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The US Constitution is the supreme law of the land, with 27 amendments since its ratification in 1788. The Constitution is divided into seven articles, each dealing with a different topic. The principles of the Constitution include limited government, federalism, separation of power into three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial), checks and balances, and individual rights. The legislative branch is composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate, the executive branch consists of the president and vice president, and the judiciary consists of the Supreme Court and state courts. The Constitution also establishes the relationship between the states and provides a process for amending the document.
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution is the supreme law of the land
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 It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Constitution's original text and all prior amendments remain untouched. The first ten Amendments introduced and ratified in 1791 are collectively known as the Bill of Rights.
The Constitution unites its citizens as members of a whole, vesting the power of the union in the people. It consists of seven articles that 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, the executive, and the judicial.
The legislative branch consists of a bicameral Congress, with a Senate and a House of Representatives. The House of Representatives is composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the states. The executive branch consists of the President and subordinate officers, with the President being the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Navy, and Militia of the several states. The President has the power to grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.
The judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court and other federal courts. The Supreme Court is a co-equal branch of government, with the power to declare acts of Congress as unconstitutional. Federal courts may rule on whether the coordinate branches of the national government conform to the Constitution. The Constitution also establishes the concept of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments and their relationship to the federal government.
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The Constitution is divided into seven articles
The first three articles establish the three branches of the US government and their powers. Article I deals with the legislative branch (Congress), Article II with the executive branch (office of the President), and Article III with the judicial branch (Federal court system).
Article IV defines the relationship between the states, while Article V outlines the procedure for amending the Constitution. This includes the requirement for a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, or alternatively, through two-thirds of state legislatures applying to Congress, leading to a national convention.
Article VI declares the Constitution and Federal law as "the supreme Law of the Land," taking precedence over state and local laws. Finally, Article VII describes the ratification process for the Constitution, requiring nine states to enact it.
Each article is further divided into sections, and the first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, guarantee fundamental rights such as freedom of religion, speech, and assembly.
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The three branches of government
The Constitution of the United States divides the federal government into three distinct branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. This separation of powers ensures that no individual or group has too much authority. The Constitution is the source of all government powers and provides important limitations to protect the fundamental rights of US citizens.
The legislative branch makes the laws and is comprised of Congress, which includes the House of Representatives and the Senate. Congress can also confirm or reject presidential nominations for federal agencies, federal judges, and the Supreme Court.
The executive branch carries out and enforces the laws. It includes the President, who is the head of state, leader of the federal government, and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, as well as the Vice President, who supports the President and assumes their role in the event they are unable to serve. The executive branch also includes the Cabinet, which is made up of advisors to the President, including the Vice President, heads of executive departments, and other high-ranking government officials.
The judicial branch evaluates and interprets the laws and includes the Supreme Court and other federal courts. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the country and is comprised of nine Justices who interpret laws according to the Constitution. These Justices hear cases pertaining to constitutional issues and can overturn unconstitutional laws.
Each branch of the US government has the ability to respond to the actions of the others, creating a system of checks and balances. For example, while the President can veto legislation created by Congress, Congress can also remove the President from office in exceptional circumstances.
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The role of the president
The U.S. Constitution outlines the basic structure of the government and the powers that it holds. It is divided into seven articles, each covering different topics.
Article II of the Constitution concerns the executive branch of government, which includes the president and vice president, the president's cabinet, and regulatory agencies that enforce laws. The president shares power with Congress, and while they can veto a bill initiated by Congress, Congress can override this veto with a two-thirds majority vote in the House and the Senate.
The president conducts foreign affairs, which in modern times may be done through executive agreements rather than treaties. They also request legislation more aggressively than in the past. The president has a busy schedule, and the Supreme Court hears more cases than the Senate and House of Representatives.
The Constitution also outlines the relationship between the states, requiring them to give "full faith and credit" to the laws, records, contracts, and judicial proceedings of other states. States cannot discriminate against citizens of other states and must extradite those accused of crimes to other states for trial.
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Amendments and individual rights
The US Constitution has 27 amendments, beginning with the Bill of Rights, which forms the first 10 amendments, ratified in 1791. James Madison wrote these amendments to limit government power and protect individual liberties.
The First Amendment protects the freedom to speak and worship freely. It prevents Congress from making laws that establish a religion or impinge on freedom of speech. The Third Amendment prevents the government from forcing homeowners to allow soldiers to use their homes. The Fourth Amendment prohibits unreasonable search and seizure of an individual or their property without a warrant. The Fifth Amendment provides several protections for people accused of crimes, including the right to a grand jury, protection against double jeopardy, and the right to just compensation for taken property. It also includes the right against self-incrimination and the right to due process of law. The Sixth Amendment provides additional protections for the accused, such as the right to a speedy and public trial and an impartial jury.
The Ninth Amendment states that the listing of specific rights in the Constitution does not deny other rights not explicitly mentioned. The Tenth Amendment reinforces federalism by stating that the federal government only has the powers delegated to it by the Constitution. The Fourteenth Amendment has been used to claim rights to personal liberty, including travel, political affiliation, and privacy.
The process of amending the Constitution is designed to be challenging but not impossible. Amendments typically originate with Congress, which proposes changes to the Constitution in the form of amendments. These proposed amendments must then be ratified by a certain number of states before becoming part of the Constitution.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution is the supreme law of the land in the United States. It is the source of all government powers and provides limitations on the government to protect the fundamental rights of United States citizens.
The principles of the US Constitution include limited government, federalism, separation of power into three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial), checks and balances, and individual rights.
The US Constitution is divided into seven articles, each dealing with a different topic:
- Article I covers the legislative branch of government.
- Article II concerns the executive branch of government.
- Article III establishes the Supreme Court as the highest judicial power in the United States.
- Article IV defines the relationship between the states.
- Article V describes the procedure for amending the Constitution.
- Article VI declares the Constitution as "the supreme Law of the Land".
The US Constitution has been amended 27 times since its ratification. Amendments can be proposed by a two-thirds vote of both Houses of Congress or, if requested by two-thirds of the states, by a convention. In addition to structural changes, the Constitution has been interpreted differently over time, and the powers of the government and individual rights have been extended.
