Simone Lawson
The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. It consists of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into the legislative branch (a bicameral Congress), the executive branch (the President and subordinate officers), and the judicial branch (the Supreme Court and other federal courts). The Constitution also grants federal courts criminal contempt and civil contempt powers, as well as other implied powers. The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights, with Amendments 13-15 known as the Reconstruction Amendments.
Explore related products
$8.95 $8.95
What You'll Learn
The US Constitution is the supreme law
Article II describes the office, qualifications, and duties of the President of the United States and the Vice President. The President is the head of the executive branch of the federal government, as well as the nation's head of state and head of government. The 12th Amendment modifies Article II, tacitly acknowledging political parties, and the 25th Amendment further modifies it.
The Constitution grants federal courts both criminal contempt and civil contempt powers to enforce judicial decisions. Clause 1 of Section 2 authorizes federal courts to hear actual cases and controversies only, excluding cases that are hypothetical or proscribed due to standing, mootness, or ripeness issues. Clause 2 of Section 2 provides that the Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in cases involving ambassadors, ministers, and consuls, and in controversies subject to federal judicial power. Cases arising under US laws and treaties, international maritime law, and conflicting land grants of different states come under federal courts.
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution are known as the Bill of Rights. These include the right to free speech, freedom of religion, the right to keep and bear arms, the freedom of assembly, and the freedom to petition the government. Amendments 13-15 are known as the Reconstruction Amendments, including the abolition of slavery and the extension of citizenship and due process to former slaves.
The Constitution's Clause on Presidential Term Limits
You may want to see also
It superseded the Articles of Confederation in 1789
The US Constitution is composed of the Preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights. The US Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation in 1789.
The Articles of Confederation was the United States' first constitution, which served as the nation's first frame of government during the American Revolution. It was adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and came into force on March 1, 1781, after being ratified by all 13 colonial states. The Articles established a league of friendship for the 13 sovereign and independent states, with each state retaining "every Power... which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States".
The Articles of Confederation established a weak confederal government, with limited powers. It provided for a Congress with representation not based on population – each state had one vote. The central government had insufficient power to regulate commerce, assemble delegates, or raise funds.
In May 1787, the Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation. The delegates quickly decided that a new constitution was needed, rather than alterations to the existing Articles. After significant ratification debates, the new Constitution was ratified and came into effect in 1789, superseding the Articles of Confederation. The new Constitution provided for a stronger federal government by establishing a chief executive (the president), courts, and taxing powers.
The Preamble: An Intro or Part of Constitution?
You may want to see also
It's composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments
The US Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. Beginning with the words "We the People", the Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789.
The Constitution's first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into three branches. The legislative branch, consisting of the bicameral Congress, is outlined in Article I. The executive branch, consisting of the President as head of state and head of government, along with subordinate officers, is detailed in Article II. The judicial branch, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts, is outlined in Article III.
Articles IV, V, and VI embody concepts of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments, their relationship with the federal government, and the shared processes between them. Clause 2 of Section 2, for example, provides that the Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in cases involving ambassadors, ministers, and consuls, as well as in controversies subject to federal judicial power.
The Constitution has been amended 27 times to date. The first 10 amendments are collectively known as the Bill of Rights, with Amendments 13-15 known as the Reconstruction Amendments. Notable amendments include the 12th Amendment, which acknowledges political parties, the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote, and the 22nd Amendment, which introduced a two-term limit for the President.
Federal Agencies: Executive Branch's Arm?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The first 10 amendments are the Bill of Rights
The first 10 amendments to the US Constitution are known as the Bill of Rights. The amendments were ratified on December 15, 1791, and were added to the Constitution to limit the powers of the government and protect individual liberties. James Madison, then a member of the US House of Representatives, wrote the amendments. Madison's changes were initially presented as a list of amendments that would follow Article VII, as several representatives, led by Roger Sherman, objected to altering the Constitution's text.
The First Amendment prohibits Congress from making laws that establish a religion or restrict the free exercise of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the right to assemble, and the right to petition the government. The Second Amendment guarantees the right to bear arms, stating that "a well-regulated militia [is] necessary to the security of a free state". The Third Amendment states that no soldier shall be quartered in a house without the owner's consent in times of peace or war, except as prescribed by law.
The Fourth Amendment protects citizens' right to be secure in their homes from unreasonable government intrusion by requiring a warrant. The Fifth Amendment provides several protections for those accused of crimes, including the right to due process of law, protection against double jeopardy, and the right against self-incrimination. The Sixth Amendment provides additional protections for those accused of crimes, such as the right to a speedy and public trial and the right to an impartial jury. The Seventh Amendment extends the right to a jury trial in federal civil cases.
The Eighth Amendment prohibits excessive bail and fines and cruel and unusual punishment. The Ninth Amendment states that the listing of specific rights in the Constitution does not deny or disparage other rights retained by the people. Finally, the Tenth Amendment states that the federal government only has the powers delegated to it by the Constitution, and that all other powers are reserved to the states or the people.
Bureaucracy and the Executive Branch: Who's in Control?
You may want to see also
The Constitution outlines the separation of powers into legislative, executive, and judicial
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the country and is composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The first 10 amendments are collectively referred to as the Bill of Rights. The Constitution outlines the separation of powers into three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial.
The legislative branch, as per Article I of the Constitution, consists of the bicameral Congress. This branch is responsible for creating and passing laws. It includes the House of Representatives and the Senate, with representatives and senators elected by the people.
Article II of the Constitution defines the executive branch, which consists of the President and subordinate officers. The President is the head of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. They are responsible for enforcing the laws created by the legislative branch and have the power to veto legislation, although this can be overridden by a two-thirds majority in Congress.
The judicial branch, outlined in Article III, consists of the Supreme Court and other federal courts. This branch interprets the laws and ensures that they are applied fairly and equally. The Supreme Court has the power of judicial review, allowing it to determine the constitutionality of laws and actions of the other two branches. It also hears cases involving ambassadors, ministers, and consuls, as well as those that fall under federal judicial power.
The separation of powers ensures that no single branch of the government holds too much power. Each branch has specific responsibilities and serves as a check and balance on the others. This system helps to protect the rights and liberties of citizens and maintain a balanced and effective government.
In addition to the separation of powers, the Constitution also outlines other important concepts such as federalism, which describes the rights and responsibilities of state governments and their relationship with the federal government. Amendments to the Constitution, such as the Election of Senators (Amendment XVII), Prohibition (Amendment XVIII), and the Two-Term Limit on the President (Amendment XXII), further shape the country's laws and governance.
Exploring Fed 51: Its Place in the US Constitution
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments.
The Constitution outlines a federal government with 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 Constitution has 27 amendments. The first 10 are known as the Bill of Rights, and Amendments 13-15 are known as the Reconstruction Amendments. Examples of amendments include the 18th Amendment (Prohibition) and the 19th Amendment (Women's Right to Vote).
The Constitution grants federal courts criminal contempt and civil contempt powers to enforce judicial decisions. Federal courts can hear cases and controversies, including those involving ambassadors, ministers, and consuls, and those that arise under the laws of the United States and its treaties.
![Constitutional Law: [Connected eBook with Study Center] (Aspen Casebook)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61R-n2y0Q8L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
