Jonah Patel
The US Constitution 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 It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789, and is composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights. The first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into the legislative (Article I), executive (Article II), and judicial (Article III) branches. The remaining articles (IV, V, and VI) describe the rights and responsibilities of state governments and their relationship with the federal government, while Article VII establishes the procedure for ratification. Amendments to the Constitution, such as the Sixteenth Amendment (1913) and the Fourteenth Amendment (1868), have expanded the scope of federal power and dramatically increased the protections of the Constitution.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The US Constitution: Preamble and 7 Articles
The US Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. It came into force on March 4, 1789, superseding the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution. The Constitution is composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights.
The Preamble outlines the purpose of the Constitution and the intentions of its framers. It begins with the famous words "We the People" and highlights the principles of democracy, limited government, and the protection of individual liberties.
Article I establishes the legislative branch of the federal government, consisting of a bicameral Congress. It outlines the powers and responsibilities of Congress, including the power to lay and collect taxes, borrow money, regulate commerce, and declare war.
Article II establishes the executive branch, consisting of the President and subordinate officers. It outlines the powers and duties of the President, including the role of Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, the power to appoint federal officers, and the ability to make treaties with the approval of the Senate.
Article III establishes the judicial branch, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts. It ensures judicial independence and outlines the jurisdiction of the federal judiciary.
Articles IV, V, and VI embody concepts of federalism and describe the rights and responsibilities of state governments, the relationship between the states and the federal government, and the process of constitutional amendment.
Article VII establishes the procedure for the ratification of the Constitution by the 13 original states. It outlines the process by which the Constitution could be adopted and the document could become the supreme law of the land.
The Constitution: Branches as Co-Equal?
You may want to see also
Article I: Legislative branch, bicameral Congress
The United States Constitution, the supreme law of the United States of America, 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 three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial.
Article I of the US Constitution establishes the legislative branch, consisting of a bicameral Congress. The word "bicameral" means that Congress has two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The two houses of Congress were formed as a result of a compromise made by the Founding Fathers during the Constitutional Convention. Delegates from larger and more populated states argued for the Virginia Plan, which called for congressional representation to be based on a state's population. Conversely, delegates from smaller states advocated for equal representation and supported the New Jersey Plan, which proposed that each state should have one vote.
The bicameral legislature structure was proposed by Roger Sherman, a delegate from Connecticut, and is known as the Great Compromise. This structure resulted in the creation of two houses: the House of Representatives, with representation based on population, and the Senate, with equal representation for each state. Some of the powers granted to Congress in Article I include regulating commerce, passing laws, the power to lay taxes, establishing post offices and post roads, and defining and punishing piracies and felonies committed on the high seas.
The Framers of the Constitution aimed to limit the power of Congress by specifying in the Legislative Vesting Clause that Congress would be a bicameral institution. This was a departure from the unicameral legislature under the Articles of Confederation, where state delegations held legislative authority. The concept of bicameralism, which refers to a legislature divided into two separate assemblies or chambers, was favoured by the Founding Fathers. They envisioned the Senate as a stabilising force, selected by state legislators rather than mass electors, to bring wisdom and deliberation to counter the "fickleness and passion" that could be present in the House of Representatives.
Strategies for Defining and Measuring Growth
You may want to see also
Article II: Executive branch, President
Article II of the U.S. Constitution establishes the Executive Branch of the federal government. The Executive Vesting Clause, in Section 1, Clause 1, provides that the federal executive power is vested in the President of the United States of America. The President holds office for a term of four years and, together with the Vice President, is elected by a number of electors appointed by each state.
Section 3 of Article II requires the President to take care that the laws be faithfully executed. This includes the authority to enforce laws and appoint agents charged with such enforcement. The President also has distinct authority over foreign affairs and is the sole representative of the nation in these matters. The President is also Commander in Chief of the Army, Navy, and Militia of the United States and has the power to grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.
Article II also grants the President the power to fill up vacancies that may happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions that expire at the end of their next session. The President is required to give Congress information on the state of the union and may recommend legislative measures and, in extraordinary circumstances, convene or adjourn Congress. The President is also empowered to receive ambassadors and other public ministers.
Finally, Article II outlines the process for removing the President and other civil officers of the United States from office. It states that the President, Vice President, and all civil officers may be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.
Warren's Decision: Brown v. Board's Constitutional Impact
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Article III: Judicial branch, Supreme Court
Article III of the US Constitution establishes the judicial branch of the federal government, which consists of the Supreme Court and other federal courts. This article outlines the powers and jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, as well as the roles and responsibilities of the judges.
Section 1 of Article III states that the "judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish." This means that the Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority in the country, with the power to interpret the Constitution and federal laws. Congress also has the power to establish lower courts as needed.
The same section also addresses the tenure and compensation of judges. It states that judges of both the Supreme and inferior courts "shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour." This means that they serve for life, unless they are impeached or voluntarily retire. Their compensation "shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office," guaranteeing financial security and independence for judges.
Article III also outlines the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. It states that the Court's original jurisdiction extends to cases affecting ambassadors, public ministers, and consuls, as well as those in which a state is a party. In all other mentioned cases, the Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction, meaning it can review decisions made by lower courts.
The article also specifies that the trial of all crimes, except impeachment, shall be by jury, and that treason against the United States is defined as "levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort."
Overall, Article III of the US Constitution establishes the judicial branch, led by the Supreme Court, and outlines its powers, jurisdiction, and the roles of its judges. It ensures the independence of the judiciary and guarantees a fair trial by jury for all citizens.
Slavery's Dark Legacy: The Constitution's Birth
You may want to see also
Amendments: XVI, XVIII, XIX, XX, XXI, XXII
The US Constitution is made up of seven articles, which were signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788. Here is some information on Amendments XVI, XVIII, XIX, XX, XXI, and XXII:
Amendment XVI
The Sixteenth Amendment to the US Constitution grants Congress the power to levy and collect income taxes from any source without regard to the census or apportionment among the various states.
Amendment XVIII
The Eighteenth Amendment, ratified in 1919, imposed a nationwide ban on alcohol, stating: "The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or Possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors... is prohibited." However, it did not explicitly prohibit the consumption of alcohol, leading to the rise of an underground market for alcoholic beverages. The amendment was eventually repealed by the Twenty-first Amendment in 1933.
Amendment XIX
The Nineteenth Amendment, ratified in 1920, guarantees American women the right to vote: "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex." The road to achieving this amendment was long and arduous, with women employing various strategies such as lecturing, writing, lobbying, and civil disobedience to win the right to vote.
Amendment XX
The Twentieth Amendment outlines the terms of office for the President, Vice President, Senators, and Representatives. It specifies that their terms shall end at noon on the 20th and 3rd of January, respectively, and that Congress shall assemble at least once per year, with meetings commencing at noon on the 3rd of January.
Amendment XXI
The Twenty-first Amendment repealed the Eighteenth Amendment, lifting the ban on alcohol and granting states the authority to regulate the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcoholic beverages. It is unique in both its ratification process and its purpose of repealing a previous amendment.
Amendment XXII
This amendment, like the others, would be inoperative unless ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states within seven years of its submission to Congress.
Exploring McCullough v. Maryland: Constitutional Issues at Play
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
There are seven articles in the US Constitution, which delineate the frame 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 (Article I), the executive (Article II), and the judicial (Article III).
Article IV, Article V, and Article 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. Article VII establishes the procedure used by the 13 states to ratify the constitution.
