Constitution

Article 1

House of reps

• Based on population
• elected by people
• congressional districts
• 2 year terms
• 435 reps
• limited debate time
• led by speaker of the house

Senate

• 2 per state
• originates in state legislature
• state votes after
• 6 years, 1/3 reelect every 2 years
• 100 senators
• unlimited debate
  • filibuster
  • Used to push bills out of voting time and to get people waiting and tired
  • Slows down or blocks legislature
    • Cloture requires 60 votes and can end a filibuster

The Constitution

Article 1

• Powers of congress
• enumerated, expressed, implied
• necessary and proper clause

Article 2

• Executive Branch
• 35 years old, natural born
• electoral college
  • System by which electoral college is elected
  • Uses electoral votes that are assigned to every state
    • number of reps + number of senators, minimum 3
  • all or nothing system, 270 to win
  • electors are not bound by law to follow the vote - faithless elector
  • Only a few battlefield states actually matter because they are swing states
  • Ensures that a national figure becomes president, must be voted in a lot of the states
    • Almost always a binary choice
      • Creates stability
    • leans towards moderation, people in business community can foresee what america looks like and invest in it

Article 3

• Serve for life after being appointed and confirmed

Article 4

Article 5

• Amendment process
• 2/3 majority in congress
• 3/4 majority of state legislatures

Article 6

• Supremacy clause
  • Constitution and federal law takes precedent over state laws
• Concurrent powers
  • States and federal government sometimes have the same powers
    • Taxing, transportation, punish crimes
  • state government cant act like national government