The U.S. Constitution
Senior Civics
February 22, 2013
“We the People of the United States…” These words are the start of the preamble to one of the most important documents in United States history. The U.S. constitution serves as a foundation to the U.S. way of life. It is clear that without this document the U.S. and its history would be completely different. The purpose of this article is to summarize the constitution’s 7 articles, the bill of rights, and to also inform you the reader of which amendment I think is the most important. Article 1 establishes the legislative branch. Section 1 establishes the name of the legislature to be congress, which was to be made up of two parts. Section 2 names the House of Representatives, the members must be at least 25 years of age and is elected by the people to serve for two years at a time. The number of representatives is based on state population, being that the bigger the population the more representatives will be given. The members choose the leader of the house. Section 3 creates and names the senate. Senators follow the same requirements as representatives except for the requirement that the members must be at least 30. Each state has only two senators no matter the size of population. The leader of the senate is the vice president, who only votes if there is a tie. Section 4 states each state may establish its own method of electing members of congress, it also mandates that congress must meet at least once per year. Section 5 makes it so there must be a minimum number of members present to consider it a meeting, members who don’t come to a meeting can be fined. Expulsion can happen, and must be kept with records of proceedings and votes. Section 6 establishes the payment of congress members. This section also says members cannot be detained while traveling to and from congress, the members also cannot hold any other office in the government while in service. Section 7 details how bills become laws. Bills for raising
February 22, 2013
“We the People of the United States…” These words are the start of the preamble to one of the most important documents in United States history. The U.S. constitution serves as a foundation to the U.S. way of life. It is clear that without this document the U.S. and its history would be completely different. The purpose of this article is to summarize the constitution’s 7 articles, the bill of rights, and to also inform you the reader of which amendment I think is the most important. Article 1 establishes the legislative branch. Section 1 establishes the name of the legislature to be congress, which was to be made up of two parts. Section 2 names the House of Representatives, the members must be at least 25 years of age and is elected by the people to serve for two years at a time. The number of representatives is based on state population, being that the bigger the population the more representatives will be given. The members choose the leader of the house. Section 3 creates and names the senate. Senators follow the same requirements as representatives except for the requirement that the members must be at least 30. Each state has only two senators no matter the size of population. The leader of the senate is the vice president, who only votes if there is a tie. Section 4 states each state may establish its own method of electing members of congress, it also mandates that congress must meet at least once per year. Section 5 makes it so there must be a minimum number of members present to consider it a meeting, members who don’t come to a meeting can be fined. Expulsion can happen, and must be kept with records of proceedings and votes. Section 6 establishes the payment of congress members. This section also says members cannot be detained while traveling to and from congress, the members also cannot hold any other office in the government while in service. Section 7 details how bills become laws. Bills for raising