:

== WE THE PEOPLE [the "Preamble" states general purpose of the Constitution]==

'''{{#tip-text: [The Preamble overview]| The Preamble:

* the Constitution's 1st paragraph is known as the "Preamble"

* it states the Constitution's general purposes

* and proclaims that its authority is derived from the people}}'''

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WE THE PEOPLE '''{{#tip-text: in Order to form a more perfect Union|"A more perfect Union" =

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** however, Article I, Section 8 states it as an enumerated power of Congress}}''' and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

== Article 1. (establishes the structures, duties, powers and limits of the legislative branch, i.e. the Congress)==

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== Article 1. [establishes the structures, duties, powers and limits of the legislative branch, i.e. the Congress]==

=== Section 1. (Establishes the House of Representatives) ===

=== Section 1. [Establishes the House of Representatives] ===

'''{{#tip-text: Section 1 overview.| Establishes the House of Representatives as one of two "houses" of Congress (bicameral legislature; other house = Senate)}}'''

'''{{#tip-text: [Section 1 overview.]| Establishes the House of Representatives as one of two "houses" of Congress (bicameral legislature; other house = Senate)}}'''

All '''{{#tip-text: legislative Powers| law-making, from the Latin, "legis," for "law"}}''' herein granted shall be vested in a '''{{#tip-text: Congress|a "congress" =

* a gathering, usually of a legislative or organizing body

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** the 2021-2023 Congress is the 117th}}''' of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

=== Section 2. (composition of the House & requirements for office) ===

=== Section 2. [composition of the House & requirements for office] ===

''' {{#tip-text: Section 2 overview. |Section 2. defines the composition of and requirements for election to the House of Representatives, including:

''' {{#tip-text: [Section 2. overview]|Section 2. defines the composition of and requirements for election to the House of Representatives, including:

* how the members of the House will be elected

* how representation will be calculated from the population ("apportionment") via a census

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The Times, Places, and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of choosing Senators.

The Congress '''{{#tip-text: shall assemble at least once in every Year|

The Congress '''{{#tip-text: shall assemble at least once in every Year|Requirement to meet at least once a year:

* the President may "call" a "special session" of Congress

* the Constitution requires that Congress meet at least once every year

* however, the Constitution requires that Congress ~~meet at least once every year~~

* the President may "call" a "special session" of Congress if Congress is not "in session"

** = protection against abuse by a majority or a President who might keep Congress from meeting for some political advantage}}''', and such Meeting shall be on the '''{{#tip-text: first Monday in December, unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day|The 20th amendment set the beginning date of each Congress at the 3rd day of January (unless set differently by law), changing the dates set the original constitution and by the 12th amendment.}}'''.

* = protection against abuse by a majority or a President who might keep Congress from meeting for some political advantage}}''', and such Meeting shall be on the '''{{#tip-text: first Monday in December, unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day|The 20th amendment set the beginning date of each Congress at the 3rd day of January (unless set differently by law), changing the dates set the original constitution and by the 12th amendment.}}'''.

=== Section 5. (independence of each house of Congress) ===

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No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.

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== Article II (establishes the Executive branch and its powers, limits, and duties) ==

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* Article I, Section 2 (House) gives the power of Impeachment (making the charge for removal) to the House by a simple majority vote

* Article I, Section 3 (Senate) gives the Senate "sole Power to try all Impeachments" with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to preside as judge and conviction requires two-thirds (super-majority) vote (of "Members present")}}''' for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other High Crimes and Misdemeanors.

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==~~{{#tip~~-~~text~~: Article III ~~|}}~~==

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== Article III (Judiciary) ==

==={{#tip-text: Section 1.|}}~~===~~

=== Section 1. (Establishes the Judicial branch) ===

'''{{#tip-text:Section 1. Overview|Section 1:

* creates a Supreme Court

* gives Congress the power to create lower courts

* sets terms of office for judges as life, i.e., "during good Behaviour"

* protects against Congress taking away or reducing judicial salaries

* = an important separation of power which protects the Judiciary from interference from Congress by changing salaries}}'''

The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.=== The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.

==={{#tip-text: Section 2.|}}

==={{#tip-text: Section 2.|}} ===

The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States,=== and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority; to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls; to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction; to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party; to Controversies between two or more States; between a State and Citizens of another state; between Citizens of different States; between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.

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The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution,=== or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One Thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.

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==Article VI==

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* = a similar oath to that required of the president

* this oath is required of members of Congress and of state legislatures, as well as all judicial and executive branch officials (in Article VI)}}'''; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

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=={{#tip-text: Article VII|}}==

~~===~~The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.~~===~~

The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.

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== Amendments to the Constitution ==

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== Bill of Rights (Amendments 1-10) ==

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The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people===

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{{#tip-text: Amendment |

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{{#tip-text: Amendment |

}}'''

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