US Constitution Flashcards
Preamble
we the people… intro, lays out goals of framers
Article 1
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
creates Congress, details House and Senate, meeting yearly, states run elections, houses run themselves, revenue bills must originate in House, powers and restrictions of Congress, things states can’t do (make treaties, coin money)
Article 2
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
president, how presidential elections work, Commander in Chief, makes treaties, fills Executive Offices, State of the Union, can call Congress, can be impeached
Article 3
JUDICIAL BRANCH
Article 4
STATES, CITIZENSHIP, NEW STATES
full faith and credit, privileges and immunities, how to make new states, states get Republican government and protection
Article 5
AMENDMENT PROCESS
proposal (2/3 in congress of 2/3 in state convention)
ratification (3/4 state legislature or conventions)
Article 6
supremacy clause, paying debt from Articles of Confederation, government officials must obey laws, can’t require government officials to practice specific religion
Article 7
RATIFICATION
how to, required 9 states
1st Amendment
freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition government for redress of grievances
2nd Amendment
right to bear arms
3rd Amendment
no quartering of soldiers without consent
4th Amendment
no unreasonable search and seizure, no warrants without probable cause
5th Amendment
can’t be tried without being indicted, can’t be tried with different jury for the same crime (double jeopardy), can’t be forced to say anything (I plead the 5th), can’t be jailed/fined without proper conviction, government can’t take property without fair compensation (imminent domain)
6th Amendment
right to a speedy public trial, jury of peers, know charges, cross examine witnesses, and have counsel
7th Amendment
right to jury in a civil case
8th Amendment
no cruel and unusual punishment, no excessive bail/fines
9th Amendment
rights other than those explicitly stated in the Constitution
10th Amendment
anything not given to national gov and not denied to the states is up to the states (federalism)
11th Amendment
can’t sue another state in federal court
12th Amendment
new procedure for electing president and vice president, made VP requirements the same as Pres. requirements
13th Amendment
abolished slavery
14th Amendment
born or naturalized are citizens (included former slaves), representatives are proportional to population, can’t hold office if engaged in Rebellion, not paying rebel debt
15th Amendment
can’t deny right to vote based on race
16th Amendment
authorizes income tax
17th Amendment
senators to be elected by the people
18th Amendment
prohibition
19th Amendment
women’s right to vote (1919, ratified 1920)
20th Amendment
lays out presidential succession, sets dates for end of federal office terms
21st Amendment
repeal of prohibition
22nd Amendment
two term limit, if served more than two years of someone else’s term you can only run once
23rd Amendment
people in DC get the number of electoral votes that they’d have as a state
24th Amendment
abolition of poll tax, ratified 1964
25th Amendment
presidential succession, presidential disability, vacancies of vice president (president nominates, both houses confirm)
26th Amendment
right to vote at age 18 (ratified 1971, due to Vietnam war)
27th Amendment
Congress can’t raise their own pay
