Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Article III of the United States Constitution

Article III establishes the court system in the country, including the Supreme Court.  After a court case, you can appeal the decision to a higher court.  Seeing as the supreme court is the highest in the country, their decisions are not easily appealed.  Supreme Court justices are appointed by the president, and are allowed to stay for life. There are 8 justices and 1 chief justice, for a total of nine.  The only crime mentioned in the Constitution, treason, is defined in Article III.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Article II of the United States Constitution

Article II establishes the executive power, which is the presidency.  Not until the 22nd Amendment was the presidency limited to two terms.  There are many guidelines set for the presidency:  Candidates must be at least 35 years old, and must have lived in the US for at least 14 years.  Should the President not be able to complete the duties of the office, then the vice president assumes the position of president.  A vice president who serves less than half of the presidency that s/he has taken over may run for another term as president.  This way, a person may serve a maximum of 10 years as president.  The 25th amendment states that the vice-president assumes the presidency upon the death or disability of the president.

The president is compensated for their duties.  George W. Bush made $600,000 yearly.  Article II prohibits pay increases while in office.  While the White House is the official residence of the president, the official residence of the vice-president is Number One Observatory Circle.

The president is the Commander in Chief of the armed forces.  S/he can also grant pardons or reprieves, but cannot pardon him/herself.  Provided that the Senate approves, the president can make treaties, appoint ambassadors, and judges to the Supreme Court.  Article II establishes the presidential oath.  In short, the oath concerns protecting the Constitution.

The president can be removed through impeachment.  When a president is impeached, they are not removed from office.  To be impeached is to be accused of a crime, and if found guilty, removed from office.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Article I of the United States Constitution

Article I of the Constitution establishes the powers of Congress.  Congress consists of two parts: The Senate and House of Representatives.  Their powers combined make up the the Legislative Branch of the United States Government.  The first Article mandates rules and regulations for serving a term in Congress.  Possible representatives must be at least 25 years old, must have lived in the US for seven (7) years, and live in the state they represent.  Senators must be at least 30 years old, must be a citizen for nine years, and live in the state they represent.  Verbatim, Article I states:


"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"
 Legislation cannot be enacted without both houses of Congress.  Both are equal, and cannot overpower each other.  Each state has two senators, and elections are held every two years.

First Post!

Greetings fellow bloggers,

Please, call me RoboCop.  Today marks a great day.

I will be posting information about law, simplified to understand better.

A friendly tip:  Behind a rolling ball is a running child.

Your friend,
RoboCop