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On Sunny Lane: The Series Ends

Well, here we are, at the end of our series on the U.S. Constitution. If you will remember, I started this series because people say they have certain rights and they might not, necessarily, know what their rights are. We started with the Bill of Rights and just started meandering all around the Constitution until we ended up here.

The segments have been a hodge-podge of information about the Bill of Rights, the other 17 amendments and how we elect the President and Vice President of the United States. Now, I’m going to hop, skip and jump through the body of the Constitution and do some summarizing.

In Article I, all laws affecting the Constitution are entrusted to the Congress, which is made up of a House of Representatives and a Senate. All bills must originate in the House and be sent to the Senate. Two-thirds of the members of each house must approve the bill and then it is sent to the President for ratification.

Senators were originally elected by the House of Representatives, but that procedure was changed by the 17th amendment in 1912 and relegated to the people.

The House of Representatives can bring charges of impeachment, while the Senate is charged with trying the case. The House members are chosen by the citizens and apportioned according to population, while each state is allowed two senators. The Vice President is the president of the Senate, but may not vote except to break a tie.

Section 8 of Article I pertains to the powers of Congress, such as: collecting taxes; borrowing money;regulating trade; how to naturalize citizens; uniform bankruptcy laws; coining money; punishment for counterfeiting money; establishing post offices and roads; patents and copyrights. Wait a minute! Let me catch my breath.

This section also includes: the power to create courts inferior to the Supreme Court; punish piracy; declare war; raise and support armies and a navy; and make laws concerning the seat of the U.S, government.

Section 9 of Article I deals with regulation of commerce at ports between states. No money shall be drawn from the U.S. Treasury except what the law allows. No person holding an office of trust may accept a present, emolument, office or title from the head of a foreign government.

Article II explains the method of choosing a President of the United States and what his duties are. For instance, he is the commander in chief of the army and navy. He/She has power to make treaties and appoint certain ambassadors, public ministers, consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, along with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Article II, section 3 addresses the issue of a public servant waging war against the United States, or giving aid and comfort to our enemies. A traitor can only be convicted by the testimony of two witnesses to the same act, or by confession in an open court.

Article IV goes into detail about how justice is to be served in and between the states.

Article V provides the process for making amendments to the Constitution. “...whenever two-thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to the Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments.”

Articles VI and VII deal with the ratification and implementation of the document. I was signed by drafters representing 12 states.

The original document is rather short and can be contained in a 46-page pamphlet. However, I held a two-inch thick book, just a year ago, that holds, what is called, a recent copy of the Constitution with additions. The person who passed it around the roomful of people said it has been changed through the years by executive order and Supreme Court decisions.

Politicians, especially when they are running for election, insist that the Constitution must be upheld. I wonder how many have read it and which one they read.

You can get your own pocket copy on Amazon; look it up on the Internet; look it up at your local library; or, possibly, buy it at a bookstore. Then, maybe, you will know if your elected officials are following the rules. And, maybe you should get your own copy and not take my words for it.

 

Dorothy is the author of two books—“Miles and Miracles” and “Getting It All Together “. You can purchase a book or send a comment by emailing her at dorothybutzknight@gmail.com


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