Articles by James Caldwell

Constitutional FAQ Answer #124 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q124. “If a proposed amendment violates the Constitution, should the Supreme Court be able to block its ratification?” A. With only one exception, an amendment to the Constitution cannot, by...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #125 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q125. “On the Checks and Balances Page , it says that a legislative check on the legislature is that only the House can originate revenue bills. I’ve been told that only the House can...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #126 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q126. “Was George Washington the first President of the United States?” A. This is a question that is commonly asked of students in high school – the answer seems obvious — yes, of...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #127 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q127. “Can a president be impeached during a war?” A. Looking at the Constitution, there are several places where impeachment and war are mentioned (impeachment in Article 1, Sections 2 and...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #128 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q128. “Does the Constitution set any requirements for potential cabinet members, such as age or residency?” A. A scan of the Constitution itself reveals that there is nothing therein that...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #116 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q116. “I am wondering who actually was the first to sign the Constitution and when was it signed?” A. The answer to the second question can be found quite easily by checking the Constitution...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #117 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q117. “How did the President’s Cabinet get its name?” A. Like many parts of the American political system, the idea of a cabinet was borrowed from Great Britain. Hundreds of years ago, the...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #118 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q118. “I remember reading that if the citizens are unhappy with the way the Government is running the country they can choose to, I don’t know how to put it but, basically remove all members...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #119 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q119. “‘Lost Cause’ revisionists claim that the Fourteenth Amendment was a hatchet-job, illegally passed, and, therefore, quite unconstitutional. Can you help me answer this charge?” A....

Constitutional FAQ Answer #12 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q12. “Can Congress set up an ethics committee to separate hard journalism from tabloid journalism?” A. I’m certain that such a proposal would A) never pass and B) would be declared...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #120 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q120. “Since it is true that the president must be a naturally born citizen, does the vice president also have to be a naturally born citizen?” A. The Vice President has the same...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #121 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q121. “What if the President and Vice President die and the succession goes to a person who is an American citizen but not by birth. Is this possible?” A. It is possible that this scenario...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #11 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q11. “Can tabloids be restricted constitutionally? I don’t mean censor, but can government label tabloids as they label records with explicit lyrics?” A. First, it should be clarified that...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #110 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q110. “Does the President have the authority to cancel the 1972 ABM treaty without the advise and consent of the senate? The power is given to the President to make treaties with the advise...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #111 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q111. “OK, I read the answer to Question 25 but I’m confused because of all the talk of military tribunals and loss of rights for terrorists caught in Afghanistan. What’s the deal?” A....

Constitutional FAQ Answer #112 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q112. “If titles of nobility are prohibited by the constitution, why then does the U.S. Supreme Court bestow the title of ‘honorable’ to the judges that at seated there? For that matter,...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #113 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q113. “What is the right to privacy and where can I find it in the Constitution?” A. The right to privacy is not a part of the Constitution, at least not in so many words. The right to...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #114 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q114. “I always thought that treason was the only crime defined in the Constitution, but a friend of mine insists it is not, though he refuses to say what the others are. Can you help?” A....

Constitutional FAQ Answer #115 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q115. “What is the impeachment process?” A. The Constitution details impeachment in Article 1, Section 2 , Article 1, Section 3 , Article 2, Section 3 , and Article 3, Section 2 . The word...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #103 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q103. “I have heard that the U.S. Constitution is based on a document called the ‘Iroquois Confederation’. Is this true, and if so what parts of the Constitution came from this...