WORDS WE LIVE BY

BY
CAMERON STEWART
DECEMBER 11, 2014
RE-TAKE SUMMATIVE

Part 1 US Constitution
7 Articles of the Constitution
Article I The Legislative Branch. The purpose of the legislative body is to make
laws. It is split into two, the House of Representatives and the Senate. Congress is
a legislative body that has the power to draft and pass legislation, borrow money
for the nation, declare war and raise a military. It also has the power to check and
balance the other two federal branches.

Article II The Executive Branch. This branch of the government manages the
day-to-day operations of government through many federal departments and
agencies, such as the Department of Treasury. At the head of this branch is the
nationally elected President of the United States. The president swears an oath to
faithfully execute the responsibilities as president and to preserve, protect and
defend the Constitution of the United States. Its powers include making treaties
with other nations, appointing federal judges, department heads and Ambassadors,
and determining how to best run the country and run military operations.

Article III
The Judicial
Branch. Article
III outlines the powers of the federal court system. Determines that the court of last
resort is the US Supreme Court and that the US Congress has the power to
determine the size and scope of those courts below it. All judges are appointed for

life unless they resign due to bad behaviour. Those facing charges are to be tried
and judged by a jury of their peers.

Article IV The States. This article defines the relationship between the states and
the federal government. The federal government guarantees a republican form of
government in each state, protects the nation and the people from foreign or
domestic violence, and determines how new states can join the Union. It also
suggests that all the states are equal to each other and should respect each others

laws and the judicial decisions made by other state court systems.

Article V Amendment. Future generations can amend the Constitution if the

society so requires it. Both the states and Congress have the power to initiate the

amendment process.

Article VI - Debts, Supremacy, Oaths. Article VI determines that the US

Constitution, and all laws made from it are the supreme Law of the Land, and all
officials, whether members of the state legislatures, Congress, judiciary or the

Executive have to swear an oath to the Constitution.

Article VII Ratification. This article says all those people who signed the
Constitution, representing the original 13 states and the Constitution takes place
when nine of the thirteen have ratified the Constitution.

The Bill of Rights

Amendment I: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,

or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of
the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the
Government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment II: A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free
State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
Amendment III: No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house,
without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be
prescribed by law.
Amendment IV: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses,
papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be
violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath
or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons
or things to be seized.

Amendment V: No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise

infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in
cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in

time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence
to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal
case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property,
without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use,
without just compensation.
Amendment VI: In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a
speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the
crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously
ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to
be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for
obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his
defence.
Amendment VII: In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall
exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried
by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than
according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment VIII: Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines
imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment IX: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be
construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X: 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.

The Three Branches of Government

Executive Branch:Headed by the president. The president carries out
federal laws and recommends new ones, directs national defense and
foreign policy, and performs ceremonial duties. Powers include
directing government, commanding the Armed Forces, dealing with
international powers, acting as chief law enforcement officer, and
vetoing laws.

Legislative Branch:Headed by Congress, which includes the House of

Representatives and the Senate. The main task of these two bodies is to
make the laws. Its powers include passing laws, originating spending
bills (House), impeaching officials (Senate), and approving treaties
(Senate).
Judicial Branch:Headed by the Supreme Court. Its powers include
interpreting the Constitution, reviewing laws, and deciding cases
involving states' rights.

Separation of Power
The reason why the Separation of Power is important is because it stops from one
branch having all the power. It also promotes each branch the freedom to act
independently.
Separation of powers, therefore, means the division of government responsible into
distinct branches to limit any one branch from exercising the core functions of
another. The intent is to prevent the concentration of power and provide for checks
and balances.

Checks and Balances

By creating three branches of government, the delegates built a "check and
balance" system into the Constitution. This system was built so that no one branch
of the government could become too powerful.
Each branch is restrained by the other two in several ways. For example, the
president may veto a law passed by Congress. Congress can override that veto with
a vote of two-thirds of both houses. Another example is that the Supreme Court
may check Congress by declaring a law unconstitutional. The power is balanced by
the fact that members of the Supreme Court are appointed by the president. Those
appointments have to be approved by Congress.

Civil War Amendments 13, 14, and 15

The 13th Amendment (made in 1865) declared that slavery is
not allowed in any state or territory under the government of
the U.S.A.

The 14th amendment (made in 1868) declared that all people born or naturalized in
the United States are subject to its laws and cannot be denied any of the rights and
privileges declared in the Constitution.

The 15th Amendment (made in 1870) citizens cannot be denied their right to
vote because their race or color or because the were once slaves.

Why the Constitution was written

The Constitution was written (over the summer of 1787, in Philadelphia) because
many of the country's leaders at the time had become unhappy with the structure
of government created by the Articles of Confederation, which had been in effect
since 1781.
The Articles of Confederation became effective on March 1, 1781, after all thirteen
states had ratified them. The Articles made the states and legislature supreme.
There was no executive branch. Judicial functions were very limited.
The resulting government was weak. Efforts to make it stronger failed. A
convention called in May 1787 to re-write the Articles decided to draft an entirely
new Constitution.

Four Amendments that Deal with Suffrage

15th Amendment
This amendment granted black men the right to vote.
19th Amendment
Gave women the right to vote
24th Amendment
Right to Vote in Federal Elections and Tax Payment
26th Amendment
Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18