Constitution in a Nutshell
Preparation Packet
for the
United States Constitution Exam
NAME ___________________________
Hr _____
Preamble
We the People of the
United States, in Order to form a
more perfect Union, establish
Justice, insure domestic
Tranquility, provide for the
common defense, 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.
Constitutional
Structure
Preamble
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Article One
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Article Two
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Article Three
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Article Four
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Article Five
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Article Six
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Article Seven ___________________
Amendments ___________________
Preamble
Author of the Declaration of Independence
Father of the United States Constitution
ARTICLE I
(Structure)
House
Number of Members
Term of Office
Head of House
# per state
Constitutional Plan
Qualifications
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________
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_________________________
_________________________
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Role in Impeachment _________________________________
_________________________________
Specific Powers
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_________________________________
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Senate
Number of Members
Term of Office
Head of Senate
2nd Head
# per state
Constitutional Plan
Qualifications
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________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
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_________________________________
_________________________________
Role in Impeachment _________________________________
_________________________________
Specific Powers
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_________________________________
_________________________________
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ARTICLE I
(Powers)
Financial Powers
Non-Financial Powers
Joint Privileges
ARTICLE I
(Restrictions)
Restrictions of Congress
Restrictions of the States
ARTICLE II & III
Term of Office
Term Limit
Elected By…
Must take an
Qualifications
Specific Powers
Removal from Office
President
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________
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_________________________
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Judicial Branch
Highest Court
# of Members
Head of Branch
Who makes Lower
Courts?
Types of Cases
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________
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______________________________
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Original
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…
…
…
…
Appellate
…
…
…
…
…
Definition of Treason
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Judicial System
Geography
CIRCUIT ONE
ME - NH - MA
RI - PR
CIRCUIT TWO
NY - VT - CT
CIRCUIT THREE
PA - DE - NJ
VI
CIRCUIT FOUR
MD - VA - WV
NC - SC
CIRCUIT FIVE
MS - LA - TX
CIRCUIT SIX
MI - OH - TN
KY
CIRCUIT SEVEN
WI - IL - IN
CIRCUIT EIGHT
ND - SD - NE
MN - IA - MO
AR
CIRCUIT NINE
CA - OR - WA
ID - MT - NV
AZ - AK - HI
GU - AS
CIRCUIT TEN
WY - CO - UT
KS - OK - NM
CIRCUIT ELEVEN
AL - GA - FL
FEDERAL CIRCUIT
DC
Judicial System
Hierarchy
Supreme Court
Washington, DC
Appeals Courts
There is ONE Appeals court in each of the Twelve CIRCUITS (Geographical areas of the
Federal Court System).
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District Courts
Each Circuit has several District Courts. District Court is the lowest Federal Court. There is
at least ONE per state & territory of the United States.
OTHER FEDERAL COURTS: Federal Bankruptcy Courts, Federal Military Courts, Court of
Appeals for the Federal Circuit, US Tax Court, Federal Claims Court, International Trade
Court, Appeals for Veteran’ Claims, Armed Forces Appeals,
ARTICLE IV & VI
Full Faith & Credit Clause:
Extradition
New States
Territories (non-states)
States’ Forms of Government
Supremacy Clause
Congressional Method
ARTICLE V
HOUSE
J
P
t
N
o
r
c
f dA
STATES
SENATE
jO
g
ow
u
W
zL G
__________
Convention Method
h
v
eD
U
S
M
V
Bill of Rights
1st Amendment
2nd Amendment
4th Amendment
5th Amendment
6th Amendment
7th Amendment
8th Amendment
10th Amendment
Other Amendments
12th Amendment
13th Amendment
14th Amendment
15th Amendment
16th Amendment
17th Amendment
18th Amendment
19th Amendments
21st Amendments
Other Amendments
22nd Amendment
23rd Amendment
25th Amendment
26th Amendment
Federal
Lawmaking
House of Representatives
Senate
SIGN / APPROVE
PRESIDENT
VETO
POCKET VETO
Electoral College
o y
d
W p
t f
D
P
L
T
G ALL VOTES ARE COUNTED C
v
c
IN EACH STATE
w
j
b
F K
O
N
A
Formula
N
HP+S=EV
S=2
H>1
-
Electoral Votes
are cast in State
Capitols…then
sent to Senate
Missouri
*Except in Nebraska &
Maine
9+2=11
Electoral Votes
Electoral Votes are counted…the candidate with a
majority of votes wins. If no candidate has a majority
(greater than 270 votes), the President will be decided
by the House of Representatives and the Vice President
will be chosen by the Senate. In both houses, each state
will have only one vote, regardless of representation.
Thanks to the 23rd Amendment to the
US Constitution, the District of
Columbia is allowed to have THREE
electoral votes and the residents there
are allowed to vote for President.
Impeachment
House of Representatives
Senate
Punishment
Presidential
Succession
1. ________________________________
2. ________________________________
3. ________________________________
4. ________________________________
Principles of
American Gov’t
What is Popular Sovereignty?
What is the Principle of Limited Government?
What is the Principle of Federalism?
What is the Principle of Majority Rules, Minority Rights?
What is the Principle of Judicial Review?
Checks & Balances
Federalism
Odds & Ends
Foundation of American Government
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
1
2
3
4
5
6
Odds & Ends
Declaration of Independence
Constitutional Convention
Constitution of the United States
Constitution Structure
Political
Leadership
President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
Speaker of the House of Representatives
President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate
Majority Leader of the House of Representatives
Minority Leader of the House of Representatives
Majority Leader of the United States Senate
Minority Leader of the United States Senate
Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court
Missouri Senator
Missouri Senator
Representative of the 5th Congressional District
Notes…