Monday, September 18, 2017

Summary of the United States Constitution

By Douglas V. Gibbs
Author, Speaker, Instructor, Radio Host

Preamble: Introduction designed to proclaim who made the social contract, the reasons it was made, the results expected if it is followed, and a conclusion ordaining and establishing the document.  The Preamble is the only part of the Constitution that is not legally binding.


Article I: Legislative Branch
  • Section 1: Legislative Powers, Part I of Separation of Powers
  • Section 2: House of Representatives
  • Section 3: U.S. Senate
  • Section 4: Elections
  • Section 5: Congressional Rules and Procedures
  • Section 6: Compensation, Allowances and Limits regarding Holding Office
  • Section 7: Making Laws, Resolutions; Rules regarding Vetoes
  • Section 8: Expressly Enumerated Powers
  • Section 9: Prohibitions of the Federal Government
  • Section 10: Prohibitions of the States
Article II: Executive Branch
  • Section 1: Executive Powers, Part II of Separation of Powers, Establishment of Electors and Electoral College, Qualifications and Eligibility, Compensation, Oath or Affirmation
  • Section 2: Commander in Chief/War Powers, Duties, Reprieves and Pardons, Advice and Consent Powers of the U.S. Senate, Recess Appointments
  • Section 3: State of the Union, Relationship with Congress, Diplomatic and Foreign Relations, Faithfully Execute the Laws of the United States, Duty to Commission all Officers of the United States.
  • Section 4: Removal from Office on Impeachment Criteria
Article III: Judicial Branch
  • Section 1: Judicial Powers, Part III of Separation of Powers, establishment of the inferior courts, Appointment duration, compensation
  • Section 2: Judicial Powers expressly enumerated
  • Section 3: Treason
Article IV: Concerning the States
  • Section 1: Full Faith and Credit
  • Section 2: Equality under the law, Extradition
  • Section 3: New States, Territories
  • Section 4: Obligations of the Federal Government Regarding the States
Article V: Amendments
  • Amendment process includes proposal by Congress, and by the States through the method of convention
  • Lists Amendments not allowed
Article VI: Concerning the Federal Government
  • Debts under the Articles of Confederation
  • Supremacy Clause
  • Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Obligations
  • No Religious Tests as Qualification for any Public Office
Article VII: Ratification

Bill of Rights
  • Amendment I: Personal Freedoms
  • Amendment II: Gun Rights
  • Amendment III: No quartering of Soldiers
  • Amendment IV: Personal Legal Rights regarding Search and Seizure
  • Amendment V: Personal Judicial Rights, Due Process
  • Amendment VI: Personal Criminal Trial Rights
  • Amendment VII: Right of Trial by Jury in Civil Cases
  • Amendment VIII: Excessive Bail, Cruel and Unusual Punishments
  • Amendment IX: Other Rights not Enumerated
  • Amendment X: States Rights and Sovereignty

Later Amendments
  • Amendment XI: Lawsuits against States, Revision of Article III
  • Amendment XII: Presidential Elections

Civil War Amendments (Ratified directly following the War Between the States)
  • Amendment XIII: Abolition of Slavery in the United States
  • Amendment XIV:
    • Section 1: Citizenship, Equal Protection
    • Section 2: Readjustment of apportionment
    • Section 3: Consequences of Rebellion
    • Section 4: War Debt, Private Debt, incurred in rebellion
    • Section 5: Congressional Enforcement Provision
  • Amendment XV: Voting Rights of Emancipated Slaves

 Progressive Era Amendments
  • Amendment XVI: Direct Taxation without Apportionment
  • Amendment XVII: Change to Senatorial Elections from State Suffrage to Popular Vote

Modern Amendments
  • Amendment XVIII: Prohibition of Alcohol
  • Amendment XIX: Women’s Right to Vote
  • Amendment XX: Terms of Office, Congressional Assembly, Procedures in case of office vacancies
  • Amendment XXI: Repeal of Prohibition of Alcohol
  • Amendment XXII: Presidential Term Limit
  • Amendment XXIII: Washington D.C. Granted Electoral Votes
  • Amendment XXIV: Abolition of Poll Taxes
  • Amendment XXV: Presidential Succession and other Procedures Regarding Discharge of Powers and Duties of the Office of the President
  • Amendment XXVI: Change to Voting Age from 21 to 18
  • Amendment XXVII: Congressional Compensation (Originally proposed in 1789 as a part of the original Bill of Rights)
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

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