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The U.S. Constitution and the Bill of RightsThe U.S. Constitutio.docx

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The U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights The U.S. Constitution is divided into seven separate articles, which are numbered using the Roman numerals I–VII. Each article has sections that define and clarify the article. The Constitution is approximately 4300 words in length. Each article outlines a basic function of government. Let's learn what these articles state. When the U.S. Constitution was finalized, it was signed and sent to the states for ratification. The ratification process required 9 of the 13 states to agree to ratification before the U.S. Constitution was official. As a compromise with the antifederalists, the Bill of Right was conceived to allay their fears and to buy support for the ratification. After lengthy discussions among the states, in 1789, the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution as the first ten amendments, which aimed at protecting the rights of the citizens of the newly formed United States of America. Today we cannot imagine the Constitution without the Bill of Rights. However, the original Constitution did not have the Bill of Rights until it was amended. Let's learn about the Bill of Rights. The last amendment (Twenty-Seventh Amendment, limiting congressional pay increases) to the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1992. Ratification occurs after three-fourths of the states vote for the amendment. Congressional Outputs and Committee Work Both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate has many committees and subcommittees. It is often stated that the real work of Congress is done in committee. This is where bills are initially assigned, debated, and amended. A bill can remain in committee and never emerge. Passing through a committee is a rite of passage for bills that become law. The main responsibilities of these committees are related to legislation, but there are other committees that have other outputs. Let's learn about the different types of congressional committees. Legislation that reaches the U.S. House or the U.S. Senate is referred to a committee, depending on congressional law and procedures. It can go to the standing committee or a subcommittee, where the initial work is done on the legislation. After the hearings are complete, the bill undergoes a markup (or changes that have occurred to the bill as a result of the work of the subcommittee). If the bill is accepted by the subcommittee, it goes to the standing committee for a vote or further hearings. If ultimately passed by both houses of Congress the bill must be reconciled between the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate so that both legislative bodies pass exactly the same bill. The U.S. Court System The judicial branch of the U.S. government was created by Article III of the U.S. Constitution. At the time of the signing of the Constitution, there was no federal court system and the states had control over the loosely interpreted rule of law. The shaping of the judiciary was left to Congress, which decided the number of justice.

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The U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights The U.S. Constitution is divided into seven separate articles, which are numbered using the Roman numerals I–VII. Each article has sections that define and clarify the article. The Constitution is approximately 4300 words in length. Each article outlines a basic function of government. Let's learn what these articles state. When the U.S. Constitution was finalized, it was signed and sent to the states for ratification. The ratification process required 9 of the 13 states to agree to ratification before the U.S. Constitution was official. As a compromise with the antifederalists, the Bill of Right was conceived to allay their fears and to buy support for the ratification. After lengthy discussions among the states, in 1789, the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution as the first ten amendments, which aimed at protecting the rights of the citizens of the newly formed United States of America. Today we cannot imagine the Constitution without the Bill of Rights. However, the original Constitution did not have the Bill of Rights until it was amended. Let's learn about the Bill of Rights. The last amendment (Twenty-Seventh Amendment, limiting congressional pay increases) to the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1992. Ratification occurs after three-fourths of the states vote for the amendment. Congressional Outputs and Committee Work Both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate has many committees and subcommittees. It is often stated that the real work of Congress is done in committee. This is where bills are initially assigned, debated, and amended. A bill can remain in committee and never emerge. Passing through a committee is a rite of passage for bills that become law. The main responsibilities of these committees are related to legislation, but there are other committees that have other outputs. Let's learn about the different types of congressional committees.
Legislation that reaches the U.S. House or the U.S. Senate is referred to a committee, depending on congressional law and procedures. It can go to the standing committee or a subcommittee, where the initial work is done on the legislation. After the hearings are complete, the bill undergoes a markup (or changes that have occurred to the bill as a result of the work of the subcommittee). If the bill is accepted by the subcommittee, it goes to the standing committee for a vote or further hearings. If ultimately passed by both houses of Congress the bill must be reconciled between the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate so that both legislative bodies pass exactly the same bill. The U.S. Court System The judicial branch of the U.S. government was created by Article III of the U.S. Constitution. At the time of the signing of the Constitution, there was no federal court system and the states had control over the loosely interpreted rule of law. The shaping of the judiciary was left to Congress, which decided the number of justices to serve on the Supreme Court. Congress was also granted the power to set up courts that were inferior to the Supreme Court. Since then, the results of the multitude of court cases have shaped the precedent for future rulings of the U.S. judiciary system. The federal court system is referred to as the keeper of the Constitution because it serves to protect the rights and liberties that the Constitution intends to protect. Congress has established all federal courts with the exception of the Supreme Court. These courts include the court of claims, the court of international trade, and bankruptcy courts. At present, there are ninety-four U.S. district courts and thirteen U.S. courts of appeals. Let's learn about district courts and courts of appeals in detail. Each state has its own constitution and court system. Most states have a state supreme court or an intermediate court of appeals. There also may be lower state trial courts that may be
referred to as circuit or district courts. With regard to the U.S. constitutional system of checks and balances, the judicial branch interprets the laws set by Congress and signed and approved as laws by the White House. Once a judge has been appointed by the executive branch and approved by the Senate, they cannot be removed except in cases involving misconduct. The judicial branch may also overturn the actions of the executive or legislative branch through judicial review. Key Judicial Leaders and Personnel With regard to the day-to-day operations of the judicial system, the rulings are the responsibility of each individual court. Court administration is an important part of the judicial system and a more localized power of the courts. Let's learn about some key individuals and personnel who are part of the judicial system. The judicial branch has the power, as provided by the Constitution, to set and execute its own budget. The initial budget is prepared by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts with inputs from the various courts and the Judicial Conference committees. The final budget is set by the Judicial Conference and sent to Congress for approval. This gives Congress an important power over the courts. The appropriations committee acts on the budget, and after changes are made and the budget is accepted, the Judicial Conference decides how the funds will be allocated to the various programs, courts, and operating units. This gives the Judicial Conference power over how funds are used for implementation in the judicial system. This divides power over the administration of the judicial system between the Congress and the Administrative Office of the United States Courts and the Judicial Conference. The Role of the Supreme Court The Constitution establishes The Supreme Court as the highest court in the land. It first met on February 2, 1790, with their initial goal to set the procedure of the Court, and they did not hand down their first ruling until 1792. There are currently nine justices, one chief justice and eight
associates, in the Supreme Court. Congress sets the number of justices, with the last change to the number made in 1869. When filling a vacancy, the executive branch has the power to nominate the judge of its choice, who must then be confirmed by the Senate. A chief justice holds the office for life, unless he or she retires or is charged with misconduct and removed by impeachment. The Supreme Court does not typically conduct trial cases; instead, it hears cases brought to it through the appeals process through certiorari. Certiorari means that at least four of the justices feel that the case has sufficient merit to be heard. There are typically over 7,500 writs of certiorari filed each year, with only approximately 150 reaching the Supreme Court. Many of these are disposed of without even getting plenary review. Of these 150, less than 100 actually result in formal written opinions. The Supreme Court hears fewer cases than other federal or state courts and serves mainly as an appellate court, especially for those cases that, based on a precedent, will most likely result in important interpretations of the Constitution. As discussed earlier, the Constitution formed the three branches of the government to balance the power so that no branch would have more power than the other. This was done to protect the rights of the citizens of the United States. Let's take a look at the system of checks and balances of each branch of the government.

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The U.S. Constitution and the Bill of RightsThe U.S. Constitutio.docx

  • 1. The U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights The U.S. Constitution is divided into seven separate articles, which are numbered using the Roman numerals I–VII. Each article has sections that define and clarify the article. The Constitution is approximately 4300 words in length. Each article outlines a basic function of government. Let's learn what these articles state. When the U.S. Constitution was finalized, it was signed and sent to the states for ratification. The ratification process required 9 of the 13 states to agree to ratification before the U.S. Constitution was official. As a compromise with the antifederalists, the Bill of Right was conceived to allay their fears and to buy support for the ratification. After lengthy discussions among the states, in 1789, the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution as the first ten amendments, which aimed at protecting the rights of the citizens of the newly formed United States of America. Today we cannot imagine the Constitution without the Bill of Rights. However, the original Constitution did not have the Bill of Rights until it was amended. Let's learn about the Bill of Rights. The last amendment (Twenty-Seventh Amendment, limiting congressional pay increases) to the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1992. Ratification occurs after three-fourths of the states vote for the amendment. Congressional Outputs and Committee Work Both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate has many committees and subcommittees. It is often stated that the real work of Congress is done in committee. This is where bills are initially assigned, debated, and amended. A bill can remain in committee and never emerge. Passing through a committee is a rite of passage for bills that become law. The main responsibilities of these committees are related to legislation, but there are other committees that have other outputs. Let's learn about the different types of congressional committees.
  • 2. Legislation that reaches the U.S. House or the U.S. Senate is referred to a committee, depending on congressional law and procedures. It can go to the standing committee or a subcommittee, where the initial work is done on the legislation. After the hearings are complete, the bill undergoes a markup (or changes that have occurred to the bill as a result of the work of the subcommittee). If the bill is accepted by the subcommittee, it goes to the standing committee for a vote or further hearings. If ultimately passed by both houses of Congress the bill must be reconciled between the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate so that both legislative bodies pass exactly the same bill. The U.S. Court System The judicial branch of the U.S. government was created by Article III of the U.S. Constitution. At the time of the signing of the Constitution, there was no federal court system and the states had control over the loosely interpreted rule of law. The shaping of the judiciary was left to Congress, which decided the number of justices to serve on the Supreme Court. Congress was also granted the power to set up courts that were inferior to the Supreme Court. Since then, the results of the multitude of court cases have shaped the precedent for future rulings of the U.S. judiciary system. The federal court system is referred to as the keeper of the Constitution because it serves to protect the rights and liberties that the Constitution intends to protect. Congress has established all federal courts with the exception of the Supreme Court. These courts include the court of claims, the court of international trade, and bankruptcy courts. At present, there are ninety-four U.S. district courts and thirteen U.S. courts of appeals. Let's learn about district courts and courts of appeals in detail. Each state has its own constitution and court system. Most states have a state supreme court or an intermediate court of appeals. There also may be lower state trial courts that may be
  • 3. referred to as circuit or district courts. With regard to the U.S. constitutional system of checks and balances, the judicial branch interprets the laws set by Congress and signed and approved as laws by the White House. Once a judge has been appointed by the executive branch and approved by the Senate, they cannot be removed except in cases involving misconduct. The judicial branch may also overturn the actions of the executive or legislative branch through judicial review. Key Judicial Leaders and Personnel With regard to the day-to-day operations of the judicial system, the rulings are the responsibility of each individual court. Court administration is an important part of the judicial system and a more localized power of the courts. Let's learn about some key individuals and personnel who are part of the judicial system. The judicial branch has the power, as provided by the Constitution, to set and execute its own budget. The initial budget is prepared by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts with inputs from the various courts and the Judicial Conference committees. The final budget is set by the Judicial Conference and sent to Congress for approval. This gives Congress an important power over the courts. The appropriations committee acts on the budget, and after changes are made and the budget is accepted, the Judicial Conference decides how the funds will be allocated to the various programs, courts, and operating units. This gives the Judicial Conference power over how funds are used for implementation in the judicial system. This divides power over the administration of the judicial system between the Congress and the Administrative Office of the United States Courts and the Judicial Conference. The Role of the Supreme Court The Constitution establishes The Supreme Court as the highest court in the land. It first met on February 2, 1790, with their initial goal to set the procedure of the Court, and they did not hand down their first ruling until 1792. There are currently nine justices, one chief justice and eight
  • 4. associates, in the Supreme Court. Congress sets the number of justices, with the last change to the number made in 1869. When filling a vacancy, the executive branch has the power to nominate the judge of its choice, who must then be confirmed by the Senate. A chief justice holds the office for life, unless he or she retires or is charged with misconduct and removed by impeachment. The Supreme Court does not typically conduct trial cases; instead, it hears cases brought to it through the appeals process through certiorari. Certiorari means that at least four of the justices feel that the case has sufficient merit to be heard. There are typically over 7,500 writs of certiorari filed each year, with only approximately 150 reaching the Supreme Court. Many of these are disposed of without even getting plenary review. Of these 150, less than 100 actually result in formal written opinions. The Supreme Court hears fewer cases than other federal or state courts and serves mainly as an appellate court, especially for those cases that, based on a precedent, will most likely result in important interpretations of the Constitution. As discussed earlier, the Constitution formed the three branches of the government to balance the power so that no branch would have more power than the other. This was done to protect the rights of the citizens of the United States. Let's take a look at the system of checks and balances of each branch of the government.