Malcolm Rivera
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Constitution has been amended 27 times, beginning with the Bill of Rights, which consists of the first 10 amendments, ratified on December 15, 1791. 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, the executive, and the judicial. The Constitution was inscribed by Jacob Shallus on parchment and is on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Articles | 7 |
| Amendments | 27 |
| First 3 Articles | Embodies the doctrine of the separation of powers |
| First Article | Describes the legislative branch of the federal government |
| Second Article | Describes the executive branch of the federal government |
| Third Article | Describes the judicial branch of the federal government |
| Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Articles | Embodies concepts of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments, the states in relation to the federal government, and the shared process |
| Transcription | Inscribed by Jacob Shallus on parchment |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution is the supreme law
The Constitution's 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). The legislative branch is further divided into the Senate and the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives is composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the states, and the electors in each state must have the qualifications required for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislature.
Articles IV, V, and VI embody concepts of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments, the states in relation to the federal government, and the shared process of constitutional amendment. The Constitution also includes provisions for the establishment of inferior tribunals to the Supreme Court, the punishment of piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, the declaration of war, and the raising and support of armies.
The Constitution has been amended 27 times since its ratification. The process for amending the Constitution is deliberately onerous to prevent arbitrary changes. An amendment must be proposed by a two-thirds vote of both Houses of Congress or by a convention called at the request of two-thirds of the states. The amendment must then be ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures or three-fourths of ratification conventions in each state. The Constitution's original text and all prior amendments remain untouched, with amended articles still including the original text, usually bracketed or italicized to indicate which provisions no longer apply.
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It superseded the Articles of Confederation
The Constitution of the United States superseded the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the United States, on March 4, 1789. The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and served as the nation's first constitution from March 1, 1781, until 1789 when the present-day Constitution came into effect. The Articles of Confederation established a "league of friendship" for the 13 sovereign and independent states. Each state retained all powers not expressly delegated to the United States, and each state had one vote in Congress.
The Articles of Confederation had several limitations. Firstly, they did not provide for a central government with adequate powers to govern effectively. The Confederation Congress had the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers, the ability to regulate commerce, and the authority to print money. This led to disputes between the states over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade, threatening the unity of the young nation. Secondly, the Articles did not provide for the admission of new states to the Union. While the Articles included a provision for the potential admission of the Province of Quebec (referred to as "Canada" in the Articles), this did not come to fruition, and no other new states were admitted under the Articles.
The weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation became increasingly apparent, and prominent political thinkers began calling for changes to strengthen the central government. James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington were among those who feared the country was on the brink of collapse due to the inadequacies of the Articles. As a result, a Constitutional Convention was assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787 to revise the Articles. However, the delegates quickly realized that the defects in the government could not be remedied by altering the Articles, and they decided to author a new constitution instead.
The new Constitution, which remains in effect today, established a powerful central government with three separate branches: the legislative, consisting of a 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). This separation of powers addressed the limitations of the Articles of Confederation and provided a more robust framework for governing the nation.
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It defines the federal government framework
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the country, superseding the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Constitution defines the framework of the federal government, which is divided into three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial.
The legislative branch is bicameral, consisting of the Congress (Article I). The Congress is composed of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The House of Representatives is chosen every second year by the people of the several states, and the Electors in each state must have the qualifications of Electors of the most numerous branch of the State Legislature. Representatives must be at least 25 years old, be a citizen of the United States for seven years, and live in the state they represent.
The executive branch consists of the President and subordinate officers (Article II). The President is the head of state and government and is responsible for executing the laws and acting as commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
The judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court and other federal courts (Article III). This branch interprets the laws and settles disputes, with the power to explain the meaning of the Constitution as it applies to particular cases.
Articles IV, V, and VI embody concepts of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments, their relationship to the federal government, and the shared processes. These articles also include provisions for the admission of new states to the Union and the process for amending the Constitution.
The Constitution has been amended several times, with the current total of amendments standing at twenty-seven. These amendments have changed the way many constitutional clauses are interpreted, but the focus of each Article remains the same as when they were adopted in 1787.
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It outlines the legislative, executive, and judicial branches
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the country, delineating the framework of the federal government. It is divided into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. This separation of powers ensures that no individual or group has too much authority.
The legislative branch, as outlined in Article I, consists of a bicameral Congress, which is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. This article establishes the manner of election and qualifications of members of each body. For instance, Representatives must be at least 25 years old, have been a citizen of the United States for seven years, and live in the state they represent. The House of Representatives chooses their Speaker and other officers and holds the sole power of impeachment. The Senate, on the other hand, is composed of two Senators from each state, chosen for six-year terms, with each Senator holding one vote.
Article II covers the executive branch, which consists of the President and subordinate officers. The President is the head of state, leader of the federal government, and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. This branch also includes executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards, commissions, and committees.
The judicial branch, outlined in Article III, consists of the Supreme Court and other federal courts. This branch has the power of judicial review, which includes interpreting the Constitution and determining the constitutionality of laws and actions taken by the other branches. The Justices of the Supreme Court are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
The three branches of government work together and serve as a system of checks and balances. Each branch has the ability to respond to and change the actions of the others. For example, the President can veto legislation created by Congress, but Congress can also remove the President from office in exceptional circumstances.
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It has been amended 27 times
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789, and has been amended 27 times since its adoption in 1787. The Constitution's original text and all prior amendments remain untouched. Amendments become an operative part of the Constitution as soon as they are ratified by three-fourths of the States (38 out of 50 states). The Constitution's main provisions include seven articles that define the basic framework of the federal government. Articles that have been amended still include the original text, although provisions repealed by amendments are usually bracketed or italicized to indicate they no longer apply. Despite these changes, the focus of each Article remains the same as when they were adopted.
Article I describes the Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government. Section 1 reads, "All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives." The article establishes the manner of election and the qualifications of members of each body. Representatives must be at least 25 years old, be a citizen of the United States for seven years, and live in the state they represent.
Article II covers the executive branch, consisting of the President and subordinate officers. Article III covers the judicial branch, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts. Amendments 11-27 are separate from the first 10 amendments, which make up what is known as The Bill of Rights.
Some notable amendments include Amendment XI, which modified Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution, stating that the judicial power of the United States shall not extend to any suit against one of the United States by citizens of another state or foreign state. Amendment XII, passed by Congress on March 21, 1947, and ratified on February 27, 1951, limits the President to two terms in office. Amendment XVI, ratified on February 3, 1913, granted Congress the authority to levy an income tax without apportioning it among the states.
The interpretation and implementation of the Constitution have evolved over time through judicial review, legislation, and the rules and regulations of federal executive agencies. Court decisions have changed the interpretation of constitutional clauses without amending the text, and legislation has been passed to adapt to changing conditions, subtly altering the meanings of the Constitution's words.
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Frequently asked questions
The original text of the US Constitution, as inscribed by Jacob Shallus on parchment, is on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum. The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789.
The original text of the US Constitution contained seven articles, which define the basic framework of the federal government.
The founders set the terms for ratifying the Constitution, bypassing the state legislatures and calling for special ratifying conventions in each state. Ratification by 9 of the 13 states enacted the new government.
The US Constitution has 27 amendments, beginning with the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments, ratified on December 15, 1791. The original text and all prior amendments remain untouched, with any repealed provisions usually bracketed or italicized.
