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The United States Constitution, which came into effect in 1789, is the country's supreme law. It outlines the framework of the federal government, including the separation of powers into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. The Constitution has been amended 27 times since its ratification, with the first ten amendments known as the Bill of Rights, protecting individual liberties and restricting government powers. The US government, modelled after the Constitution, also consists of three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. The Constitution grants Congress the power to make rules and regulations, guarantee a republican form of government to each state, and protect them against invasion and domestic violence. It also ensures certain rights, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press, and the right to peaceably assemble and petition the government.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty |
| Powers | Legislative, executive, and judicial |
| Structure | Influenced by European Enlightenment thinkers like Montesquieu and John Locke |
| Rights | Unalienable rights, including freedom of speech and freedom of religion |
| Ratification | Requires ratification by nine of the thirteen state legislatures; it was signed by 39 of 55 delegates on September 17, 1787 |
| Amendments | The first ten amendments constitute the Bill of Rights |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution is the supreme law of the United States
The Constitution mandates that all states uphold a "republican form" of government, with powers vested in the Congress, the President, and the Federal Courts. The Federal Government is composed of three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. The first ten amendments to the Constitution contain many of today's most valued freedoms, such as freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
The Supremacy Clause is a key aspect of the Constitution, asserting the supremacy of federal law and the priority of federal authority, as expressed in the Constitution. This means that federal statutes and treaties must abide by the Constitution and not violate constitutional limits on federal power, such as the Bill of Rights. The US Supreme Court has the power of judicial review and can invalidate a statute for violating the Constitution.
The Constitution has been amended 27 times since its ratification, with a rigorous process in place to prevent arbitrary changes. Amendments must be proposed by a two-thirds vote of both Houses of Congress and then ratified by three-fourths of the State legislatures. This ensures that any changes to the supreme law of the land are carefully considered and widely supported.
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The Constitution has been amended 27 times since 1789
The US Constitution is the supreme law of the land, providing the source of all government powers and limitations to protect the fundamental rights of US citizens. The founders specified a process by which the Constitution could be amended, and since its ratification in 1789, it has been amended 27 times.
The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified simultaneously on December 15, 1791. These amendments gave citizens more confidence in the new government and contain many of the freedoms valued by Americans today. For example, the First Amendment states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right [of the people] ... to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments are collectively referred to as the Reconstruction Amendments. In total, 11,848 proposals to amend the Constitution have been introduced in Congress since 1789, with members of the House and Senate typically proposing around 200 amendments during each two-year term of Congress. However, none of the proposals made in recent decades have become part of the Constitution.
The process of amending the Constitution is designed to be onerous to prevent arbitrary changes. An amendment may be proposed by a two-thirds vote of both Houses of Congress, or if two-thirds of the states request it, by a convention called for that purpose. The amendment must then be ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures or three-fourths of conventions called in each state for ratification. This process ensures that any changes to the Constitution reflect the careful consideration and broad consensus of the American people.
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The first ten amendments are known as the Bill of Rights
The US Constitution is the supreme law of the United States, providing the source of all government powers and limitations to protect the fundamental rights of US citizens. The Constitution has been amended 27 times since its ratification, with the first ten amendments known as the Bill of Rights.
The Bill of Rights was proposed in 1789, following a bitter debate over the ratification of the Constitution, and written to address objections raised by Anti-Federalists. The amendments add to the Constitution specific guarantees of personal freedoms, such as freedom of speech, the right to publish, practice religion, possess firearms, and assemble, as well as other natural and legal rights.
The first ten amendments make up the Bill of Rights, which was ratified on December 15, 1791. Ten of the proposed twelve amendments were ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures. The Bill of Rights provides clear limitations on the government's power, explicitly declaring that all powers not granted to the federal government by the Constitution are reserved for the states or the people.
The Ninth Amendment states that the "enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people". The Tenth Amendment further emphasises that "powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people".
James Madison wrote the amendments to limit government power and protect individual liberties. The First Amendment, for example, protects the natural right to speak and worship freely. The Fourth Amendment safeguards citizens' right to privacy, requiring a warrant for searches and seizures.
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The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation
The weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation became apparent over time. For instance, the government faced difficulties in raising funds as it had no power to tax, and had to rely on requests to the states for money. The government also struggled with interstate protectionist trade barriers and was unable to address internal rebellions, such as Shays's Rebellion, due to a lack of funds and military power.
In addition, the Articles did not provide for the admission of new states to the Union, and the subsequent Constitution carried no special provisions for admission. The Jay–Gardoqui Treaty with Spain in 1786 further highlighted the weaknesses in foreign policy under the Articles, as the United States was to give up its rights to use the Mississippi River for 25 years, which would have negatively impacted the economy of western states.
Due to these shortcomings, there were calls for changes to strengthen the central government. In May 1787, the Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia to address the issues with the Articles of Confederation. The new Constitution, which came into force in 1789, created a separation of powers by establishing three branches of government: the executive, legislative, and judicial. This ensured that power would not be concentrated in a single branch. The Constitution also granted the federal government more power over money and taxes, allowing it to control interstate commerce and impose taxes on individuals.
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The Constitution mandates a republican form of government
The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme law of the United States. It is the source of all government powers and provides important limitations to protect the fundamental rights of its citizens. The Constitution mandates a republican form of government, which is defined by three core features: majority rule, the absence of monarchy, and the rule of law.
The concept of a republican form of government was discussed extensively during the drafting of the Constitution. James Madison, in Federalist No. 39, emphasised popular sovereignty and majoritarian control as key characteristics of a republic. He defined a republic as a government that derives its powers directly or indirectly from the people and is administered by persons holding office for a limited period. Madison suggested that an article should be inserted to guarantee the tranquility of the states against internal and external dangers, recognising the risk of innovations of a more objectionable form if the Union was not organised on republican principles.
The Guarantee Clause of the Constitution ensures that each state in the Union is guaranteed a republican form of government. This clause provides three related assurances: a guarantee of a republican form of government, protection against foreign invasion, and protection against internal insurrection or rebellion upon the state's request. While the Supreme Court has generally avoided addressing Guarantee Clause questions, it has ruled on challenges that shed light on the meaning of the republican form of government.
The Constitution mandates a separation of powers into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. This structure helps to assure that no one branch of the government gains supremacy, and it upholds the fundamental rights of citizens. The first ten amendments to the Constitution, including the Bill of Rights, gave citizens more confidence in the new government and contain many of the freedoms valued by Americans today.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. It outlines the frame of the federal government, which is divided into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
The US Constitution has been amended 27 times since it came into operation in 1789. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, protect individual liberties and limit the powers of the government. The majority of the 17 later amendments expand on civil rights protections.
The Constitution was created to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty for all citizens. It replaced the Articles of Confederation, which had limited power and could not raise funds.
The Constitution mandates that the federal government must guarantee a republican form of government to each state and protect them against invasion and domestic violence. It also outlines the rights of citizens, such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to bear arms.
