Part A Consitution Work: Articles 1-3

The Preamble states the Constitution was created in order to make America as a whole, better for the people. And if it is followed properly, it will create a society where the people and their freedom are protected. The Preamble is simply saying that the Constitution will change America into an ideal and justified place for the people to live.

Article I LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
- Divided into 2 parts in order to create a balance: House of Representatives and Senate
- Most responsive to the people
- Representatives represents their own state
- Is able to limit the president by deciding on the speaker
- Have the ability to impeach the president
- Congress is required to meet with the President on January 3
- Decide on punishments and penalties
- Must keep journal
- House of Representatives start tax bills
- Congress can override the President's veto if 2/3 agree upon it
- Congress can borrow money
- Have the power to create clear, simple system of trade
- Regulates land and navy
- Create laws, as well as rules for the government
- Congress controls how immigrants become citizens and how to deal with bankruptcies
- Congress is also able to control: the value of money, the mail system, technological studies, lower courts
- Able to declare war
- Create and regulate armies

Article II EXECUTIVE BRANCH
- The President is required to swear oath to the Constitution
- President becomes the commander in chief of both the navy and the army
- Is able to grant pardons
- Has to give a state of Union address occasionally
- Adjourn Congress if 2 houses are divided about it
- Receive ambassadors and commission officers
- It is the president's duty to make sure the laws of the US are faithfully executed

Article III JUDICIAL BRANCH
- Have to maintain their “good behavior” and judgments (therefore their salary cannot be reduced during their term)
- The Supreme Court handles cases involving the Constitution, federal laws, treaties and diplomatic officials, international cases between the US and another country, between 2 states(no longer applies; restricted in 1795 by the 11th amendment)/ citizens of 2 states.
- Is able to appeal judgments of lower courts
- First ones to hear and decide cases (foreign ambassadors and individual states)

While I was doing this assignment, I did not have any feelings towards the work. I just felt like it was just a part of what we were supposed to do as students. But in terms of the information that I learned, I felt somewhat annoyed. I was annoyed that we did not study the actual Constitution when we were learning about it earlier in middle school. In addition, studying this made me realized the contradiction between the Preamble and the condition we are in today, and that aggravated me as well.

Five Insights/Questions
1) Although the Preamble states that the Constitution was written "in order to form a more perfect union," it appears that it creates a separation between the people and the government. The Constitution actually aids the government more and give them more power, while in the Preamble it made it seem like it would benefit the people.
2) Are we following the Constitution to its full intentions? Why or why not?
3) Why is it that there are so many specifications in Article 1: Judicial Branch? Does it have to do with it being the most responsive to the people?
4) How does the government revise the Constitution? What process do they have to go through in order to change the original clauses? Is this process similar to how a bill becomes a law?
5) How can a country truly be just and "establish justice", if a judge's salary is their source of good behavior and good judgment?