( CNN Student News ) -- Introduction September 17 , 2008 marks the 221st birthday of our government . On this date in 1787 , 39 men changed the course of history by signing the U.S. Constitution . But this document is not just some relic of the past -- it continues to guide the way we live our lives . Each time there is a case that addresses the roles of the U.S. government or the rights of its people , the courts interpret the words written in the U.S. Constitution to determine whether the law is in accordance with the Constitution . . This CNN Student News One-Sheet examines some connections between four contemporary issues and the U.S. Constitution . Federal Elections and Office Requirements In November , all 435 seats in the House of Representatives , 35 seats in the Senate , and the presidency are up for election . Can just anyone run for these offices ? No . To serve in the U.S. House of Representatives , a person must be at least 25 years old , be a U.S. citizen for at least seven years , and live in the state he or she will represent . To serve in the Senate , a person must be at least 30 years old , be a citizen for at least nine years , and live in the state he or she will represent . To serve as president , a person must be `` a natural-born citizen '' , at least 35 years old , and be a resident of the U.S. for at least 14 years . This year 's race for the White House has produced several milestones . Hillary Clinton is the first woman to win more than one state in the primaries . Barack Obama is the first black Presidential nominee . Sarah Palin is the first Republican female vice-presidential candidate . If John McCain wins the presidency , he will become the oldest non-incumbent ever elected president . U.S. Constitution Connection : Which part of the U.S. Constitution tells us the qualifications for members of the House of Representatives and the Senate ? Article I . It also tells us how long the terms are for each office and its duties . Which section of the U.S. Constitution describes the qualifications and duties of the executive branch ? Article II . It also defines the Electoral College , which selects the president . Immigration One of the constitutional issues that you 've heard a lot about in the news lately is immigration , or the process of coming into the U.S . Immigrants come to the U.S. for a variety of reasons : Some want to escape political or religious persecution ; some come to the U.S. to work ; others come here for an education . Some immigrants enter the U.S. through legal means , with the paperwork that the U.S. government requires . Others enter illegally . The main difference between an immigrant and a U.S. citizen is that a citizen can vote and hold office . But an immigrant can become a citizen through a process called naturalization . Who decides what rights immigrants have and what laws restrict immigration ? That 's up to Congress . This past spring and summer , there was much debate in Congress over immigration , and there were demonstrations around the U.S. on both sides of the issue . U.S. Constitution Connection : Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution defines citizenship ? The 14th Amendment , ratified in 1868 , defines U.S. citizens as `` all persons born or naturalized in the United States . '' Gun Control From 1976 until this year , Washington , D.C. did not allow residents to own handguns . The Supreme Court struck down the ban in June with the District of Columbia v. Heller decision . The Court decided that the U.S. Constitution does guarantee an individual the right to own firearms . However , this does not mean that all gun regulation is unconstitutional . U.S. Constitution Connection : What part of the U.S. Constitution is at the heart of the gun control debate ? The Second Amendment states , `` A well regulated Militia , being necessary to the security of a free State , the right of the people to keep and bear Arms , shall not be infringed . '' Many who favor gun control interpret this amendment to mean that states shall keep militias , but that an individual 's rights to own firearms may be restricted . Gun rights advocates argue that this amendment ensures individuals the right to own firearms without restrictions . Habeas Corpus Habeas corpus provides detainees with the right to question the reason for their detention . Do suspected terrorists and foreign fighters held by the U.S. military at Guantanamo Bay retain this right ? In 2006 , Congress passed the Military Commissions Act that stripped detainees of their habeas corpus rights by declaring that these prisoners are not within the federal courts ' jurisdiction , and that the leased military base in Cuba is outside U.S. borders . Federal courts affirmed the MCA . In June , the Supreme Court overturned the lower court 's decision , ruling that Guantanamo Bay is within the jurisdiction of U.S. law , and that foreign prisoners held by the U.S. military do have a right to challenge their detention in U.S. civilian courts . U.S. Constitution Connection : What part of the U.S. Constitution rules on habeas corpus ? Article I not only defines the duties of Congress , but also the limitations placed on it . Sources : CNN.com , The Constitution Center .
Use this One-Sheet to help your students understand the U.S. Constitution . Contentious issues have cropped up throughout America 's history . These issues from 2008 revolve around the U.S. Constitution .