Constitution+Questions+JD


 * 1. Of which state are you a citizen?**

~I am a citizen of the United States and the current state I reside in. //(pg. 25, Amendment 14, Section- 1)//

Senate? The Presidency? If not, why not?**
 * 2. Are you eligible for the House of Representatives? The

~I am not eligible for the House of Representatives because I have not attained the age of twenty five years. I have been a citizen for seven years in the United States, and I won't be an inhabitant of the state. //(pg. 1, Article- 1, Section- 2: No person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the age of twenty five years...)// I am not eligible for Presidency at this age for I have to be thirty five years old. However, if I was that age, I would be eligible for my parents and I are citizens of the United States. //(pg. 10, Article- 2, Section- 1: ...neihter shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained to the age of thirty five years...)// No I am not because you must be 30 years of age to be the senator. //(pg. 3, Article- 1, Section- 3: No person shall be senator unless they obtain the age of 30.)//

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?**
 * 3. Bill Dodge, son of two United States citizens, was born in**
 * Niger during his parents’ African travels. Ousseini Abdoulaye

~Only Bill Dodge is both eligible to run for President because Bill Dodge's parents were born in the United States even though he was born in Niger. Also, he has been a United States citizen for over fourteen years. Ousseini Abdoulaye can't run for President because even though he was a United States citizen for over fourteen years, niether him nor his parents were born in the United States. //(pg. 10, Article- 2, Section- 2:// //No person shall be eligible of being president except a natural born citizen of the United States.)//

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?**
 * 4. The original Constitution contemplated the continuation

~I think that slavery is not tolerated by the Constitution because it states that it is not reliable for emancipationof any slave. //(pg. 27, Amendment- 14, Section- 4: ...or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave...)//

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?**
 * 5. Assume that the free population of South Carolina in

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

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?**

Constitution?**
 * 8. What is the only use of the word “right” in the original

~The only time you see the word right is in the Amendments. //(pg. 21, Amendment- 1: ...or the **right** of the people peaceably to assemble...)//

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

dent?**
 * 10. What is the maximum time anyone may serve as Presi-

~8 years. //(pg. 9, Article- 2, Section- 1: He shall hold his office during the term of four years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same term, be elected, as follows.)//

be amended?** ~The first and fourth clauses, of the ninth section of the 1st article. //(pg. 15, Article- 5:// //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.)//
 * 11. What is the only part of the Constitution that may never

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**
 * 12. Speaking of amendments, name the commercial activity

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

~If two thirds of both houses think i tis necessary, they could add amendments to the Constitution, or, two thirds of the Applcatation of the Legislatures could call a convention in adding amendments. //(pg. 15, Article- 5: 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 the proposing Amendments...)//

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.**
 * 14. José and Maria Nazarena are citizens of El Salvador.

~Jesus is a citizen of the Untited States. //(pg. 25, Amendment- 14, Section- 1:)//

State of the Union address. As White House legal counsel, what do you advise?**
 * 15. In a fit of pique, the President decides to skip this year’s

~I think the President should postpone the meeting to a later date. //(pg. 12, Article- 2, Section- 3:// //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.)//

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?**
 * 16. In a fit of pique (probably provoked by the flap over the

~I think that the House stops the debate and doesn't give any thought into lowering their pay. I say this because according to the Constitution the President's pay cannot be decreased during his term and the Supreme Court Justice's can't either. //(pg. 12, Article- 3, Section- 1 + pg. 11, Article- 2, Section- 1:// //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.)//


 * 17. Before 1913, who chose Senators? After 1913?**

~Before 1913, Legislatures chose the Senators. //(pg. 2, Article- 1, Section- 3: The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each state, [chosen by the Legislature thereof,]* for six years, and each Senator shall have one vote.)// After 1913, they changed it form legislatures to the people. //(pg. 27, Amendment- 27: The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, selected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote.)//

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.)
 * 18. Steve Scursso, a candidate for the House of Representa-

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?**

~The United States as a country makes money for all states, so if you have 5 hawaiian dollars, it would be the same as having 5 Californian dollars. //(pg 8, Article- 1, Section- 10: No state shall enter inot any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money;...)//

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?**
 * 21. Speaking of purses, your cousin Rhonda left hers at your