Omar Bennett
The United States Constitution, beginning with the words We the People, is composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights. Article I describes the Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government. Article III outlines the judicial power of the United States, which is vested in the Supreme Court and inferior courts established by Congress. Amendments to the Constitution, such as the Fourteenth Amendment granting citizenship to former slaves, have expanded the protections and rights enshrined in the original document. The Constitution's seven articles define the basic framework of the federal government and outline the powers and responsibilities of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution's Preamble and seven articles
The US Constitution is a document that acts as a merger, uniting a group of states with different interests, laws, and cultures. It vests the power of the union in the people, uniting its citizens as members of a whole. The US Constitution consists of a preamble, which outlines the purpose of the document, and seven articles that define the basic framework of the federal government.
The Preamble of the US Constitution reads:
> 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.
Article I of the US Constitution describes the Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government. It establishes the Congress as consisting of a Senate and House of Representatives, with all legislative powers vested in this body. The House of Representatives is composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states.
Article II establishes the executive branch of the federal government, which consists of the President of the United States. It outlines the powers and duties of the President, including the role as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.
Article III establishes the judicial branch of the federal government, vesting the judicial power in one Supreme Court and such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. It outlines the jurisdiction of the federal courts and establishes the trial by jury for all crimes, except in cases of impeachment.
Article IV outlines the relationship between the states and the federal government. It establishes the duties and responsibilities of the states, including the admission of new states and the protection of each state's governance.
Article V outlines the process for amending the Constitution. It establishes the role of Congress and the state legislatures in proposing and ratifying amendments, with certain clauses shielded from amendment.
Article VI establishes the Constitution as the supreme law of the land and asserts that federal law takes precedence over state law. It also establishes the requirements for public officials to uphold the Constitution.
Article VII outlines the process for ratifying the Constitution, stating that the ratification of the conventions of nine states shall be sufficient for the establishment of the Constitution.
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Amending the Constitution
The process of amending the US Constitution is outlined in Article Five. This article stipulates that two-thirds of both Houses of Congress must deem it necessary to propose amendments, or two-thirds of the state legislatures can apply for a convention to propose amendments. In either case, amendments become valid when ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures or conventions.
The US Constitution has been amended several times since its adoption in 1787. The original text of amended articles is usually retained, with provisions repealed by amendments under Article V indicated by brackets or italics. The focus of each article, however, remains unchanged.
Amendments have addressed a range of issues. For example, the Fourteenth Amendment (1868) granted citizenship to former slaves and imposed new limits on state power, expanding the protections of the Constitution. The Fifteenth Amendment (1870) prohibited the use of race, colour, or previous servitude as criteria for voting. The Sixteenth Amendment (1913) authorised Congress to levy an income tax without apportioning it among the states.
More recent amendments include the Twentieth Amendment (1933), which changed the date on which a new president, vice president, and Congress take office, shortening the transition period. The Seventeenth Amendment changed the way senators were elected, replacing the original system where senators were elected by state legislatures with direct popular vote.
Other amendments include the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment, which had prohibited the transportation or importation of intoxicating liquors into the United States, and the addition of the Nineteenth Amendment, which prohibited denying or abridging the right to vote on account of sex. The Sixth Amendment addresses the right to a speedy trial, the right to a public trial, and the right to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation.
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The Bill of Rights
The US Constitution is composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments, the first 10 of which are known as the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights establishes rules and regulations regarding the functioning of the federal government, the legislative branch, and the rights and liberties of citizens.
Article I of the Constitution describes the Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government. It establishes the Senate and the House of Representatives as the two chambers of Congress, with the power vested in the latter to propose amendments to the Constitution. The House of Representatives is composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the states, with each state having a varying number of representatives based on its population.
Article III of the Constitution outlines the judicial branch of the federal government, vesting judicial power in the Supreme Court and inferior courts established by Congress. It grants the Supreme Court original jurisdiction in cases involving ambassadors, public ministers, and consuls, as well as those where a state is a party. It also establishes the right to a jury trial for all crimes, except impeachment, and defines treason against the United States.
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The Supreme Court
The US Constitution is composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. Article III of the US Constitution establishes the judicial branch of the federal government and its powers. This branch is headed by the Supreme Court, which is the highest judicial body in the country.
The Court's decisions have had a significant impact on various aspects of American life, including civil rights, criminal justice, and federal-state relations. One notable example is the Fourteenth Amendment, which the Court interpreted to make most provisions of the Bill of Rights applicable to state and local governments, thus expanding the protections of the Constitution to all citizens.
In conclusion, the Supreme Court, as established by Article III of the US Constitution, is an integral part of the country's system of checks and balances. Its role in interpreting the Constitution and reviewing federal laws ensures that the principles of justice, liberty, and equality enshrined in the Constitution are upheld and applied consistently across the nation.
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The US Congress
The US Constitution is composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. Article I describes the US Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government. Congress consists of a Senate and a House of Representatives.
The House of Representatives is composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states. The qualifications of electors in each state must be the same as those of electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislature. The House of Representatives can impeach the President.
Senators are elected by direct popular vote. Prior to the Seventeenth Amendment (1913), senators were elected by state legislatures. The Twentieth Amendment (1933) shortened the transition period between Election Day and the beginning of Congressional terms.
Congress has the power to propose amendments to the Constitution. Amendments must be ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states or by conventions in three-fourths of the states. Congress can also call a convention to propose amendments upon the application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the states.
Congress has the power to declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water. It can also raise and support armies, but appropriations of money for this purpose cannot exceed two years. Congress can pass legislation to prohibit the importation of slaves and levy an income tax.
Congress has the power to define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas and offences against the law of nations. It can also constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court. The judicial power of the United States is vested in one Supreme Court and such inferior courts as Congress may establish. The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls, and in cases in which a state is a party. In all other cases, the Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction, with Congress making exceptions and regulations. The trial of all crimes, except impeachment, must be by jury and held in the state where the crime was committed.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution is composed of the Preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments.
The seven articles of the US Constitution define the basic framework of the federal government. Article I describes Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government. Article III describes the judicial power of the United States, which is vested in one supreme court and in such inferior courts as Congress may establish.
The first 10 amendments of the US Constitution are known as the Bill of Rights. The Fourteenth Amendment (1868) granted US citizenship to former slaves and all persons subject to US jurisdiction. It also contained new limits on state power, including equal protection of the laws. The Fifteenth Amendment (1870) prohibits the use of race, colour, or previous condition of servitude in determining which citizens may vote. The Twentieth Amendment (1933) changed the date on which a new president, vice president, and Congress take office.
