Jonah Patel
The United States Constitution, including its amendments, is available in print and online. The Statutes at Large is the official collection of session laws and codes, which includes the text of the Constitution, its amendments, treaties, and presidential proclamations. To find a specific statute, you can search by citation, topic, or full-text search. Online databases such as Westlaw, Lexis, and the U.S. House of Representatives Office of the Law Revision Counsel provide access to statutes and allow for full-text searching. If you have an incomplete citation, you can use a classification table to find the relevant section of the code.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Finding statutes | By Citation, By Topic, By Full-Text Search |
| Statute classification | Listed in classification tables |
| Online versions | Cornell University Law School, Legal Information Institute, Table of Popular Names, U.S. House of Representatives Office of the Law Revision Counsel, Westlaw, Lexis |
| Print versions | NYU Law Library, Harvard Library |
| Tools | Research Guide to Comparing State Laws and Constitutions |
| Statute types | U.S. Statutes at Large, Federal Code |
| Statute contents | Laws, concurrent resolutions, proclamations by the President, proposed and ratified amendments to the Constitution, reorganization plans, text of the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, Constitution, amendments to the Constitution, treaties with Indians and foreign nations |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution's original text
The US Constitution is the supreme law of the United States. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Constitution's original text, inscribed by Jacob Shallus on parchment, is on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum. The spelling and punctuation of the transcribed version reflect the original.
The Constitution begins with the words: "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." The phrase "We the People" represented a new thought: that the people, not the states, were the source of the government's legitimacy.
The Constitution's main provisions include seven articles that define the basic framework of the federal government. The first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into three branches: the legislative, consisting of the bicameral Congress (Article I); the executive, consisting of the President and subordinate officers (Article II); and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts (Article III).
Articles IV, V, and VI outline the rights and responsibilities of state governments, the states in relation to the federal government, and the shared process of constitutional amendment. Article VII establishes the procedure used by the 13 states to ratify the Constitution.
The Constitution also includes 27 amendments, which become operative once ratified by three-fourths of the States (38 out of 50 states). The eighteenth article, for example, repealed the prohibition on the transportation or importation of intoxicating liquors. The Ninth Amendment (1791) declares that individuals have other fundamental rights besides those stated in the Constitution.
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The Bill of Rights
The First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion, speech, the press, assembly, and petition. It prohibits Congress from establishing an official religion or restricting the practice of any faith, ensuring religious liberty. It also protects the rights of citizens to engage in political expression and seek redress from the government, fostering a culture of open debate and political participation.
The Second Amendment protects the right of citizens to keep and bear arms. It was adopted to ensure that citizens could maintain a militia for defence and security purposes, though its interpretation has been a subject of debate in modern times.
The Third Amendment prohibits the quartering of soldiers in civilian homes during peacetime without consent. This amendment was a response to the practice of housing soldiers in private residences, which occurred during the American Revolutionary War.
The Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments protect various legal rights of citizens, including protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, the right to due process of law, and the right to a fair trial. These amendments ensure that individuals are afforded fundamental legal protections, such as the right to remain silent, protection against self-incrimination, and the right to a speedy trial by an impartial jury.
The Seventh Amendment guarantees the right to a trial by jury in certain civil cases, while the Eighth Amendment prohibits excessive bail, fines, and cruel and unusual punishments.
The Ninth and Tenth Amendments are often referred to as the "rule of construction" amendments. The Ninth Amendment states that the rights not specifically enumerated in the Constitution are retained by the people, emphasizing the importance of unenumerated rights. The Tenth Amendment clarifies that powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved for the states or the people, reinforcing the federalist nature of the US government.
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The Articles of Confederation
The final draft of the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union was completed on November 15, 1777, with consensus achieved by including language guaranteeing that each state retained its sovereignty. The document consisted of six sheets of parchment stitched together, with the last sheet bearing the signatures of delegates from all 13 states.
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The role of the President
The President of the United States is one of the most important public offices in the nation, with significant responsibilities for the country's functioning and serving its citizens. The President's role has evolved over the years, with increased powers and prestige. As the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the President holds substantial military power and is responsible for making treaties and appointments within the federal government, with Senate approval.
A key aspect of the President's role is legislative leadership. The President can sign congressional bills into law or veto them, with Congress having the power to override a veto with a two-thirds majority vote. The President also proposes an annual budget, setting legislative priorities. During the State of the Union address, the President outlines goals and reflects on the previous year, communicating directly with the American people.
The President's role in foreign policy is also significant. The Department of State, led by the Secretary of State, executes the President's foreign policy vision. The President directs diplomacy, supported by a team of advisers and ambassadors. The President's role has become more visible, with increased travel and direct appeals to the nation through various media platforms.
Additionally, the President appoints members of the Cabinet, subject to Senate confirmation. The Cabinet plays a crucial role in the Presidential line of succession and includes heads of major federal agencies, such as the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Transportation.
The Vice President, elected alongside the President, is ready to assume the Presidency if needed. The Executive Office of the President (EOP) was established to provide the necessary support for the President to govern effectively.
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The US Constitution today
The US Constitution, which came into effect on March 4, 1789, consists of seven articles that outline the basic structure of the federal government. The first three articles embody the separation of powers, dividing the government into three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial. The legislative branch, as described in Article I, is made up of the bicameral Congress, with the House of Representatives being chosen every second year by the people of the states. Article II establishes the executive branch, consisting of the President and subordinate officers. The judicial branch, outlined in Article III, includes the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
Articles IV, V, and VI delve into the concepts of federalism, outlining the rights and responsibilities of state governments in relation to the federal government and detailing the process of constitutional amendment. Article V, for instance, specifies the two-step process of amending the Constitution. Firstly, a proposal for an amendment must be adopted by a two-thirds majority in the Senate and House of Representatives or through a national convention requested by two-thirds of state legislatures. Secondly, three-fourths of the states must approve the proposed amendment, either through their state legislatures or state ratifying conventions.
The US Constitution has been amended 27 times since its inception, with the Bill of Rights, comprising the first 10 amendments, being ratified on December 15, 1791. The Constitution guarantees relatively few rights compared to other countries' constitutions, and it has been described as one of the most difficult constitutions to amend. Despite this, the US Constitution remains a foundational document that continues to shape the country's political system and the relationship between its governmental branches.
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