U.S. Constitution 101

Neither chamber of Congress acting separately can enact a law. 

     Congress can not delegate its power to make laws to an executive department or to an administrative officer, nor can any department or officer repeal, extend, or modify an act of Congress.  But Congress may vest in executive officers the power to make necessary rules and regulations to enforce a law. 

        Article I, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution states:

     All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives. 

Article I, Sections 1 – 10 include the following:  

   The Senate 

1. How Senate is composed 

2. Eligibility Requirements for office 

3. Tenure of office 

4. By whom chosen 

5. When chosen

6. How classed

7. Vacancies

8. Vote

9. Presiding officer

10. Senate Powers

The Executive Branch of the United States of America

     Article II, Sections 1 of the U.S. Constitution states: 

The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. 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

Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.

     Article II, Sections 1 – 4 include the following:

1. Term of office

2. By whom chosen

3. Voting & Electors

4. Oath of Office

5. Salary

6. Powers & Duties

7. Vacancies

The Judicial Branch of the United States of America

     Article III, 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.

     Article III, Sections 1 – 3 include the following:

1. The Judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, 

arising under this Constitution, 

the Laws of the United States, 

and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority. . . 

  The term “Social Contract” was used by many great philosophers who added to the debate about the best and most natural form of union in a society between man, his fellow man, and the government body.  

In the fourth century B.C. great philosopher Plato put forth several central doctrines having to do with human values and human virtues, and Aristotle questioned the political status quo of oppressive government structures. 

Over the centuries, many great philosophers like Thomas Hobbes, Bernard Mandeville, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote their arguments on the Social Contract - a moral and political theory.  

Philosopher John Locke, wrote his 

Social Contract theories, and 

America's founders 

based the principles 

of their new country on 

Locke's theories of

 unalienable rights, 

such as, the

freedom & liberty 

bestowed on 

each individual as a birthright 

by the Creator of all; 

and government restraint. 

 A starting point for human association as described in John Locke’s Social Contract theory is referenced in The Declaration of Independence. 

The Declaration of Independence was the first announcement of the reasons for separation from the British Crown - and it expressed the spirit of the new association of the People.

The thirteen united States declared their desire to break their political bands with England and, 

“. . . assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them . . .

   We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; 

that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new government laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness . . ."

  John Locke and the United States of America believe in a Creator (God) as the beginning source of human life. 

It is this Creator (not a religion) that has bestowed on each individual as a birthright liberties and obligations. 

According to Locke, a person who is born into this world is considered to be born into a 

State of Nature. 

Locke defines State of Nature as, “Men living together according to reason without a common superior on earth, with authority to judge between them, are properly in the state of nature.” 

 Locke’s Laws of Nature, “…teaches all mankind, who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions: for men being all the workmanship of one omnipotent… For the law of nature would, as all other laws that concern men in this world, be in vain, if there were nobody that in the state of nature had a power to execute that law, and thereby preserve the innocent and restrain offenders.”   

 It is these words and spirit of the great philosopher John Locke’s An Essay Concerning the True Original, Extent and End of Civil Government that embrace what became America’s ideals and principles for individual freedom and government restraint.