ConstitutionQuestions

Constitution Questions.

1. Of which state are you a citizen?
 * ~-~All people born or naturalized in the US and subject to the jurisdiction thereof are citizens of the US and of the state wherein they reside. (CT)**

2. Are you eligible for the House of Representatives? The Senate? The Presidency? If not, why not? ~-~No person can be a senator who isnt 30, has not been a US citizen for 9 years. ~-~No person can be a Representative who isnt 25,and has not been a Us citizen for 7 years. (In other words, no)**
 * ~-~No person except a natural born citizen at the time of the Adoption of the Constitution, shall be eligiable to the Office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who isnt 35 years old, or been a resident in the US for less than 14 years.

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?
 * ~-~Bill, because he is over 35, been a resident of the US for more than 19 years, and is a Natural-Born Citizen of the US.**

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?
 * ~-~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**//

13. Still speaking of amendments, how can they be made? (Name two methods.)
 * ~-~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.**

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.)
 * ~*~He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law**

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

10. What is the maximum time anyone may serve as Presi- dent?
 * ~*~ He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term, be elected.(8years)**

17. Before 1913, who chose Senators? After 1913?
 * ~*~The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature.**

11. What is the only part of the Constitution that may never be amended?
 * ~*~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.**

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 the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.**

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.**

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 United State's citizen since Jose was born in the United States). 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.**

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?
 * ~*~I think he should move the meeting to a later date.//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.//**

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?

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).

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. How much Hawaiian money do you have in your purse or wallet?

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?