Consitution+Questions+AB

Constitution Questions: 1. Of which state are you a citizen? Section 1 Page 25 I am a citizen of the United States and of the state that I currently live in. 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. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges**
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2. Are you eligible for the House of Representatives? The Senate? The Presidency? If not, why not?

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? Article: 2 Section: 1 Bill Dode is the only one eligible to serve as president. He is a natural born citizen and is over the age of 35 years old and has been at least 14 years as a resident in he United States. Even though he was not born in the United States his parents were two United States Citizens. But Ousseini Abdoulaye was born in Niger and his parents were citizens of Niger. "No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, shall be eligible to the Office of President; niether shall any person be elible 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"**
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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?

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?

8. What is the only use of the word “right” in the original Constitution? Amendment 1 The only time you see the word "right" is in the first Amendment. "...or the right of the people peaceably to assemble..."**
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9. When is Inauguration Day? Is it the same as the first day of a new congressional term? Amendment 20 & Page 11 Ariticle: 2 Section: 1 Inauguration Day is when The President ...** 10. What is the maximum time anyone may serve as Presi- dent? Article: 2 Section: 1 8 years is the maximum time anyone may serve as President. "He shall hold his office during the Term of four years, and, together wit the vice president, chosen for the same trem, be elected, as follows"**
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 * "****Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation: — "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." And no it is not the same day of a new congrssional term. "The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin."**
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11. What is the only part of the Constitution that may never be amended? Article: 5 Every state in the senate should have the same number of votes, no matter what. "and that no state, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate."**
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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.) Article: 5 1. Two Thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary,then it goes on to the states. 2. Or on the Application of the legislatures of two thirds of several States shall call a convention for proposing Amendments. And then it is sent to the states to be approved by three quarters of the legislature convention.**
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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.
 * Jesus would be a citizen of the United States because he was born here.**

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?

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?

17. Before 1913, who chose Senators? After 1913? Article: 1 Section: 3 And the 17th Amendment Before 1913 the two senators were "chosen by the Legislature thereof" and the 17th Amdendment changes it to "elected by the people thereof" So after 1913 The People chose the senators.**
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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? Ariticle: 1 Section: 10 If I have 5 Hawaiian dollars in my purse then I have 5 dollars to spend in Connecticut because the United States makes all money the same. "No state shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confedereation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin Tender in Payment of Debts"**
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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?