Simone Lawson
The US Constitution, which was ratified in 1787, is made up of seven articles and 27 amendments. The first 10 of these amendments are known as the Bill of Rights. The US Constitution is famously concise, containing just 7,591 words, including its 27 amendments. Interestingly, 110 of these words have been lost to time, forming Section 2 of the 14th Amendment, which was designed to protect voting rights.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of words in the US Constitution before amendments | 7,481 |
| Number of words lost from the US Constitution | 110 |
| Number of words in the US Constitution with amendments | 7,591 |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution is short, with 7,591 words
The US Constitution is an impressively concise document, comprising just 7,591 words, including its 27 amendments. This word count is especially noteworthy when considering the profound impact and extensive scope of the document, which acts as the supreme law of the United States.
The Founding Fathers meticulously debated and crafted each word and sentence to ensure the creation of the best possible government for the country's future. Their efforts resulted in a Constitution that established the government and outlined its fundamental principles and organization.
The Constitution is structured into several key components, beginning with the famous Preamble, which introduces the document's purpose and guiding principles. Following the Preamble are seven articles that form the structural foundation of the Constitution. These articles were signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788, marking the official establishment of the US government.
The 27 amendments to the Constitution further contribute to its overall word count. The first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791, and are particularly significant in protecting various civil liberties and rights, including freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, and protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.
Interestingly, despite the Constitution's relatively short length, 110 of its words have been effectively "lost to the ages." These forgotten words comprise Section 2 of the 14th Amendment, which aimed to safeguard voting rights by mandating reduced representation in the House of Representatives for states that deny their citizens the right to vote.
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The first 52 words introduce the articles and amendments
The United States Constitution is an important document that sets out the highest law of the land. It is made up of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The first 52 words, which form the preamble, are:
> "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 preamble introduces the intentions and principles that underpin the full text of the Constitution. It sets the stage for the document, communicating the aspirations and purpose of the framers. While it is not the law itself, it is often referred to in speeches, judicial opinions, and even popular culture as an inspirational element of American democracy.
The seven articles that follow the preamble make up the structural constitution. They were signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788. These articles provide the framework for the US government and outline the powers and responsibilities of the three branches of government: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
The 27 amendments to the Constitution further elaborate on the rights and freedoms guaranteed to the American people. The first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791, and form the foundation for individual liberties in the United States.
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The 14th Amendment addresses voting rights
The US Constitution is composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The first 52 words of the Constitution introduce the articles and amendments that follow. The first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791.
The Fourteenth Amendment addresses voting rights in several ways. Firstly, it grants citizenship to formerly enslaved people and establishes birthright citizenship, thereby granting the right to vote to many citizens, especially people of colour, who had previously been denied this right. This is further supported by the Equal Protection Clause, which establishes that all citizens should be treated equally under the law. This clause has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to mean that electoral districts within a redistricting map should contain an approximately equal number of people. This helps to ensure that minority groups are not denied an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.
The Fourteenth Amendment also provides for a proportionate reduction in a state's representation in the House when it denies the franchise to its qualified male citizens. This was affirmed in the case of San Antonio School Dist. v. Rodriguez, where the Court acknowledged the constitutionally protected right to participate in elections. Additionally, the Fourteenth Amendment addresses specific discriminations based on race, sex, and age, although age and residency requirements that restrict voting are not considered illegal as they apply equally to all Americans.
The interplay between the Fourteenth Amendment and voting rights has been a subject of judicial interpretation, with cases such as Rogers v. Lodge, City of Mobile v. Bolden, and Wise v. Lipscomb addressing claims of discrimination in redistricting maps. The Supreme Court's ruling in Shaw v. Reno in 1993 was significant as it first recognized a claim of racial gerrymandering, holding that challengers to a redistricting plan had stated a claim under the Equal Protection Clause.
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The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights
The US Constitution is composed of the Preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The first 10 amendments, ratified on December 15, 1791, are known as the Bill of Rights.
The Bill of Rights was proposed by the First Congress of the United States on September 25, 1789, and was written to address the objections raised by Anti-Federalists during the 1787-88 debate over the ratification of the Constitution. The Bill of Rights adds to the Constitution specific guarantees of personal freedoms, such as freedom of speech, the right to publish, freedom of religion, the right to possess firearms, and the right to assemble. It also includes explicit declarations that all powers not specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution are reserved for the states or the people.
The concepts codified in the amendments of the Bill of Rights are built upon those in earlier documents, especially the Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776), the Northwest Ordinance (1787), the English Bill of Rights (1689), and the Magna Carta (1215). The Bill of Rights had little judicial impact for the first 150 years of its existence. This has been attributed to three main factors by historian Richard Labunski: the time it took for a "culture of tolerance" to develop in support of the Bill's provisions, the Supreme Court's focus on intergovernmental power balances during the 19th century, and the fact that the Bill initially only applied to the federal government.
In the 20th century, most of the provisions of the Bill of Rights were applied to the states via the Fourteenth Amendment, a process known as incorporation. The Bill of Rights is on permanent display in the Rotunda of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC, and the capitalization and punctuation in the displayed version reflect the original document.
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The US Constitution has 7 articles and 27 amendments
The US Constitution is a foundational legal document that establishes a system of governance, outlining the rights and responsibilities of the federal government and serving as a framework for the nation's laws and political institutions. It begins with the famous words, "We the People," and is composed of an introductory paragraph known as the Preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments.
The seven articles of the Constitution form the structural backbone of the document, outlining the key components and principles of the federal government. They were signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788. Each article addresses a specific aspect of governance, including the organization and powers of the three branches of government: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
Article I focuses on the legislative branch, detailing the powers and responsibilities of Congress, the lawmaking body comprising the Senate and the House of Representatives. Article II pertains to the executive branch, outlining the roles and authorities of the President and Vice President. Article III addresses the judicial branch, establishing the Supreme Court and outlining its jurisdiction.
Article IV delves into the relationships between the states, including the admission of new states and the responsibilities of states towards one another. Article V outlines the process for amending the Constitution, emphasizing the role of Congress and state legislatures in proposing and ratifying amendments. Article VI establishes the Constitution as the supreme law of the land, asserting its authority over state laws and treaties.
Lastly, Article VII sets out the rules for ratification, detailing the requirements for the Constitution to come into force. While the articles establish the foundational structure and principles of governance, the amendments play a crucial role in expanding upon and refining the rights and liberties enshrined in the original document.
There have been 27 amendments to the Constitution to date. The first 10 amendments, collectively known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791, and include fundamental freedoms and protections for individuals, such as freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, and the rights of the accused in criminal prosecutions. The remaining 17 amendments address a diverse range of issues, including election processes, civil rights, and the prohibition and subsequent repeal of alcohol sales.
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Frequently asked questions
7,481 words. The US Constitution, including its 27 amendments, is 7,591 words long.
There are 27 amendments to the US Constitution. The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights.
There are 7 articles in the US Constitution.
The US Constitution is the supreme law in the United States and sets up the government of the country. It was ratified in 1787.
