The Constitution: A Brief GuideRemember this Pneomonic:Lazy Legislative Elephants ExecutiveJump JudicialRarely RelationAnd AmendmentsSleep SupremacyRegularly Ratification

LegislativeMade of two parts

• House of Representatives (Based on population)

• Senate (2 per state)

VP is president of the SenatePower to collect taxes and borrow money on the credit of the United States

ExecutiveHow a President is electedTerm limits Paid for the job and Commander in ChiefOrder of succession if the President dies in

officePresVice PresPresident pro temp of the SenateSecretary of StateSecretary of the Treasury

JudicialThe Supreme Court is the Highest Court in

the landRulings of the SC must be followed by lower

courtsPerson is tried in the state where the crime

was commited.Treason defined by someone waging war

against the US, only the traitor gets the death penalty, not traitor’s family.

Relation (AKA Federalism)New States can be created by Congress, not

under control of any other statesFederalism-relation between states and

between States and Federal GovernmentSeparate and equal

Honor debts and borrow money from each other Return fleeing criminals to stand trial

AmendmentsOne of the most important parts of the

documentAmendments or changes of Con, happen

when 2/3 of the house propose one, and ¾ of the states approve it.

Ratified in a reasonable amount of timeBill of Rights first 10 amendments to the

Constitution

SupremacyAll debts (i.e. Revolutionary War) will be

repaid before Con is ratifiedFederal Govt is more powerful (Supreme)

than state govts. Federal Laws trump State Laws

RatificationNine out of thirteen states had to ratify

(legally allow it to take affect)Unanimous ratificationRatified Sept 17th 1787

Signers from NCWilliam BlountHugh WilliamsonRichard Dobbs Spaight