US Government Article I: Legislative Branch

Article I: Legislative Branch (Congress)

• Representatives in the House are based on state population
• The US Congress consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives
• Requirements to be a Representative: 25 years old, US citizen for 7 years, resident of the state
• Total number of Representatives: 435
• Representatives serve 2-year terms
• Requirements to be a Senator: 30 years old, US citizen for 9 years, resident of the state
• Leader of the House: Speaker of the House
• President of the Senate: Vice President of the US
• Senators from each state: 2 per state, total of 100
• Senators serve 6-year terms, with 1/3 of the Senate up for reelection every 2 years
• Law-making body: Congress (535 members)
• House to bring impeachment charges: House of Representatives
• House to conduct impeachment trial: Senate
• Person to preside over impeachment trial: Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
• US government uses census results to determine the number of representatives per state
• Process of vetoing a bill: President must veto within 10 days, Congress can override with 2/3 vote
• Tax bills originate in the House of Representatives
• Congress has the power to declare war

Article II: Executive Branch

• Job of the Executive branch: Enforce laws
• Job of the Judicial branch: Interpret laws
• Election Day: 1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday of November
• Qualifications for President: 35 years old, natural-born US citizen, resident of the US for 14 years
• If something happens to the President; Vice President, Speaker of the House, President Pro Tempore of the Senate next in line
• Electoral College: Group of electors who vote for president
• Electoral votes needed to become president: 270

Article III: Judicial Branch

• Highest court in the US: Supreme Court
• Supreme Court is made up of 9 judges, including 1 Chief Justice
• Congress establishes lower courts (Courts of Appeal and District Courts)
• Definition of Treason: Fighting against the US and aiding its enemies, only provable with two witnesses or open court admission

Article IV: The States

• Full faith and credit: States must honor the laws and court proceedings of other states
• Extradition of fugitives: States must return fugitives to the state they committed the crime in
• New states are admitted by Congress
• Congress controls U.S. territories

Article V:

• Steps to amend the Constitution: Proposed by 2/3 of both houses and ratified by ¾ of the state legislatures
• Time limit for ratification: 7 years

Article VI:

• Supremacy of national laws: Constitution and federal laws are supreme to state laws
• Laws that are void: Laws that conflict with federal law

Article VII:

• Steps to ratify the Constitution: Ratification by 9 of the original 13 states
• Year Constitution was signed: 1787

Test your knowledge on Article I of the US Constitution, focusing on the legislative branch, which includes the House of Representatives and the Senate. Understand the requirements, functions, and terms of Representatives and Senators, as well as the impeachment process. This quiz is essential for anyone studying American government and civics.