US Constitution Baby! Part One

Does Productivity know no bounds? Apparently not.

After a couple more chapters of the US Senate book and multiple mentions of the Constitution (which I have never read) I felt like maybe I started in the wrong spot. So I did a quick Google search, no reason to pay for it when it is readily available online from multiple places for FREE.

So I clicked the first link in google, Constitute Project.

It has a bunch of other constitutions and when they were last revised. I briefly thought of reading a different countries, but wasn't prepared for some of the reads and the endless Google searches they would have spawned...so I didn't. That being said, The Heritage Foundation is a bit better for reading the U.S. Constitution...has little articles on different parts, the controversial bits, the hard to understand bits....it is amazing.

The following is anything I had to look up or didn't understand without a quick search, and there was a lot I had to look up. So much so that this is just for the 1st article (which in case you wondered, is all Congress). O.o

Stuff I had to look up:

• Writs of Election: Basically calling for an election. Usually after someone is no longer in Congress for one reason or another and they need a replacement. I think the ‘Writ’ part of it threw me.
• Power of Impeachment: Okay, so most know this is the ability to oust the President. And they can remove other people then just the office? Did you know only the House of Representatives can do it? And only the Senate can hold the trial with Chief Justice presiding.
• Oath of Affirmation: Exactly what it sounds like. Affirming an oath.
• Quorum - Quorum is basically the minimum amount of people showing up to do the job.
• Privileged from Arrest - Outdated now, but was originally used so that members of congress could not be arrested while in session. It helped ensure people weren’t arrested and detained unlawfully for political reasons.
• Impost and Excises  - this relates to taxes on the federal level, imports, exports, licenses, goods. The only thing it supposedly doesn’t cover is income tax...which I don’t think they had back then.
• Marque and Reprisal  -  Basically the ability to take names and kick ass, and keep, sell and profit from their lack of foresight. (Marque actually means ‘Reprisal’ in French)
• Writ of Habeas Corpus - is complex. Basically though, if you are being imprisoned and have not been told why you can file this form and take it to court. If they have no reason to detain you, it's possible to snag a 'Get Out of Jail Free Card'.
• Duty of Tonnage - basically a port fee. It's supposed to encompass taxes and such too, but it seems to be a 'Your using our stuff, pay for it' tax.

I also wrote some notes, just as summations for what each section of Article One to try and cement it in my memory. They are lame, and hold legit no candle to The Heritage Foundation...so go there.