2. The first three articles of the Constitution establish/define the three branches of government - read these articles. What did you learn that you didn't already know about our government?

The legislative branch established a bicameral Congress, consisting of two chambers. The lower chamber consists of the House of Representatives, which is proportioned by population; and the upper chamber (the senate), which consists of two senators from each state. Bills to levy taxes have to originate in the House, but other bills may originate in either chamber. Article 1, section 8 of the Constitution limits Congress's authority to a listing, or enumeration, of certain powers in eighteen paragraphs; The Electoral College itself is chosen in a manner set by the legislators of each state. Under the executive branch, if no person receives a majority of the Electoral College vote, then the election goes to the House of Representatives, where each state gets one vote. The Electoral College also chooses a vice president who presides over the Senate, casting votes in case of a tie. Under the judicial branch, the Constitution extends the authority of the federal courts to hear cases to certain classes of parties to a suit, cases involving the United States, ambassadors and other public ministers, suits between two or more states or citizens from different states, and to certain cases, most notably cases arising under the Constitution, laws, and treaties of the United States.