1/15/08
other nations have unitary systems: all power and authority from one place
power flow: central government -> territorial subunits -> people

federalism: shared power over same people in same territory between a central body of power and local territorial bodies of power

The Virginia Plan followed the teachings of Baron de Montesquieu (separation of powers)

article 1: tells what congress can do (powers of congress, 2 parts(house/senate), method of election)
house members chosen every 2 years

unicameral: one part of congress (nebraska)
bicameral: two parts of congress (all other states and US government)
impeachment: official charges, doesn't necessarily mean in trouble

constitutional summary/decoding:
if you can vote for members of the largest part of the state legislature, you can vote for members of teh house of reps of the US
you have to be at least 25 years old, min of 7 years citizen in US, and live in the state you're elected for to be a rep
reps and $$ divided among states w/ respect to population, pop=free ppl+3/5 of slaves, no indians (changed by 14th amendment)
14th amendment: reps apportioned according population, pop=free ppl, no indians living on reservations
1st census w/in 3 years of 1st meeting of congress, every 10 years after that, <= 1 rep per 30,000 ppl, each state has at least 1
if someone leaves the house of reps for any reason, state has an election to vote
house will internally elect speaker, officers; only house of reps can bring impeachment on them (DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE)
2 senators per state chosen by state legislature, term is 6 years, senators have one vote
edited by 17th amendment: direct election of senators by the people, same rules as house of reps
divide senators into thirds to be re-elected every two years; for the very first term, 1st class had 2 years and 2nd class had 4 years to get everyone on a rotating 6 year term
last part changed by 17th amendment: governor calls election to fill vacancies, legislature CAN give governor power to appoint until next election
be at least 30, citizen for 9 years, must be resident of state where electedbe at least 30, citizen for 9 years, must be resident of state where elected