US History

U.S. History Study Guide

Article V- Amendment Process Amendments are proposed by a two-thirds vote of each house of Congress or by a special convention called by Congress upon the request of two-thirds of the state legislatures. Amendments are ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures or by state conventions. Article VI Supremacy Clause Article VI sets up a hierarchy of laws in the Unites States. The Constitution is the “supreme law of the land” and supersedes intera-national treaties. International Treaties supersede federal laws; federal laws (later to include federal regulatory agency directives) supersede state constitutions, state laws and local laws respectively. All federal and state officials, including judges, must take an oath to support and defend the constitution. Article VII- Ratification The article specified the ratification process necessary for the Constitution to take effect. Nine of the original thirteen states had to ratify the Constitution for it to become operative. 7.15 Amendments to the Constitution The Amendments to the Constitution guarantee certain individual rights and amend the original dictates of the Constitution. The first ten amendments are known as the Bill of Rights. • Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and government petition (1791) • Right to bear arms in a regulated militia (1791) • Troops will not be quartered (housed) in private citizens’ homes (1791) • Protects against unreasonable search and seizure (need for search warrant) (1791) • Protects the rights of the accused, including required indictments, double jeopardy, self- incrimination, due process and just compensation. (1791) • Guarantees a speedy and public trial, the confrontation by witnesses, and the right to call one’s own witnesses on behalf (1791) • Guarantees a jury trial (1791) • Protects against excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment (1791) • States that all rights not encumbered are nonetheless retained by the people (1791) • States that all powers not specifically delegated to the federal government are retained by the states (1791) • States may not be sued by individuals (1798) • Dictates that electors will cast separate ballots for president and vice president; in the event of no clear winner, the House will select the president and the senate the vice-president (1804) • Abolished Slavery (1865) • Extended citizenship to all persons; made Confederate debt void and Confederate leaders

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