Article 1 of the Constitution

Article 1 of the Constitution

Article 1

• Talks about the legislative branch of the Federal Government.

• It explains the 2 parts of Congress and how each part works.

• It talks about the powers of Congress.

• There are 10 sections to this Article.

Article 1 Section 1

Congress has the power to make laws. Congress is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Multiple Choice

What makes up Congress?

• House of Representatives and Senate

• School board and Courts

Article 1 Section 2

• Members of the House of Representatives are elected every 2 years. The number of Representatives is determined by the population of each state.

• Representatives have to be at least 25 years old, and a resident of the United States for the past 7 years.

• Representatives have to live in the state that they are running in.

• The House of Representatives will choose a Speaker of the House (leader).

• The House can vote to impeach federal government officials.

Multiple Choice

The members of the House of Representatives are elected every 2 years.

• True

• False

Article 1 Section 3

• There are 2 Senators from each state. They are elected every 6 years.

• Every 2 years one-third of the Senators will be elected.

• Senators have to be at least 30 years old, be citizens of the United States for at least 9 years, and live in the state that voted for them.

Section 3 Continued

• The Vice President is the president of the Senate (leader). He/She does not get a vote unless there is a tie.

• The Senate is in charge of the trial if the House impeaches an official. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is the leader in these trials. 2/3 of the Senate must agree to impeach someone on trial.

• If an official is found guilty in an impeachment trial, the Senate does not decide on any punishment. There has to be another trial for that.

Multiple Choice

The President is in charge (the leader) of the Senate.

• True

• False

Article 1, Section 4

• Each state decides when and where it will have elections for the House of Representatives and the Senate.

• Congress will meet at least once a year.

Multiple Choice

Congress can only meet one time each year.

• True

• False

Article 1, Section 5

• For Congress to do business, a majority (more than half) must be at the meeting.

• Congress decides how to run its meetings and a member can be fired if 2/3 of members agree.

• Congress keeps a journal and publishes it. It shows how members vote.

• When Congress is in session, no member can take more than 3 days off without permission.

• Congress must meet in the same city.

Multiple Choice

Congress keeps a journal to keep secrets that are discussed.

• True

• False

Article 1, Section 6

• Members of Congress are paid with money from the Treasury of the United States (bank of the federal government)

• Members of Congress cannot be arrested while Congress is in session, unless it is a serious crime.

• Members of Congress cannot have any other government job while they are a member of Congress.

Multiple Choice

Members of Congress can not have any other government jobs.

• True

• False

Article 1, Section 7

• A Bill, or new law can start in either House. Amendments, or changes, can also start in either house.

• Bills about taxes MUST start in the House of Representatives.

• If both Houses approve a bill it goes to the President. The President can sign it into law or veto it.

• If the President doesn't sign or veto a bill within 10 days, it will become a law.

Multiple Choice

Any bill about taxes has to come from

• The Senate

• The House of Representatives

• The courts

• The President

Article 1, Section 8

• Congress is in charge of asking for and collecting taxes, borrowing money for the U.S., trading with others, making laws about naturalization and bankruptcy, printing money.

• Punishing counterfeiters, the mail system, giving patents and copyrights, setting up lower courts, declaring war, building the army, making rules for the armed forces, building up the militia.

• Running the government in Washington D.C., and making laws to carry out the Constitution.

Multiple Choice

Congress is in charge of setting up the United States Mail System.

• True

• False

Article 1, Section 9

• Congress cannot make a law to punish a person for a serious crime. There must be a trial.

• Congress must treat all ports the same. Cannot change taxes on one, must be all.

• Congress controls the money in the Treasury of the United States.

• The government can not give people titles.

Multiple Choice

Congress can give people of the United States titles.

• True

• False

Article 1, Section 10

• States cannot make treaties with other countries or make their own money.

• States cannot make laws to punish people, there must be a trial.

• States cannot change the tax charged on items sent out or brought in from other countries.

Multiple Choice

This last section was all about what the states can and cannot do.

• True

• False