Creating a Constitution – Example 1
Bicameral: government: having, consisting of, or based on two legislative chambers.
Example of a Bicameral Set-Up for Constitutional Government
(Based on the Constitution of the United States)
Preamble
We the People……
Article I
Section 1: Congress
All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the ___________, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.
Section 2: The House of Representatives
The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several ________, and the Electors in each _______ shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the _________ Legislature.
No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of ________ Years, and been ______ Years a national of ____________, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that _____________ in which he shall be chosen.
The number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every _________ Thousand, but each __________ shall have at Least one Representative.
When vacancies happen in the Representation from any ________, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.
The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other Officers.
Section 3: The Senate
The Senate of the ____________ shall be composed of ________ Senator(s) from each ________, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.
No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of ________ Years, and been ________ Years a national of ____________, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that ___________ for which he/she shall be chosen.
The Vice President of the _______________ shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.
The Senate shall choose their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the Office of President of _____________.
Section 4: Elections
The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of choosing Senators.
The Congress shall assemble at least __________ in every Year, and such Meeting(s) shall be on the ___________ in ___________, unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day(s).
Section 5: Powers and Duties of Congress
______________ shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide.
Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.
Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same; and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any question; be entered on the Journal.
Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.
Section 6: Rights and Disabilities of Members
The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of ____________.
No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of ____________, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under _______________, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office.
Section 7: Legislative Process
All Bills shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on Bills.
Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it becomes a Law, be presented to the President of ____________; If he/she approves he/she shall sign it, but if not he/she shall return it, with his/her Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration __________ of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by __________of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by Yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him/her, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he/she had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.
Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of _____________; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him/her, or being disapproved by him/her, shall be repassed by ____________ of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.
Section 8: Powers of Congress
The Congress shall have Power __________________________________provide for the common Defense and general Welfare of _____________________.
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations.
To establish a uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout __________________;
To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the _______________;
To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries; (Copyright and invention patents)
To constitute Tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court;
To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas;
To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of land patents;
To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of _____________, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of _______________, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ______________) as may, by Cession of the people, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of ______________.
To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of _________________, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
Section 9: Powers Denied Congress
The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.
No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.
No Capitation or other direct or indirect Tax shall be laid.
No Tax or Duty shall be laid.
No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one _______________ over those of another: nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one _____________, be obliged to enter, clear.
No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published bi-yearly.
No Title of Nobility shall be granted by foreign monarch or government.
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
The powers not delegated to the government formed by this Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the people, are reserved to the people respectively.
This is only an example and has no legal or lawful standing.