Principal Points Of Constitutional Law
Congress must meet at least once a year.
One State cannot undo the acts of another.
Congress may admit as many new States as desired.
The Constitution guarantees every citizen a speedy trial by jury.
A State cannot exercise a power which is vested in Congress alone.
One State must respect the laws and legal decisions of another.
Congres
cannot pass a law to punish a crime already committed.
U. S. Senators are chosen by the legislatures of the States by joint
ballot.
Bills for revenue can originate only in the House of Representatives.
A person committing a felony in one State cannot find refuge in another.
The Constitution of the United States forbids excessive bail or cruel
punishment.
Treaties with foreign countries are made by the President and ratified
by the Senate.
In the U. S. Senate Rhode Island or Nevada has an equal voice with New
York.
When Congress passes a bankruptcy law it annuls all the State laws on
that subject.
Writing alone does not constitute treason against the United States.
There must be an overt act.
Congress cannot lay any disabilities on the children of a person
convicted of crime or misdemeanor.
The Territories each send a delegate to Congress, who has the right of
debate, but not the right to vote.
The Vice-President, who ex-officio presides over the Senate, has no vote
in that body except on a tie ballot.
An act of Congress cannot become a law over the President's veto except
on a two-thirds vote of both houses.
An officer of the Government cannot accept title of nobility, order or
honor without the permission of Congress.
Money lost in the mails cannot be recovered from the Government.
Registering a letter does not insure its contents.
It is the House of Representatives that may impeach the President for
any crime, and the Senate hears the accusation.
If the President holds a bill longer than ten days while Congress is
still in session, it becomes a law without his signature.
Silver coin of denominations less than $1 is not a legal tender for more
than $5.00. Copper and nickel coin is not legal tender.
The term of a Congressman is two years, but a Congressman may be
re-elected to as many successive terms as his constituents may wish.
Amendments to the Constitution requires two-thirds vote of each house of
Congress and must be ratified by at least three-fourths of the States.
When the militia is called out in the service of the General Government,
they pass out of the control of the various States under the command of
the President.
The President of the United States must be 35 years of age: a United
States Senator, 30; a Congressman, 25. The President must have been a
resident of the United States fourteen years.
A grand jury is a secret tribunal, and may hear only one side of a case.
It simply decides whether there is good reason to hold for trial. It
consists of twenty-four men, twelve of whom may indict.
A naturalized citizen cannot become President or Vice-President of the
United States. A male child born abroad of American parents has an equal
chance to become President with one born on American soil.