The amazing background of our country!
Our nation has an amazing background!
I am so enjoying revisiting the study of our government, our republic, our history and civics. I think much of our nation’s problems today reside in lack of education regarding these issues.
This bit of information demonstrates to me that two seemingly opposing ideologies can work together! Imagine that. Our government is unique. It has a central (federal) government but this was to only oversee the 50 sovereign governments of each state. The Bill of Rights was the means to protect we the people from an overbearing, over powerful, centralized government.
But sadly, things have happened over the decades. The Federal Government has grown so large that it is unwieldy and has earned the name ‘swamp’ We have the facade of our original Republic, yet much has changed.
This question I posed on our FB site. Here are the answers:
1) It laid our governing principles-specifically, that ALL persons are created equal with certain inalienable rights & the ONLY way the government derives its power is from the consent of the governed (a.k.a. ‘we the people’)
2) It set forth a specific list of grievances against King George III
3) It formally declared war against Britain.
Our constitution is a brilliant document. It has been treated as an antiquated piece that needs updating. Nothing could be further from the truth. As I have been re-reading it and re-learning about our government’s foundation, I marvel at the well thought out complexities of what the founding fathers of our nation accomplished. Check out the preamble!
This single sentence is amazing in its power and its impact! In today’s soundbite world, this would be considered a ‘run-on’ sentence; but let’s take it a chunk at a time and marvel at it’s brilliance!
We the people of the United States…this statement alone speaks of unity in order to form a more perfect Union…’in order’ establishes the purpose of the document that follows; which is the Constitution.
Check out the verbs in the preamble. It is an action filled sentence defining the power of our Constitution.
To establish, to insure, to provide, to promote, to secure, and to order. The Constitution set forth
it’s goals in this preamble. This is what our Republic is to do for ‘we the people’.
The preamble sets forth means for Justice, Tranquility (peace), common defense (military),
general Welfare of all citizens (no rich rulers or fiefdoms), Blessings of Liberty (freedom) for
generations; all found in the document of our nation’s founding along with the Bill of Rights.
There are seven articles or parts of the Constitution that describe the function of the three
branches of our government, the individual states, amendments, debts, oath and supremacy.
Here is a quick summary of this brilliant document that has founded our great nation.
The Legislative Branch
Article I ,
Section I establishes Congress as the first branch of the government
Section II,
Clause I and II lay out the qualification for serving in the House of Representatives the Representatives serve for 2 year terms (must be at least 25 years old and a citizen of the U.S. for at least 7 years.
Clause III, IV specifics of taxes, vacancies, laid out as House responsibilities
Clause V establishes the House as the sole power of Impeachment*
Section III
Clause I establishes the role of Senate and the qualifications to serve
Clause III specifies the Senate serves for 6 year terms, chosen by respective state legislatures with the intent to insulate the senators from politics and popular passions of the day.
Clause II addresses one third of senate seats up for election every 2 years
Clause IV and V establishes the Vice President as president of the Senate with no voting rights except in case of a tie, and addressing other choosing of offices in Senate
Clause VI and VII establishes the Senate as the sole power to try all Impeachments* introduced by the House; judgment in impeachment to not extend further than removal of office as well as disqualification of holding any other office at any other time for the United States IF the impeached person is then convicted of criminal activity, they may be liable and subject to indictment according to the Law.
The Senate is also responsible for confirming or not, presidential appointments of cabinet
Members *(impeach=accusation of wrongdoing. It is not a conviction until the Senate determines criminal activity; if impeached, the person is prevented from serving again)
Section IV establishing meeting times, places, and manner for elections, (2 clauses)
Section V addressing House rules for both Senate and Representatives, need for quorum, with exceptions. Disciplinary actions are dealt with in respective House. Journal of Proceedings shall be kept by each House, with its contents made public, with some exceptions. Neither House can adjourn without consent of the other House for more than three days
Section VI addresses both Senators and Representatives pay, legalities, etc. (2 clauses)
Section VII (3 Clauses) addressing the process of Bills for raising revenue, the process of a bill becoming law. First through the House of Representatives, then the Senate and finally to the President to accept/sign or veto.
Section VIII
Clause I Congress collects taxes, duties, imposts, and excises, paying debts; providing common defense, general welfare to the United States
Clauses II-XVII address the Budget of the United States (I think I will address this in detail in another blog).
Section IX contains 8 Clauses dealing with migration, importation, bills, monies, no title of nobility while serving in the House
Section X addressing the responsibilities of the States, monies (remember the gold standard?) importing/exporting from each state, and must have Congress approval to enter into agreements with other entities, declare war, etc.
The Executive Branch
Article II
Section 1 clauses 1-4 address the powers of the president, the voting (by electoral college)
for the president, and how the electoral officers are chosen and that Congress chooses the day of the electoral college (in Dec.)
Clause 5-8 addresses issues of vacancy of POTUS; and that the president will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America (how is our POTUS doing in this?) it also outlines the pay compensation
Section 2 (3 clauses) naming the President as Commander in Chief for our military, how the president can make treaties but checks and balances of both Houses and can grant temporary fill of vacant house positions
Section 3 more specifics regarding how this office is fulfilled (ambassadors, treaties, etc.)
Section 4 President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the U.S. shall be removed from office on Impeachment for, conviction of, Treason, Bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors.
The Judicial Branch
Article III
Section 1 establishes the federal Supreme Court and all lower courts in all the states
Section 2 (3 Clauses) that address how the courts function. The judicial branch determines if laws and practices are Constitutional. All trials, except in cases of impeachment, shall be done by jury, in the state where the crime occured
Section 3 (2 Clauses) addresses issues of treason
Article IV 4 Sections with 5 clauses addressing the rights and powers of each state’s Governments
Article V with two thirds of both Houses, propose new amendments or two thirds of several states. It must then be ratified by three fourths of several states to ratify.
Article VI (3 Clauses) addressing debts of the nation, treaties made under the U.S.A. authority. it binds by oath, that all members of the Senate and Representatives, to support the Constitution. (how are your representatives doing in this?)
Article VII ratification establishment of the Constitution
