constitution+questions+ij

1. Of which state are you a citizen? //AmmendmentXIV, Section1, Pg.14// //All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizen of the United States and of the state wherein they reside.//
 * All U.S citizens are considered citizens of the state that they live in**

2. Are you eligible for the House of Representatives? The Senate? The Presidency? If not, why not? //Article1, Section3, Pg.3 Article1, Section2, Pg.1 Article2, Section1, Pg.10 No Person shall be a Representative// //who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen. No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen. No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.//
 * I am not eligible for the House of Representatives, the Senate, or President. You have to be at least twenty-five to be in the House of Representatives, at least thirty to be in the Senate, and at least thirty-five to be president.**

3. Bill Dodge, son of two United States citizens, was born in Niger during his parents’ African travels. Ousseini Abdoulaye was born in Niger on the very same day; Ousseini’s parents, however, were citizens of Niger. Ousseini later moves to the United States and becomes a United States citizen. Assume that both Bill and Ousseini are 40 years old and have lived in the United States for at least last 20 years. Is either Bill or Ousseini eligible to serve as President? //Article2, Section1, Pg.10// //No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.//
 * Bill Dodge is eligible to be the president. This is because Bill is a natural born United States citizen. His parents were U. S citizens,he was just born in Africa. Ousseini was not naturally born in the USA, and his parents aren't USA citizens.**

4. The original Constitution contemplated the continuation of slavery in those states that permitted slavery as of 1787. Find the first instance of the word “slave” or “slavery” in the Consti- tution. If you don’t find either of these words in the original Constitution, what are the hints that the original Constitution contemplated and tolerated slavery? //Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. Amendment XIII//

5. Assume that the free population of South Carolina in 1850 was 1 million, that its slave population was 500,000, and hat its untaxed Indian population was 100,000. For purposes of determining South Carolina’s representation in the House and direct tax obligations to the federal government, what was the population of South Carolina?

6. The Constitution refers to only three types of unlawful behavior, and a fourth may be inferred from the text of a general prohibition. Name all four.

7. Does the Constitution contemplate capital punishment? Where? Which provision or provisions would you invoke if you wished to attack the constitutionality of the death penalty? //No person shall be deprived by life, liberty, or property.// Amendment 5
 * The Constitution does contemplate capital punishment. It is in Amendment 5. I would not make any provisions to this amendment because it says that no person shall be depriced by life, liberty, or property. I see this as meaning that the government can not take your life your from.**

8. What is the only use of the word “right” in the original Constitution? //To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors and exclusive Right to their respective Writing and Discoveries.//
 * The word right is used in article 1 section 8.**

9. When is Inauguration Day? Is it the same as the first day of a new congressional term?

10. What is the maximum time anyone may serve as Presi- dent? //Ammendment XXII, Section1, Pg.31// //No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this Article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.//
 * The maximum time a president can serve for is eight years.**

11. What is the only part of the Constitution that may never be amended? //Article 5, Pg.15//
 * The 1st and 4th clauses of the 9th section of the 1st article.**

12. Speaking of amendments, name the commercial activity that the Framers of the Constitution declared off-limits to regu- lation via constitutional amendment until 1808 (i.e., 21 years af- ter the framing of the original Constitution).

13. Still speaking of amendments, how can they be made? (Name two methods.) 2.) 2/3 of the state's legislature calls for a Constitutional Convention to propose the ammendment. Then, it is sent to the states to be approved by three quarters of the legislature/convention. Article5, Pg.15** //The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress;// //Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article;// //and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.//
 * 1.) 2/3 of both houses vote for the majority, then it goes on to the states.

14. José and Maria Nazarena are citizens of El Salvador. They enter the United States illegally. Maria then gives birth to Jesus in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Consulting only the Constitu- tion, name one country of which Jesus is a citizen. //All persons born or naturalized in the united states and subject to there jurisdiction thereof are citizins of united states and in the state that they reside.// //Amendment 14//
 * Jesus would be a U.S citizen because he was born in the United States.**

15. In a fit of pique, the President decides to skip this year’s State of the Union address. As White House legal counsel, what do you advise? //Article2, Section3, Pg.12// //He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.//
 * I would tell the President to meet on a different date.**

16. In a fit of pique (probably provoked by the flap over the State of the Union address), the House begins debating a bill to cut the President’s pay and Supreme Court Justices’ pay. As counsel to the Speaker of the House, what do you advise? //Article3, Section1, Pg.12 Article2, Section1, Pg.11// //The judicial Power of the United States shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.//
 * I suggest to have the House end the debate. I wouldnt even be concerned about the issue because according to the Constitution the President's pay can not be decreased during his term and neither can the Supreme Court Justices's.**

//The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.//

17. Before 1913, who chose Senators? After 1913? //Article1, Section3, Pg.2 Ammendment XVII// //Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second Year; and if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies.//
 * Senators were chosen by the Legislature. Now, after, 1913 Senators are elected "by the people".**

//The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.//

18. Steve Scursso, a candidate for the House of Representa- tives, plans to issue a campaign promise to oppose any Supreme Court nominee who will not commit to upholding a woman’s right to abortion. As Steve's campaign manager, do you run the ad? (Base your answer strictly on your interpretation of the Constitution, not on any political considerations.)

19. Matt Nagel ultimately defeats Steve Scursso in a hotly contested race for Congress. The victorious Matt now represents Texas in the House of Representatives. His political “lone star” having risen swiftly, he now seeks a national politi- cal platform. He would like to be the running mate of her fellow Texan, Governor Renee DeLeon, the Reform Party nominee for President. As Matt’s political adviser, can you point out the constitutional flaw in the congressman’s vice-presidential am- bitions?

20. You have 5 Hawaiian dollars in your purse or wallet...how much of that can you spend in CT? //No state shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confederation; grant letteers of marque and reprisal ;coin money;emitt bills of credit ; make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment in debts;pass any bill of attainder, x ex post facto law, or law inpairing the obligation of contracts or grant any title of nobility. Article 1 Section 10 page 8//
 * There is no such thing as a Hawaiian dollar or a Connecticut dollar. In the U.S, we have a national currency, not by state.**

21. Speaking of purses, your cousin Rhonda left hers at your recent family reunion. Upon rifling through the purse, you dis- cover a certified mail receipt, a Confederate $10 bill, a District of Columbia driver’s license, a copy of the Koran, and a Susan B. Anthony dollar. Whatever their market value, these items make up a constitutional treasure trove. Find any and all constitutional provisions that relate to the contents of Rhonda’s purse. Inciden- tally, does it make a constitutional difference if you open the purse in your capacity as an FBI agent or if you are simply a nosy busybody?