This is a long one

Article II - The Executive Branch

Section 1 - The President
The President and Vice President stay in office for 4 years.
Election: Each state appoints Electors. The number of Electors is equal to the number of Senators and Representatives of that state. A person who has an "office of trust"(Representative, Senate, etc) cannot be an Elector. The Electors vote by ballot for two people (who can't be both in the same states as the Electors). They then make a list of everyone voted for and the number of votes for each and send it to the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate opens the lists and counts the votes in front of the Senate and House of Representatives. The person with the most votes becomes President. If more than one person has a majority and equal votes, then the House of Representatives chooses by ballot one of them to be President. If no one has a majority, then the top five are voted on again by the House. (Previously, the Vice President was whoever came in second place for President. Now, the Vice President is voted for separately.) If the House does not choose the President when they need to before march 4th of the following year, then the Vice President acts as President. If the vote of the Vice President doesn't have a clear winner, the Senate votes for who will be Vice President.
Congress can choose what day is voting day, but it has to be the same through the USA. You have to be a natural born citizen, 35 years old, and lived in the US for 14 years to be President. The terms of the Office of President and Vice President end at noon on Jan 20th and the Senators and Representatives at noon on Jan 3. Congress meets once a year at noon on Jan 3 unless by law they appoint a different day. If the President Elect dies before starting his term, the Vice President Elect becomes President. The Congress can declare who shall act as President if neither the President or the Vice President qualify. If the Vice President's spot becomes vacant, the President can nominate a Vice President who then is confirmed by a majority vote by both Houses of Congress.
A President can write to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives and say he is unable to do his duties. Unless he writes another statement to the contrary, the Vice President becomes Acting President. If the Vice President and a majority of the principal officers of the executive departments write a declaration to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House that the President is unable to do his duties, the Vice President becomes Acting President. But if the President then writes a declaration that says he can do his duties, he resumes his powers unless the Vice President and majority within 4 days again write to say he can't do his duties. Then, the congress will decide the issue. They must meet within 48 hours. They have 21 days to determine by 2/3 vote of both Houses that the President is unable to do his duties. the Vice President then continues to be Acting President otherwise the President keeps his office.
The President will receive a paycheck, but that cannot be increased or decreased during his term, and he can't receive any other pay from the US.
When he is sworn into office he must say "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, Preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the United States."

We the states...

Section 10 : Powers prohibited of states

No state can enter a treaty, alliance, or confederation.
States can't grant letters of Marque (allows you to get revenge on a country)
No making other bills of credit (money). Only can make gold or silver.
No ex post facto law (increasing the punishment on a crime and then applying that to people who have already committed it).
No granting titles of Nobility.
No law can be made that stops people from fulfilling their contracts.
States cannot put any duties and taxes on imports and exports unless approved by congress or it is necessary for doing their inspection laws. The produce of the duties and taxes shall be for the use of the Treasury of the United States.
All laws can be revised and controlled by congress.
No state can tax ship cargo, keep troops or ships of War in times of Peace, can't enter into a compact with another State or foreign power, and can't engage in war unless invaded or in such danger that no delay can be made.

Bad pics = sorry

Look!!! I have a baby!!!! Isn't it sooo cute!! I never understood what I was looking at with other people's ultrasounds, but I can see it on mine and it is awesome!! I decided I could never tell because they were all probably bad copies like this. It is pretty clear in the original picture. You can see it's fat belly and everything, so you will just have to come over if you want to see it. Proof there really is something in there growing! It is almost 2 inches long now. Oh yes...for you who did not know...I am pregnant!

Communication

I have a little trouble remembering to communicate my thoughts to others, I just assume they know my intentions. (Seriously, how come you don't just know?). I got several comments about how Ryan didn't get a birthday post. The idea was that spouses of my siblings get a blog post, and siblings get a phone call. I guess that isn't good enough though...so I will do both. Here is a late one for Ryan, and to make up for it's lateness he will get 10 things listed.

RYAN BARLOW (also known as Henry)

1. He has the arguing power to convince anyone of anything...and make them do what he wants.
2. He is really talented at art
3. He is really talented with the guitar
4. He is very creative and is always thinking up new ideas with James
5. He is fun to be around
6. He kicks everyone's butts at Mario Kart (and basically anything else if you give him the chance)
7. He is a good husband
8. He has beautiful girls
9. He is pretty smart
10. He is patient and understanding

And yet another birthday....

Garrett, you get the scary clown picture. Happy Birthday!

5 great things about Garrett:
1. He is a tease
2. He is very handy at fixing things
3. He is great to his wife
4. He is very knowledgeable about cars (and drives them very fast. Watch out if he offers to give you a fun ride)
5. He is fun to be around

Happy Birthday!!!!

Happy Birthday Lonna!

Here are 5 great things about Lonna:

1. She is a problem solver.
2. She is always thinking of others.
3. She is very patient.
4. She is stylistic.
5. She is very beautiful especially with her elegant face.

I hope your day is great Lonna and full of relaxing things!

Section 9

Section 9 - Limits on Congress

Before the year 1808, Congress could not stop states from allowing migration, or importation. But Congress could put a tax on importation (no more than $10 per person).
Congress cannot stop Habeas Corpus (meaning you cannot be imprisoned without reason and they are required to give a reason if you ask) except in cases of rebellion or invasion.
Congress cannot pass bills to make a crime already committed more punishable (Ex. a person who robbed a store, and afterward a law is passed for the death sentence for robbery, that person cannot be punished accordingly because the crime was committed before the bill was passed).
No Bill of Attainder can be passed (this takes away a person's civil rights, without a real trial).
Previously, taxes could not be made unless in proportion to the number of people, but that has been changed to where taxes can be laid without doing so proportionally.
No taxes can be made on exported material. No duties to be paid between states. States should not favor one state over another in regulation of commerce or revenue of ports.
Money cannot be taken from the Treasury unless needed to because of laws. A record must be kept of expenditures and it should be published.
No titles of Nobility will be granted and no person in office can accept a present, salary, office, or title from any king or prince unless Congress says it is ok.