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46. Article 2 Overview
Article 2 Overview Article 2 of the Constitution concerns the executive branch of the American Government. The Article both assigns powers to the executive branch and determines exactly how the executive branch is formed. The executive branch primarily takes the form of the President and the Vice President, though there are also the Government officials who make up the Cabinet, which is described..
47. Article 5
Article 5 of the United States Constitution is one of the most vital in regards to the Constitution, as it is the portion of the document that specifically stipulates the ways in which the United States Government can make adjustments to its most sacred code of rules.  Article 5, in many ways, represents an important element of the Constitution: its malleability.  ..
48. Article 6
Article 6 Article 6 of the U.S. Constitution implemented three particular laws and conditions in the form of three clauses, the latter of which would completely change the focus of American Government for some time to come.  The first, and largely the most short term of these conditions, was the clarification that all of the debts incurred and contracts enacted by the nation pr..
49. Article 7
Article 7 Article Seven of the U.S. Constitution may be one of the most simplistic of all the Constitutional Articles, but it nevertheless is weighted by a great deal of history.  To quote the Article exactly: "The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the same." In simplest..
50. Articles of Confederation Overview
Articles of Confederation Overview BackgroundThe Articles of Confederation was the first implemented national policy after the establishment of the United States of America, as a result of their independence from England. The citizens of the new nation were scarred as a result of their existence under the monarchy of King George II. As such, the authors of the Articles of Confederation opted to remove all contro..
51. Bicameral Legislature Background Overview
Bicameral Legislature Background Overview The concept of a bicameral legislature has its foundations as early as Ancient Greece and Rome. Though a more modern application of bicameral legislature is most evident in medieval Europe, when two houses composed of the aristocrats and the commoners was developed for representation of the estates within a realm.The essential purpose of a bicameral legislature was to provide f..
52. Bill Of Rights Overview
Bill Of Rights Overview The Bill of Rights is the first ten Amendments in the United States Constitution. Adopted in 1777, the original Constitution was limited in detailing the rights of the individual American, opting instead to primarily focus on establishing the rights and powers of an effective Federal Government. Individual freedoms were initially governed by varying State Constitutions. Ma..
53. Current Membership of the Supreme Court
Current Membership of the Supreme Court In the discussions that have been held of the various Supreme Courts found throughout American history, one of the most pressing questions has been the current membership of those bodies. Supreme Courts are grouped in historical terms by the identity and duration of term of their various Chief Justices, but the backgrounds and philosophies of the individual Associate Supre..
54. Dawes Act Text
The Full Text of the Dawes ActAn Act to Provide for the Allotment of Lands in Severalty to Indians on the Various Reservations, and to Extend the Protection of the Laws of the United States and the Territories over the Indians, and for Other Purposes.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in all cases..
55. Declaration of Independence Overview
Declaration of Independence Overview BackgroundThe Declaration of Independence was authored in 1776 by Thomas Jefferson, with the help of fellow political leaders, such as John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. Ratified on July 4th, 1776, the Declaration of Independence became the first political doctrine of its kind, advocating for a governing body whose purpose was to serve the citizens that it represented - a contra..
56. Declaration of the Rights of Man
Declaration of the Rights of Man What is the Declaration of the Rights of Man?The Declaration of the Rights of Man was on of the most fundamental documents of the French Revolution.  The Declaration of the Rights of Man was drafted over a period of 6 days between August 20th and August 26th, 1789 by the National Assembly of France.  The Declaration of the Rights of Man was, like the Declaration of In..
57. Edmund Randolph
Founding Fathers: Edmund RandolphRandolph was born into a well-established Virginia family on August 10, 1753 in Williamsburg, Virginia. Edmund Randolph was tutored and later attended the College of William and Mary. After graduating, Edmund Randolph studied law under his father John Randolph and his Uncle Peyton. He then passed the Virginia bar, and started practicing law in W..
58. Elbridge Gerry
Founding Fathers: Elbridge GerryElbridge Gerry was born in on July 14, 1744 at Marblehead, MA, as the third of twelve children. Elbridge Gerry’s mother was the daughter of a merchant in Boston. His father was politically active and wealthy merchant-shipper who had previously been a sea captain. After attending Harvard College at the age of 14 and graduating in 1762, Elbridge ..
59. Election of the Speaker Overview
The Speaker of the House of Representatives acts as the presiding officer for the House. The position was created in 1789 by the United States Constitution under Article I, Section 2: "The House of Representatives shall chuse [sic] their Speaker and Other Officers." The Speaker has various roles that have changed throughout time since the office's original implementation. Origi..
60. Enabling Act Text
2071. Rule-making power generally(a) The Supreme Court and all courts established by Act of Congress may from time to time prescribe rules for the conduct of their business. Such rules shall be consistent with Acts of Congress and rules of practice and procedure prescribed under section 2072 of this title. (b) Any rule prescribed by a court, other than the Supreme Court, u..