Constitution of the United States of America

Comments and Meaning

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Like I said before, any good document should have an opening statement, so does the Constitution of the United States of America. Basically, it tells us that it's attempting to set up some basic rules and standards by which the people of the U.S. of A. can and should expect their government to live by and follow.

The most important part of this paragarph are the first three words. It is a very bold statment signifing that the goverment is by the people, for the people, and of the people. This is good and bad. Good because it lets the people stay in control. Bad because when people become lazy and complacent, they end up being run the few who are power hungary and/or have special interests at hart.

Many people like to blaim the goverment for problems, but as we can see here the blaim is truly on the poeple who put the their respective representatives into office.

Article. I.

Section 1.

All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

Artical I establishes the congretional branch of the goverment, along with it's basic composition, purpous, and duties.

Section 1 gives the congretional branch law making powers, and breaks it up into two goverming bodies. This give congress it's own internal check and balance, and makes the representation of smaller states move evenly matched with the larger ones while still allowing for greater representation of greater populated areas.

The two branches were created through what was called "The Great Compramise" Some wanted Congress to have the same representation from each state, were others wanted one representative for every so many people. The Compramise created the House to have the Representatives represent the people in there respective districts, and the Senators were to represent there respective states as a whole.

Section. 2.

Clause 1:

The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.

Clause 2:

No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.

Clause 3:

Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. (See Note 2) The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New-York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.

Clause 4:

When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.

Clause 5:

The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.

Section 2 defines the House of Representatives.

Clause 1 defines the composistion of the house, length of term, and leves it up to the states to decide who is qualified for the position. This allows the states to define the representative zones of the state, and leaves it up to the people of the state to decide who they want to represent them.

Clause 2 give age citizenship requirements, and also requires the elected officals to move out of the state they represent. I belive this was to insure they move to the nations capatal so they can performe their duties.

Clause 3 defines how many representatives each state will have. Originally slaves (all other persons) were valued at three fifths (3/5) of a person. It also establishes the need for the senceous law that require us all to check in at the begining of each decade. This then determins the representation, and federal support each state is intitled to. It also defined the initial representation of the original 13 states in the union.

Clause 4 basically says that vacancies should be feild as soon as possible, through an election.

Clause 5 tells the House it should pic one of them to be the head, or speaker as well to pic others to fill other roles and offices within the house. It also gives the House the power to Impeach. This Impeachment power is just one of the checks and balances, and this on it particular is used to make sure the Executive branch does it's job appropriatly.

Section. 3.

Clause 1:

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, (See Note 3) for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.

Clause 2:

Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second Year; and if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies. (See Note 4)

Clause 3:

No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.

Clause 4:

The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.

Clause 5:

The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the Office of President of the United States.

Clause 6:

The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.

Clause 7:

Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.

Section 3 defines the Senate.

Clause 1 allows for two senators from each state, and defines how they should be elected. Unfortunatly, becaues of amendment 1? (Federal Income Tax) our goverment leaders felt it only proper to let the people elect the senetors as in ammendment 1?. What most people don't realize is that these two ammendments were also nessisary to allow for the creation of the Federal Reserve, and allow the creation of our current money system. If you wish to know more about how this all works together, you'll want to check out a book called The Creature from Jecklle Island by Some Dude.

Clause 2 allows for staggared election times within the senate. This insures that only a maximum of 1/3 of the seneate is replaced every two years. It also give direction as to how to handle unexpented vacancies. This clause, as with clause 2, was efected by amendment 1?.

Clause 3 sets age and citizenship limits, as well as residency requirments similar to that of the House.

Clause 4 defines the role of the Vice President within the the Senate, and gives the Vice President the tie braker vote in cases of a tie within the senate. This is is also another Check and Balance within the Goverment of the U.S. of A. because it allows the Executive branch to have some say in what happens within the Senate.

Clause 5 tells the Senate to elect a second in command to the Vice President, called a "President pro tempore" who is also Third in Command to the President. It also says the Senate should have other Officers just as with the House. These other Officers, are know today as heads of committies, and other such things.

Clause 6 give the Senate to power to review all Impeachments put for by the House through the use of a trial. It also states that 2/3 of the Senate are required for Conviction. In other words when the House Impeaches the President, what is really happens is that the President is being put on trial before the Senate with the Senate being the Jury.

Clause 7 limites the extent of an impeachment, and that a sperate trial is required to hold the impeached person liable to criminal law based upon the law.

Section. 4.

Clause 1:

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 chusing Senators.

Clause 2:

The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, (See Note 5) unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.

Section 4 further defines election rules for Congress.

Clause 1 gives the States the right to determin how best to elect there respective members of congress; unfortunatly, it also give Congress the right to make laws that regulate the states in this matter.

Clause 2 defines when Congress should meet, but gives room for Congress to change the date of meeting.

Section. 5.

Clause 1:

Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide.

Clause 2:

Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.

Clause 3:

Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth of those Present, be entered on the Journal.

Clause 4:

Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.

Section 5 give the House and the Senate the ability to govern themselves as they see fit.

Clause 1 give each of the two seperate Houses in Congress the ability to determin the valitity of the elections and qualifications, as well as dissmiss from office, of each of it's members. It also requires a majority to be present in order to do buissness, as well as allowing for members to basically take time off to attend to other buissness. It also allows for each house to determin penalties for to those who are absent when they shouldn't be.

Clause 2 give each house the ability to wright the rules by which they fucntion, as well as punishments for those who don't follow the rules. It als states that 2/3 of the house is required to remove one of it's own members from office.

Clause 3 sets up the requirments for making available to the public, the procedings of each House, but also allows for some secrecy.

Clause 4 puts more limitations on when and were they can meet and adjourn.

Section. 6.

Clause 1:

The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. (See Note 6) They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, beprivileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.

Clause 2:

No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been encreased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office.

Section 6 defines the rights and privlages of being a member of congress.

Clause 1 gives members of congress compensation for their services. It also gives them imunity from the law while performing their duties in congressional sessions, and when coming, or going from a session.

Clause 2 restrics members of congress from serving in any other public office.

Section. 7.

Clause 1:

All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.

Clause 2:

Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.

Clause 3:

Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.

Section 7 give guidlines for creating laws.

Clause 1 give the house soul responsability for the goverments income.

Clause 2 give requirements for a bill to become law, and also gives a check and balance between the congressional and the Executive branches of the goverment. Basically both houses and the President must approve a bill for it to become law. The president can reject a bill, but congress can still pass it with 2/3's approval despite what the president does. It also gives time limits, and other stipulations that can default the bill into becoming law, or to be rejected.

Clause 3 basically says that if both houses have to approve something, other then ajourment, so does the president, and with rules similar to those in clause 2.

Section. 8.

Clause 1:

The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

Clause 2:

To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;

Clause 3:

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;

Clause 4:

To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;

Clause 5:

To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;

Clause 6:

To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;

Clause 7:

To establish Post Offices and post Roads;

Clause 8:

To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;

Clause 9:

To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;

Clause 10:

To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;

Clause 11:

To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

Clause 12:

To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;

Clause 13:

To provide and maintain a Navy;

Clause 14:

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

Clause 15:

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

Clause 16:

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

Clause 17:

To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, byCession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;--And

Clause 18:

To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

Section 8 defines what powers congress has.

Clause 1 gives congress the power of taxation, but also says that any collected taxes have to be used for the "general Welfare of the United States." It aslo says that all taxations much be uniform for the Nation as a whole.

Clause 2 allows the U.S. of A. to go into dept. I personally wish it further defined that it could only go into dept for a few specific reasons, such as durring times of war.

Clause 3 mean that congress can make laws, collect taxes, and other such things to controle and regulate the transfer of good between nations, between states, and with what today we call "Native Americans."

Clause 4 gives congress the right to create Naturalization (becoming a citizen), and Bankruptcy laws.

Clause 5 I find to be rather interesting because in my optionion regulating the value of money is in opposition to natural laws; however, it can also be interpeted as simply meaning they can say that a quarter is worth 1/4 of a dallor and a dallor is worth one grain of gold, but then determining how that relates to foreign currencies can get rather complicated (and very anti-free market) especially if either or both currencies are not backed by the same thing such as gold. Making a set of Weights and Measures is certainly importat as well, but again I think the world had done a good job on making such standards on it's own.

On interesting thing to note about this clause is the ecomomic disaster the Colonies were experancing durring the 1780's due to the masive amounts of paper money being printed by each colony (also known as Fiat Money), and the extrodinary Inflation it was causing. Although this was the means by wich the revolutionary war was funded, it certainly was a rather big problem that required fixing. With the new Congress in charge of money, and the individual stats no longer allowed to have any control over it, and the fact that they backed the money with gold and silver, there was a rather quick and amazing economic recovery that also allow the U.S. of A. to move itself to the head of the class when it came to world wide economic power. Unfortunatly by 1913 these leases were long forgotten as we can see from the unconstitutional Federal Reserve Act that took the money making and regulation powers away from Congress.

Clause 6 basically allows them to make laws to determin punishment for breaking other laws.

Clause 7 give congress the right to create the United States Post Office.

Clause 8 is the basis behind copy right protections. Originally the idea was to allow the free exchange of ideas and the shairing of talents without the worries of other taking credit for soemthing they did not do. Unfortunatly today it has gone way beyond that to the point of restricting the free exchange of ideas and sharing of talents.

Clause 9 basically allows congress to make lower courts, or as we know them today, as District Courts.

Clause 10 gives congress the ability to define punishment for things that happen outside of the Territorial limits of the U.S. of A., but implies that they are somehow still under the juristiction of the U.S. of A. (such as military ships, or other such things under a US charter).

Clause 11 gives congress to define the art of war, and causes the President to get permission to go to war even though he is in charge of the armed forces. This is another check and Balance within the constitution.

Clause 12 give congress the responsability to insure our armed forces are properly funded, but also resticts that funding to a two year period. This basically means that at least every two years the armed forces have to come back to congress for more money.

Clause 13 is just a further definition of the responsabilities congress has toward our armed forces.

Clause 15 is one justification for the Civil War, as it allows congress to send the Armed forces into areas of the nation that are becoming unlawful. It also says the Armed forces should be used to secure the nation from invasion.

Clause 16 says that congress is also responsible for the Armed forces training, organization, equiment, etc.

Clause 17 gives congress the right to secure property to be used for it needs, but also restricts the property to a total size of ten squar miles. Somehow Congress has gotten around this, as much of our land today is controled by Congress in the form of national parks, reserves, and other such things.

Clause 18 basically says that if it's not wrighten in the constitution, congress will have to figure out how to do it themselves, and I'd say they have been more then successful in creating many laws of the many decades and centries they have been operation. If you ask me we have too many laws to were most people don't know or understand them, and in some cases don't care either. It certainly takes a life long endevor full of specialization to understand even some of it.

Section. 9.

Clause 1:

The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.

Clause 2:

The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.

Clause 3:

No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.

Clause 4:

No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before directed to be taken. (See Note 7)

Clause 5:

No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.

Clause 6:

No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another: nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.

Clause 7:

No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.

Clause 8:

No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.

Section 9 is rather vage unless you understand some termenology that I'll do my best to explain, but basically this section deals alot with, and is derived from cival liberties that were denied the colonies under the rule of the Kind of England; along with issues of export/inport taxes and the regulation of trade.

Clause 1 refers to states allowing Imigration, and a tax that can be placed on them, however it also states that this allowance to the states will end in 1808.

Clause 2 talks about Writ of Habeas Corpus only being suspended when public safety is at stake. A Writ of Habeas Corpus is basically the right to make an inquiry into the lawfulness of the restraining of a person who is imprisoned or detained. Habeas Corpus basically means "you have the body" and in this case is desighned to prevent people from being held unlawfully. This clause basically allows for a judicial mandate to a prision official ordering them to bring an inmate to court so it can be determined if the person is imprisoned lawfully, and if so to have them released. The petition must show that the court ordering the detention made a legal or factual error, and are usually filed by those in prison, but can also be filed by other fill they are held unlawfully, or even by parents who have been denied custody of a child.

Clause 3 forbitds Bills of Attainder or ex post facto law, but understandint what that maens can be a challenge. Attainder is basically when someone or something is condemed or outlawed, and ex post facto is somthing done from or by an after act.

Basically this prevents congress from passing laws that condem/confiscate someone/something with out a trial, or after the fact. In other words it criminalizes conduct that was not a crime when it was committed. For example, if you do something perfectly legal now, and then congress passes a law against it, they cannot make that law retrocative back to when you commited what would now be concidered a crime. This can also be interpreted to include property rights, and other cival liberties, but unfortunatly there are now many laws, and court cases that allow these kinds of things to happen.

There is a "Bill Of Attainder Project" which is a civil liberties group started in Oklahoma, started and lead by Thomas M. Saunders who is a Certified Linguist, and who has put extensive resurch into this matter (see: http://www.isc-durant.com/tom/billofattainder/). They are dedicated to having the phrase, "Bill of Attainder" defined in the law as: "A law or legal device which outlaws people, suspends their civil rights, confiscates their property, punishes or puts people to death without a trial." This Basically means that states cannot plunder life, liberty, civial rights, or property.

Clause 4 is basically the idea of no taxation without representation. This idea came from the King of England putting taxes on the colonies even through they had not representation in the Parlament.

Clause 5 prevents taxes on interstate commerce.

Clause 6 puts further restriction on the regulation of interestate commerce, and is ment to insure fareness between states.

Clause 7 restricts congress from using U.S. Treasury money without first passing a law, and accounting for it's use. It also require that congress make it's finacial records available to the public.

Clause 8 insures that nobody is given titles of nobility by the United States in an effort to prevent any Kings or other roalty from poping up with the United States Government. It also restricts Goverment Officals from appointing persons to certain positions without consent from Congress.

Section. 10.

Clause 1:

No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.

Clause 2:

No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing it's inspection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Controul of the Congress.

Clause 3:

No State shall, without the Consent of 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.

Section 10 puts limitations on the States for things that are ment to be under the power of congress

Clause 1 restricts the states from participating in international affares, geting loans, requires them to pay Debts with nothing other then gold and silver (which excludeds our current money system - meaning Federal Reserve Notes - so that basically states cannot finacially function today without being unconstitutional), to make laws that impare the ability to fullfil contracts, or tp give Titles of Nobility. It also mentions restcitions on Bills of Attainder and ex post facto Law which I expained above, as these same restriction were placed on congress.

Clause 2 basically gives congress the rigth to control taxes put on imports and exports, unless they give permission to the state, but allows the state to collect import/export taxes for the soul purpous of funding inspections on inports/exports, but requires that any excess after paying for these inspections is to be given to the U.S. Treasury.

Clause 3 further restricts the ability to states to impose taxes, as well as restrcting them from possessing items of war during times of peace. It also keeps states from making aliances with other states or countries, or engagin in war except in cases of self defense. This clause can be interpreted as reason for the unlawfullness of the confederate army durring the Civil War, and thus gives the justification for the war; however, this idea only holds up if you consider cesstion from the union to also be unlawful.

Article. II.

Section. 1.

Clause 1:

The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows

Clause 2:

Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.

Clause 3:

The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by Ballot for two Persons, of whom one at least shall not be an Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And they shall make a List of all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes for each; which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the Seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the Certificates, and the Votes shall then be counted. The Person having the greatest Number of Votes shall be the President, if such Number be a Majority of the whole Number of Electors appointed; and if there be more than one who have such Majority, and have an equal Number of Votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately chuse by Ballot one of them for President; and if no Person have a Majority, then from the five highest on the List the said House shall in like Manner chuse the President. But in chusing the President, the Votes shall be taken by States, the Representation from each State having one Vote; A quorum for this Purpose shall consist of a Member or Members from two thirds of the States, and a Majority of all the States shall be necessary to a Choice. In every Case, after the Choice of the President, the Person having the greatest Number of Votes of the Electors shall be the Vice President. But if there should remain two or more who have equal Votes, the Senate shall chuse from them by Ballot the Vice President. (See Note 8)

Clause 4:

The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the United States.

Clause 5:

No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.

Clause 6:

In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, (See Note 9) the Same shall devolve on the VicePresident, and the Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.

Clause 7:

The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be encreased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.

Clause 8:

Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:--"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Article II sets up the Executive Branch of the Goverment, or basically the President and Vice President.

Section 1 sets up requirement for eligability, and election of the executive branch.

Clause 1 gives the executive powers of the goverment to the President and Vice President, and limits there term to four years.

Clause 2 sets up what is called the Electorial Collage, which are the people who actually vote for the executive branch. These people are selected by the Legislator of each respective State (who should select resprsentatives who will vote similarly to the popular vote of the people of their state), and each state is allowed to have as many electoral votes as they have members in congress.

Many people would like to get ride of this process, and simply go on a nation wide popular vote; however, this would undermind the balance of powers between states as setup within Congress. My oppinion is that states should follow the examble of Main, where the electorial vote can be split bases on a persentage of how many people vote a certain way. Most states require that all their electorial votes be given to the same political party/candidate.

Clause 3 gives guildlines on how the members of the electorial collage should manage the election process. It requires that an out of state person be present to certify the votes given by the electors, and then sent to the Senate to count the votes. This clause also explains how these votes should be counted, and give requirments on how to determin who will become President even if unusual cercamstances occure.

Originally the Vice President was mearly the runner up in votes for President, but that has since been changes due to the political tentions it created between the two elected persons. Today the President and Vice President run as a single ballot.

Clause 4 gives congress the power to determin the time frames of when the members electorial collage will be selected, and when they will submite their votes; however it requires that the time frame be the same for all states.

Clause 5 requires the president to be a natural born citizen with at least 14 years of resedency in the U.S., and to be at least 35 years old.

Clause 6 says the Vice President is second in line if the Presidend is no longer able to perform his duties. It also give congress the power to designate who is next in line after the Vice President if both he, and the President are no longer able to performe their duties.

Clause 7 sets up the Presidents salery, and freezes it's ammount fore each election sycle. It also dissalows him reciving any other complesation from the goverment his time in office.

Clause 8 gives the required oath of office for the President. It's unfortunate to have seen so many unconstitutional bills sighned by various Presidents of the United States. It would be nice to see Presidents who have enough integrity and knowlage to veto any bill that attempts to further regulate and/or controle our constitutional rights.

Section. 2.

Clause 1:

The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

Clause 2:

He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.

Clause 3:

The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.

Section 2 defines the powers and responsabilities of the President.

Clause 1 puts the President in charge of all military groups, and gives him the power to pardon anyone from a crimial act with the exception of an Impeachment (see: Artical I, Section 3, Clause 6)

Clause 2 give the President the responsability to make treaties, nominate Officers of the Supreme Court. It also allows for him to nominate other Officers for positions created through law. It also give a check and blanace with requiring Congressional approval of such things, and clarifies that congress is not limited to having the president make nominations for all "inferior Officers."

Clause 3 gives the President to the ability to appoint someone to temporaroly fill vacancies in the Senate for the period of one session (see Artical I, Section 2, Clasue 4)

Section. 3.

He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.

Section. 4.

The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

Section 3 requires the president to give congress information on the current situation of the Nation, and to make recomendations. It also gives him the power to dismiss congress under extraordinary situations, and if the houses don't agree with when congress should adjourn, he can make the final desision. The President is also in charge of receiving members from foreghn goverments, making sure laws are inforced, and "Commission all the Officers" or to appoint the cabinet. The Cabinet are basically all the people who work under the President in various capasities.

Seciton 4 requires the removal of the presidents staff in the event of an impeachment, and implies that an Impeachment can happen for conviction of treason, bribery, high crimes, and misdemeanors.

Article. III.

Section. 1.

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.

Section. 2.

Clause 1:

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; (See Note 10)--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.

Clause 2:

In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make.

Clause 3:

The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any State, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have directed.

Section. 3.

Clause 1:

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

Clause 2:

The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.

Article III sets up the Judicial branch of goverment by setting up the Supreme Court of Appeals, and giving other guidlines and powers to congress to regulate and create the federal court systems.

Section 1 give judicial powers to the supreme court, and gives congress the power to create "inferior" courts. It also gives judges of these courts compensation or payment for their services.

Section 2

Clause 1 limits the power of the courts jurisdiction to the laws "arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties" and so on. Basically they have no leagal power outside of the U.S.A.'s control, or that does not involve the USA it's citizens or States in some way. This is why it's rediculous for the Supream Court to think they can look to sources outside of the USA to base rulling on, but in 2003 one of the justices made a statement that they needed to do just that.
the Eleventh Amendment effects this clause, and was created in 1793 due to the most the couts first truly influential decision over a law suit between land speculators and South Carolina. The decision was so unpopular that congress quickly passed the amendment to reverse the decision. Unfortunatly this type of thing doesn't happen much any more despite many controvursial and unconstitutional decisions by the supreem court which since the early 1800's has upheld many unconstitutional "laws" including the formation of National Banks (something that was done three times before it stuck as what we currently know of as the Federal Reserve). It has also been known to uphold Federal power more so then state power despite the Bill of Rights which was was ment to keep the federal goverment from gaining too much power. Challenges, especially to federal legislation, usually fail, with the disputed legislation gaining legitimacy by having passed judicial review.

Clause 2 says the Supreme Court is resonsable for certain types of cases such as those involving Ambassadors and States. Any other case must first go through lower courts and be appealed to the Supreme court. It also allows congress to make regulations to the functionality of the court systems.

Clause 3 says criminal trials must be done by jury within the state the crime was commited. It also allows Congress to decide how unusual situations to this rule may be handled.

Section 3

Cluase 1 defines what treason is, or in other words, what someone must do to be convicted of treason, and what evidence is needed for someone for such a conviction.

Claus 2 gives congress the ability to decided proper punishments for treason, but also give some minimum requrements for punishment.

Given the lifetime tenure of justices, the Supreme Court is almost by definition a "conservative" force, even if what is "conserved" is the liberal vision of an earlier party.

Marshall's opinion in Marbury v. Madison (1803) is famous for exemplifying the Court's power to invalidate even a congressional statute thought to violate the Constitution, but it also gave way to interpretation of the constitution in ways it should never have been.

The 1810 decision in Fletcher v. Peck, where for the first time the Court struck down state legislation as constitutionally invalid, was also more important than Marbury, in practical terms. Over the half century following Marbury, the combination of the Court's upholding federal legislation and invalidating state legislation deemed offensive to one or another constitutional principle -- usually the contract or commerce clause -- served to bolster the power of the federal government and to provide reins on state powers, but unfortunatly it has gone to the extream and the federal goverment continues to gain more and more power and control over the states.

Unfortunatly the constitution dosen't give any specific information on what to do about cout justices that may have gone astray, and in many ways they have given themselves powers beyond that originally intended by the constitution. Congress however is given the power to further setup and regulate the court systems, and that would make one think they could also practice there powers of impeachment on supreme court justices simply by passing a law given themselve the power (much like how the supreme court likes to give itself powers).

Article. IV.

Section. 1.

Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.

Section. 2.

Clause 1:

The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.

Clause 2:

A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in another State, shall on Demand of the executive Authority of the State from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction of the Crime.

Clause 3:

No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service or Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due. (See Note 11)

Section. 3.

Clause 1:

New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.

Clause 2:

The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any particular State.

Section. 4.

The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.

Article IV talks about interactions between the states and territories, and the rights of the states and congress in these matters.

Section 1 give states the responsability towards taking care of there own records and affairs, but it give congress the power to put general requirments on such affairs. This is ment to create a standard so that all states can easily interact, and all people to easily integrate into a new state.

Section 2

Clause 1 basically says that if your a citizen of one state your a citizen of all states, or in other words, citizen ship is universal throughout all states in the the U.S.A. In practical terms, nobody is a citizen of a particular state, but rather a citizen of the nation with residence in a particular state.

Clause 2 gives the states the right to request that a criminal who has fled and been captured in another state be returned to thier custody. In practice however, the criminal is only captured in s/he has done something within the capturing state, and thus the capturing state gets to try and punish them first. We also now have the FBI that handles cases were the criminals violate national laws, or have commited crimes in many states. This in my mind brings up a question as to the constitutionality of the FBI.

Cluase 3 is similar to clause 2 but refers to indentured survituded and slavary, which was comon in the days when the constitution was created. This clause however has been changed by the Thirteenth Amendment.

Section 3

Clause 1 gives guidlines on how new states can become part of the U.S.A.

Clause 2 give congress more power, and dissallows for any unfairness between states, in the dealings of congress.

Section 4 gives the National giverment the responsability of protecting the states and insuring they maintain a representative for of goverment.

Article. V.

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.

Article. VI.

Clause 1:

All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.

Clause 2:

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.

Clause 3:

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

Article VI talks about finances

Clause 1 basically says the U.S. will keep good on all depts that were made under the previous goverment.

Cluase 2 basically says that the judges of every state shall be bound by the laws and treaties of the national goverment. This basically says the State Judges have to listen to Federal law as the supreme law, and thus superceeds state law.

Clause 3 requires that any goverment official must take an oath to uphold the constitution. It also dissalows any religious requirements as a qualification to serve in a public office or job.

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. done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the Twelfth In witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names, GO WASHINGTON--Presidt. and deputy from Virginia [Signed also by the deputies of twelve States.] Delaware Geo: Read Gunning Bedford jun John Dickinson Richard Bassett Jaco: Broom Maryland James MCHenry Dan of ST ThoS. Jenifer DanL Carroll. Virginia John Blair-- James Madison Jr. North Carolina WM Blount RichD. Dobbs Spaight. Hu Williamson South Carolina J. Rutledge Charles 1ACotesworth Pinckney Charles Pinckney Pierce Butler. Georgia William Few Abr Baldwin New Hampshire John Langdon Nicholas Gilman Massachusetts Nathaniel Gorham Rufus King Connecticut WM. SamL. Johnson Roger Sherman New York Alexander Hamilton New Jersey Wil: Livingston David Brearley. WM. Paterson. Jona: Dayton Pennsylvania B Franklin Thomas Mifflin RobT Morris Geo. Clymer ThoS. FitzSimons Jared Ingersoll James Wilson. Gouv Morris Attest William Jackson Secretary

NOTES Note 1: This text of the Constitution follows the engrossed copy signed by Gen. Washington and the deputies from 12 States. The small superior figures preceding the paragraphs designate Clauses, and were not in the original and have no reference to footnotes. The Constitution was adopted by a convention of the States on September 17, 1787, and was subsequently ratified by the several States, on the following dates: Delaware, December 7, 1787; Pennsylvania, December 12, 1787; New Jersey, December 18, 1787; Georgia, January 2, 1788; Connecticut, January 9, 1788; Massachusetts, February 6, 1788; Maryland, April 28, 1788; South Carolina, May 23, 1788; New Hampshire, June 21, 1788. Ratification was completed on June 21, 1788. The Constitution was subsequently ratified by Virginia, June 25, 1788; New York, July 26, 1788; North Carolina, November 21, 1789; Rhode Island, May 29, 1790; and Vermont, January 10, 1791. In May 1785, a committee of Congress made a report recommending an alteration in the Articles of Confederation, but no action was taken on it, and it was left to the State Legislatures to proceed in the matter. In January 1786, the Legislature of Virginia passed a resolution providing for the appointment of five commissioners, who, or any three of them, should meet such commissioners as might be appointed in the other States of the Union, at a time and place to be agreed upon, to take into consideration the trade of the United States; to consider how far a uniform system in their commercial regulations may be necessary to their common interest and their permanent harmony; and to report to the several States such an act, relative to this great object, as, when ratified by them, will enable the United States in Congress effectually to provide for the same. The Virginia commissioners, after some correspondence, fixed the first Monday in September as the time, and the city of Annapolis as the place for the meeting, but only four other States were represented, viz: Delaware, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania; the commissioners appointed by Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Rhode Island failed to attend. Under the circumstances of so partial a representation, the commissioners present agreed upon a report, (drawn by Mr. Hamilton, of New York,) expressing their unanimous conviction that it might essentially tend to advance the interests of the Union if the States by which they were respectively delegated would concur, and use their endeavors to procure the concurrence of the other States, in the appointment of commissioners to meet at Philadelphia on the Second Monday of May following, to take into consideration the situation of the United States; to devise such further provisions as should appear to them necessary to render the Constitution of the Federal Government adequate to the exigencies of the Union; and to report such an act for that purpose to the United States in Congress assembled as, when agreed to by them and afterwards confirmed by the Legislatures of every State, would effectually provide for the same. Congress, on the 21st of February, 1787, adopted a resolution in favor of a convention, and the Legislatures of those States which had not already done so (with the exception of Rhode Island) promptly appointed delegates. On the 25th of May, seven States having convened, George Washington, of Virginia, was unanimously elected President, and the consideration of the proposed constitution was commenced. On the 17th of September, 1787, the Constitution as engrossed and agreed upon was signed by all the members present, except Mr. Gerry of Massachusetts, and Messrs. Mason and Randolph, of Virginia. The president of the convention transmitted it to Congress, with a resolution stating how the proposed Federal Government should be put in operation, and an explanatory letter. Congress, on the 28th of September, 1787, directed the Constitution so framed, with the resolutions and letter concerning the same, to "be transmitted to the several Legislatures in order to be submitted to a convention of delegates chosen in each State by the people thereof, in conformity to the resolves of the convention." On the 4th of March, 1789, the day which had been fixed for commencing the operations of Government under the new Constitution, it had been ratified by the conventions chosen in each State to consider it, as follows: Delaware, December 7, 1787; Pennsylvania, December 12, 1787; New Jersey, December 18, 1787; Georgia, January 2, 1788; Connecticut, January 9, 1788; Massachusetts, February 6, 1788; Maryland, April 28, 1788; South Carolina, May 23, 1788; New Hampshire, June 21, 1788; Virginia, June 25, 1788; and New York, July 26, 1788. The President informed Congress, on the 28th of January, 1790, that North Carolina had ratified the Constitution November 21, 1789; and he informed Congress on the 1st of June, 1790, that Rhode Island had ratified the Constitution May 29, 1790. Vermont, in convention, ratified the Constitution January 10, 1791, and was, by an act of Congress approved February 18, 1791, "received and admitted into this Union as a new and entire member of the United States." Note 2: The part of this Clause relating to the mode of apportionment of representatives among the several States has been affected by Section 2 of amendment XIV, and as to taxes on incomes without apportionment by amendment XVI. Note 3: This Clause has been affected by Clause 1 of amendment XVII. Note 4: This Clause has been affected by Clause 2 of amendment XVIII. Note 5: This Clause has been affected by amendment XX. Note 6: This Clause has been affected by amendment XXVII. Note 7: This Clause has been affected by amendment XVI. Note 8: This Clause has been superseded by amendment XII. Note 9: This Clause has been affected by amendment XXV. Note 10: This Clause has been affected by amendment XI.

Note 11: This Clause has been affected by amendment XIII.

Note 12: The first ten amendments to the Constitution of the United States (and two others, one of which failed of ratification and the other which later became the 27th amendment) were proposed to the legislatures of the several States by the First Congress on September 25, 1789. The first ten amendments were ratified by the following States, and the notifications of ratification by the Governors thereof were successively communicated by the President to Congress: New Jersey, November 20, 1789; Maryland, December 19, 1789; North Carolina, December 22, 1789; South Carolina, January 19, 1790; New Hampshire, January 25, 1790; Delaware, January 28, 1790; New York, February 24, 1790; Pennsylvania, March 10, 1790; Rhode Island, June 7, 1790; Vermont, November 3, 1791; and Virginia, December 15, 1791. Ratification was completed on December 15, 1791. The amendments were subsequently ratified by the legislatures of Massachusetts, March 2, 1939; Georgia, March 18, 1939; and Connecticut, April 19, 1939.

Note 13: Only the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th articles of amendment had numbers assigned to them at the time of ratification. Note 14: This sentence has been sup erseded by section 3 of amendment XX. Note 15: See amendment XIX and section 1 of amendment XXVI. Note 16: Repealed by section 1 of amendment XXI.