Constitution Of 1789: A New Era For America

The United States Constitution of 1789 is the foundation of the American Government and the supreme law of the United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, which was deemed too weak, on March 4, 1789, after being ratified by 9 of the 13 states. The Constitution established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting relations with foreign governments. It consists of three parts: the Preamble, the Articles, and the Amendments. The Constitution's first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing federal authority between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government.

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A federal government with more specific powers

The United States Constitution, implemented in 1789, established a federal government with more specific powers, a critical development in the nation's history. This new form of government represented a significant shift from the less structured and less powerful national government under the Articles of Confederation.

The Constitution granted the federal government explicit and enumerated powers, providing a clear framework for its authority and responsibilities. These powers were specifically vested in the three branches of government: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, each with its own unique roles and duties.

The legislative powers were vested in the United States Congress, a bicameral body consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Congress was given the authority to pass laws on a wide range of topics, including taxation, commerce, and the establishment of federal courts inferior to the Supreme Court. It also held powers to borrow money on the credit of the United States, regulate bankruptcy, coin money, establish post offices, and promote progress in science and arts by securing exclusive rights for a limited time to authors and inventors.

The executive powers were vested in the President of the United States, who was tasked with the faithful execution of the laws and given the authority to appoint federal officers, including judges, with the advice and consent of the Senate. The President also served as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and had the power to make treaties, again with the advice and consent of the Senate.

The judicial powers were vested in the Supreme Court and any inferior federal courts established by Congress. The federal judiciary was given the power to decide cases and controversies arising under the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties, ensuring a uniform interpretation and application of federal law throughout the nation.

By delineating these powers, the Constitution provided a clear division of responsibilities between the federal government and the states, promoting efficient and effective governance. It also established checks and balances, enabling each branch to check the power of the others and preventing the concentration of power. This protected the liberties of the people and preserved the rights of the states.

This new federal government, with its specific and enumerated powers, marked an evolution in the United States' political system, providing a stronger national government while maintaining the balance of power and protecting individual liberties.

Checks and balances

The US Constitution of 1789 was an attempt to address the weaknesses of the previous system of government, the Articles of Confederation, which gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but lacked enforcement powers, and couldn't regulate commerce or print money. The Articles also made it difficult to conduct foreign policy.

The new Constitution established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting relations with foreign governments. The Constitution also created an executive branch and a judicial branch to set up a system of checks and balances.

The legislative branch makes laws, but the President in the executive branch can veto those laws with a Presidential Veto. The legislative branch makes laws, but the judicial branch can declare those laws unconstitutional. The executive branch, through federal agencies, has responsibility for the day-to-day enforcement and administration of federal laws.

Other checks and balances include the presidential veto of legislation (which Congress may override with a two-thirds majority vote) and executive and judicial impeachment by Congress. By passing amendments to the Constitution, Congress can also check the decisions of the Supreme Court.

A bill of rights

The US Constitution of 1789 forms the basis of the US government and outlines the system of government and the rights of the American people. It was written to address the weaknesses of the previous system, the Articles of Confederation, which gave state legislatures power but lacked enforcement powers and could not regulate commerce or print money.

The Constitution of 1789 established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting relations with foreign governments. It also created a system of checks and balances by dividing federal authority between the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of government.

However, when the Constitution was approved in 1789, some felt that it did not adequately protect certain basic rights. This led to the creation of the Bill of Rights, which consists of the first ten amendments to the Constitution. The Bill of Rights was written in the summer of 1789 by the newly elected Congress, two years after the Constitution was drafted.

The amendments in the Bill of Rights guarantee specific freedoms and rights, including personal liberties and limitations on the government's power. Some key concepts in the Bill of Rights include freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, the right to bear arms, restrictions on housing soldiers in private homes, protection against unreasonable search and seizure, and protection against self-incrimination and double jeopardy. These amendments were approved by Congress on September 25, 1789, and submitted to the state legislatures for ratification.

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A bicameral (two-house) Congress

The United States Constitution, which came into effect in 1789, established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting relations with foreign governments. The delegates to the Constitutional Convention created a model of government that relied upon a series of checks and balances by dividing federal authority between the legislative, the judicial, and the executive branches of government.

The US Constitution implemented a bicameral (two-house) Congress. Bicameralism is a type of legislature that is divided into two separate assemblies, chambers, or houses. The US bicameral system is divided into the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives is the more populous branch, with 435 representatives serving two-year terms. The number of representatives from each state is proportional to the state's population. On the other hand, the Senate provides equal representation for the states, with each state having two senators serving six-year terms.

The two chambers of a bicameral legislature often have different compositions of members, rules, and designated powers. In the US, the House of Representatives has less stringent requirements for members when it comes to age and citizenship length compared to the Senate. The Senate is tasked with trying impeachment cases sent by the House, providing advice and consent on and ratifying treaties (except those that affect foreign trade, which must also get House approval), and handling other important issues.

Bicameralism serves as an additional layer of checks and balances by dividing power within the legislative branch and preventing it from becoming too powerful. A bill must pass through both the House of Representatives and the Senate in identical form to become law, which can be a lengthy process. Once both chambers approve a bill, they send it to the executive branch, where the president may sign it into law or veto it. If the president vetoes the bill, the House and Senate may still override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote in each chamber.

The slave trade would continue for 20 years

The US Constitution, which came into effect in 1789, was the result of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, which took place between May and September 1787. The convention addressed the weaknesses of the central government under the Articles of Confederation, which had no enforcement powers and could not regulate commerce or print money. The delegates to the convention created a model of government that divided federal authority between the legislative, judicial, and executive branches, establishing a system of checks and balances.

The US Constitution of 1789 included several provisions related to slavery, despite not explicitly mentioning the word "slavery" or "slave". One of these provisions was the Slave Trade Clause, also known as the "Importation of Persons Clause", which prohibited the federal government from banning the importation of slaves for 20 years after the Constitution took effect. This clause, found in Article 1, Section 9, Clause 1, was a compromise between the Southern states, where slavery was a vital part of the economy, and the states where slavery had been abolished or was being contemplated for abolition.

The Slave Trade Clause reflected the conflicted stance of the framers of the Constitution towards slavery. While some personally opposed slavery on moral grounds, they prioritized political unity and made compromises to protect slaveholding interests. The clause's use of the term "'persons'" instead of "slaves" illustrates the framers' attempt to avoid direct language about slavery while preserving the institution.

The inclusion of the Slave Trade Clause in the Constitution allowed the slave trade to continue for 20 years. During this period, popular support for the abolition of the slave trade and slavery itself grew in the United States and internationally. Congress passed statutes regulating the trade in slaves by US ships, and countries like the United Kingdom also passed legislation restricting the slave trade, increasing pressure on the US to curb the practice.

In December 1806, President Thomas Jefferson's annual message to Congress anticipated the upcoming expiration of the Slave Trade Clause, and in 1808, the 20-year period ended, and the federal government gained the power to prohibit the importation of slaves. While the specific clause expired, the complex legacy of slavery and its impact on the Constitution continued to shape the United States.

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