Eleanor Finch
The US Constitution of 1789 is the foundation of the American government, outlining the system of government and the rights of the American people. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, establishing a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to foreign affairs. The Constitution has been amended 27 times since it came into effect, with the first ten amendments known as the Bill of Rights, protecting individual liberties and restricting government powers. The US Constitution of 1789 laid the groundwork for the country's governance and continues to be the basis of the US government today.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To supersede the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution |
| Date of Enactment | March 4, 1789 |
| Amendments | 27 amendments since 1789, the first 10 of which are known as the Bill of Rights |
| Structure | Consists of a preamble, articles, and amendments |
| Function | Establishes a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting foreign relations |
| Separation of Powers | Divides federal authority into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial |
| Legislative Branch | Bicameral Congress consisting of a Senate and House of Representatives |
| Executive Branch | President and subordinate officers |
| Judicial Branch | Supreme Court and other federal courts |
| Federalism | Describes the rights and responsibilities of state governments in relation to the federal government |
| Ratification | Established a procedure for the 13 states to ratify the Constitution |
| Individual Liberties | Secures individual liberties and freedoms, including freedom of speech, religion, and protection against unreasonable searches and seizures |
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What You'll Learn
Established a federal government with more specific powers
The US Constitution of 1789 established a federal government with more specific powers. The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Articles of Confederation had created a weak central government that was unable to effectively conduct foreign policy or pass and enforce laws.
The Constitution's 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 House of Representatives and a Senate. The executive branch consists of the president and subordinate officers, and the judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
The Constitution also outlines the powers of each branch. The legislative branch is responsible for passing laws, conducting oversight, and approving treaties. The executive branch is responsible for executing the laws and acting as the commander-in-chief of the military. The judicial branch is responsible for interpreting the laws and resolving disputes.
The Constitution further delineates the federal government's powers in conducting foreign relations. While the executive branch has authority over many aspects of foreign affairs, important powers such as treaty ratification are retained by the legislative branch.
The US Constitution of 1789 thus established a federal government with more specific powers, addressing the weaknesses of the previous central government and providing a framework for the separation of powers and the conduct of foreign relations.
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Superseded the Articles of Confederation
The US Constitution of 1789 superseded the Articles of Confederation, which was the first US constitution. The Articles of Confederation had established a weak central government, and the Constitution of 1789 replaced this with a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting relations with foreign governments.
The Articles of Confederation had faced challenges in conducting foreign policy, largely due to its inability to pass or enforce laws that individual states were bound to follow. The Constitution of 1789 addressed this by delineating the frame of the federal government and establishing the doctrine of the separation of powers. The federal government was divided into three branches: the legislative, consisting of the bicameral Congress (the Senate and the House of Representatives); the executive, consisting of the president and subordinate officers; and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
The Constitution also established the rights and responsibilities of state governments, as well as their relationship to the federal government. It outlined the process of constitutional amendment, with the first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, offering specific protections of individual liberty and justice and placing restrictions on the powers of the government within the US states.
The Constitution of 1789 has been amended 27 times since it came into operation. The majority of the 17 later amendments expand individual civil rights protections, while others address issues related to federal authority or modify government processes and procedures.
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Laid out the rights of the American people
The US Constitution of 1789 established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting relations with foreign governments. The Constitution has been amended 27 times since it came into operation in 1789. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, offer specific protections of individual liberty and justice and place restrictions on the powers of the government within US states. The majority of the 17 later amendments expand individual civil rights protections.
The Constitution's 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 House of Representatives and a Senate. The executive branch consists of the president and subordinate officers, while the judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
The Constitution also outlines the rights of the American people. The first ten amendments, or the Bill of Rights, include the right to freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and the right to peaceably assemble. The right to keep and bear arms, protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and the right to a speedy trial are also included.
The Constitution also grants Congress the power to declare war, raise and support armies, and define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas. It establishes the procedures for the election of representatives, with the House of Representatives composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states. Each House is the judge of the elections, qualifications, and returns of its members, and a majority of each constitutes a quorum to do business.
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Created a system of checks and balances
The US Constitution of 1789 created a system of checks and balances by dividing the powers and responsibilities of the federal government into three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial. This system was designed to prevent tyranny and ensure that no branch of the government would become too powerful.
The legislative branch consists of a bicameral Congress, the executive branch is made up of the President and subordinate officers, and the judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court and other federal courts. Each branch has specific powers and responsibilities, and they work together to govern the country.
The legislative branch, for example, has the power to pass laws and impeach members of the executive and judicial branches. The executive branch can check the judiciary through the power of appointment, and the judicial branch can review the actions of the other two branches to ensure they are constitutional.
The system of checks and balances also includes mechanisms such as the presidential veto of legislation, which can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in Congress, and the power of Congress to pass amendments to the Constitution, effectively checking the decisions of the Supreme Court.
The framers of the Constitution were influenced by philosophers and political scientists such as Polybius, Montesquieu, and William Blackstone, who emphasized the importance of dividing power and balancing the interests of different branches of government. The system of checks and balances has been a fundamental aspect of the US government, helping to shape the country's political landscape and ensure a fair and just distribution of power.
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Established a process for constitutional amendments
The US Constitution of 1789 established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting relations with foreign governments. The Constitution's first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial.
Article IV, Article V, and Article VI of the Constitution embody concepts of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments, the states' relationship to the federal government, and the shared process of constitutional amendment.
The process of constitutional amendment involves both Congress and the states. Congress proposes amendments, and the states ratify them. This process ensures that any changes to the Constitution are carefully considered and reflect the interests of both the federal government and the individual states.
The first ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified by three-fourths of the states by December 15, 1791. These amendments offered specific protections of individual liberty and justice and placed restrictions on the powers of the government within the US states.
Since 1789, the Constitution has been amended 27 times. The majority of the 17 later amendments expand individual civil rights protections, while others address issues related to federal authority or modify government processes and procedures.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution of 1789 was written to supersede the Articles of Confederation, which was the nation's first constitution. It was designed to establish a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting relations with foreign governments.
The US Constitution of 1789 laid out a system of government based on a series of checks and balances, with powers divided between the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. It also set out the rights of the American people, including individual liberties and justice, and placed restrictions on the powers of the government within US states.
The US Constitution of 1789 has been amended 27 times since it came into effect. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified by three-quarters of the states by 1791. These amendments offered specific protections of individual liberty and justice and restricted the powers of the government.
