Articles by James Caldwell

Constitutional FAQ Answer #87 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q87. “How long did it take to write the original Constitution?” A. The question is not as straight forward as it might sound. The Constitutional Convention made many drafts and many revisions to...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #88 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q88. “Can a sitting President be convicted of a criminal offense? Or, must he be impeached first, then tried?” A. There is no easy answer to the question, as it is a matter of interpretation. I...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #89 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q89. “If a President has civil litigation brought against him during his term in office must this be handled while he is in office? Or, can it be deferred until his term expires?” A. A civil case...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #9 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q9. “I know the order of power in the event of the death of the president is the V.P., then the speaker of the house. Where does it go from here?” A. The Constitution actually only provides for...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #90 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q90. “How many words are there in the Constitution? How many are in the Declaration of Independence? ” A. There are 4543 words in the original, unamended Constitution, including the signatures....

Constitutional FAQ Answer #91 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q91. “I have a history class and the teacher will give us extra credit if we can go to class tonight with the answer to this question… Technically, the U.S. Constitution is an illegal document…...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #92 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q92. “President Clinton has been accused of selling nuclear technology to China — how can we get him convicted of treason?” A. First, it is interesting to note that treason is the only crime that...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #80 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q80. “What was the criteria set by the framers of the Constitution for citizenship and the right to vote?” A. There is no explicit definition of citizenship in the Constitution. See the...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #81 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q81. “In current usage, both the President and Vice President are elected on the same ballot. Does the Constitution as currently amended allow for these executives to be from differing parties?”...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #82 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q82. “To whom is the president required to tender his resignation? I think it is the Chief Justice but can’t find out for sure.” A. This is not part of the Constitution, but of the U.S. Code (3...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #83 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q83. “If Clinton is impeached – does Gore have to resign? Who else would be included? Who would become President?” A. If the President is convicted in an impeachment trial, the President is the...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #84 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q84. “Who was the person who actually wrote the words of the Constitution onto paper?” A. Jacob Shallus, an assistant clerk of the Pennsylvania State Assembly, was paid $30 to transcribe the...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #85 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q85. “List the founding fathers who signed the Declaration of Independence and Constitution.” A. George Clymer, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris, George Read, Roger Sherman, James Wilson. Q....

Constitutional FAQ Answer #86 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q86. “How much power does the VP have in the Senate? I understand he is the President of the Senate and can cast a vote only in the event of a tie.” A. The Vice President is the President of the...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #75 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q75. “In the presidential election of 1800, Aaron Burr and Thomas Jefferson received the same number of votes in the electoral college. Congress chose Jefferson as President and Aaron Burr as...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #76 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q76. “Is the United States a constitutional republic? Is one of the purposes of a constitutional republic to protect the rights of minorities from the tyranny of the majority?” A. The United...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #77 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q77. “Is it unconstitutional for an organization such as the NCAA to deny athletes the right to obtain a job, or put a limit on the amount of money that a person can make? Does the 14th Amendment...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #78 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q78. “Can a president serve two consecutive terms, sit out a term and then be re-elected.” A. The first phrase in the 22nd Amendment is pretty clear: “No person shall be elected to the office of...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #79 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q79. “Does perjury fall into the category ‘high crimes and misdemeanors?’ i.e. could the president be impeached for lying to the Supreme Court?” The definition of high crimes and misdemeanors is...

Constitutional FAQ Answer #8 | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>> Q8. “I desperately need information on what the constitution may or not say about capital punishment, and the use of it.” A. The Constitution does not address the subject directly. The 5th...