Jonah Patel
The US Constitution, written in 1787, begins with the famous words, We the People. The first 16 words of the constitution introduce the articles and amendments that follow. The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights, which was ratified on December 15, 1791.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of words | 16 |
| Date written | Summer of 1787 |
| Location written | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Number of authors | 12 |
| Number of amendments | 27 |
| First 10 amendments | Known as the Bill of Rights |
| First 52 words | Introduce the articles and amendments that follow |
| Purpose | To replace the Articles of Confederation with a new form of government |
| Type of government | Federal system with a national government composed of 3 separated powers |
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What You'll Learn
The first 16 words of the US Constitution
The US Constitution is a framework for the US government, composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The first 16 words of the US Constitution, which are also the first 16 words of the preamble, are:
> "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
These famous first words introduce the articles and amendments that follow. The preamble was written in the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by delegates from 12 states, and ratified on June 21, 1788. The Constitution created a federal system with a national government composed of three separated powers, and included both reserved and concurrent powers of states.
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution, written by James Madison, make up the Bill of Rights. Madison altered the Constitution's text where he saw fit, and his changes were presented as a list of amendments that would follow Article VII. The House approved 17 amendments, of which the Senate approved 12, which were sent to the states for approval in August 1789. Ten amendments were approved (or ratified) by the states, the first being the establishment of religion clause, which states:
> "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abriding the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
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The Bill of Rights
The first 16 words of the US Constitution, beginning with "We the People", introduce the Preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments that follow. The first 10 amendments, ratified on December 15, 1791, are known as the Bill of Rights.
The First Amendment prohibits Congress from making laws that establish a religion or restrict the free exercise thereof, abridge the freedom of speech or of the press, or infringe on the right of the people to assemble and petition the government. The Second Amendment affirms the right of the people to keep and bear arms, and the Third Amendment prohibits the quartering of soldiers in civilian homes without consent.
The Fourth Amendment safeguards citizens' right to be free from unreasonable government intrusion in their homes by requiring a warrant based on probable cause. The Ninth Amendment states that listing specific rights in the Constitution does not mean that people do not have other rights that are not explicitly mentioned. The Tenth Amendment affirms that the Federal Government only has the powers delegated to it in the Constitution, and that all other powers are reserved for the states or the people.
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James Madison's amendments
The first 16 words of the US Constitution, also known as the Preamble, are:
> We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility,
These words set out the intention of the Constitution, which is to create a stronger and more unified nation, with justice and peace within its borders.
James Madison, then an elected member from Virginia of the First Congress's House of Representatives, proposed 19 amendments to the Constitution in 1789. These amendments were designed to address objections raised by Anti-Federalists, who criticised the Constitution for its strong investment in the national government and its lack of explicit protections for individual rights. The Senate consolidated Madison's proposals to 12 amendments, which were approved by Congress and sent to the states by President Washington in October 1789.
Of Madison's original 12 amendments, 10 were ratified by the states and became the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights. These amendments focused on rights-related issues rather than structural changes to the government. The first of Madison's amendments that were not ratified would have established how members of the House of Representatives would be apportioned to the states, ensuring that representatives remained connected to the concerns of citizens. The second amendment that failed to pass forbade Congress from giving itself a pay raise. Although it did not become law, this idea eventually became the 27th Amendment to the Constitution in 1992.
The 10 amendments that were ratified include the right to freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and the right to peaceably assemble and petition the government.
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The role of the federal government
The Constitution of the United States is the foundation of the Federal Government and the nation's highest law. The opening words of the Constitution, "We the People", convey that the people, not the states, are the source of the government's legitimacy. This phrase is followed by a list of the Constitution's six goals, which include establishing justice, ensuring domestic tranquility, providing for the common defence, promoting general welfare, and securing the blessings of liberty for the people and their posterity. These goals set the tone for the role of the federal government, which is to protect the rights and freedoms of its citizens.
The Constitution delineates the framework of the federal government, organising it into three branches: the legislative, consisting of the bicameral Congress; the executive, consisting of the President and subordinate officers; and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts. This separation of powers ensures a balance of power and accountability among the different branches of government.
The legislative branch, or Congress, is responsible for creating and passing laws. They have the power to lay and collect taxes, regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the states, establish rules for naturalization and bankruptcy, and provide for the common defence and general welfare of the country. The executive branch, led by the President, is responsible for carrying out the laws enacted by Congress and overseeing the day-to-day operations of the government.
The judicial branch, headed by the Supreme Court, interprets the laws and ensures that they align with the Constitution. They can declare acts of Congress unconstitutional and provide guidance on issues of constitutional law. Additionally, the federal government has the power to govern the militia and ensure the free flow of commerce between states.
The federal government also has the authority to act on behalf of its citizens and ensure their rights are protected. This includes preventing states from violating the privileges and immunities of citizens, depriving them of life, liberty, or property without due process, and denying equal protection under the law. Overall, the role of the federal government, as outlined in the first 16 words and throughout the Constitution, is to establish a just, peaceful, and prosperous nation that protects the rights and freedoms of its citizens.
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The separation of powers
The first 16 words of the US Constitution, beginning with "We the People", introduce the structural constitution's seven articles and 27 amendments. The Preamble to the Constitution reads:
> We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
The term "tripartite system" is often attributed to French Enlightenment philosopher Montesquieu, who described the various forms of distribution of political power among a legislature, an executive, and a judiciary. He based this model on the Roman Republic and the British constitutional system, noting that the Roman Republic had powers separated so that no one could usurp complete power. Montesquieu argued that the legislative branch should not appoint the executive and judicial powers, as this would result in a lack of separation, since the power to appoint carries with it the power to revoke.
Earlier thinkers, such as John Locke, also distinguished between legislative, executive, and federative power. Locke defined legislative power as having "the right to direct how the force of the commonwealth shall be employed", while executive power involved executing the laws enacted by the legislature.
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Frequently asked questions
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union".
The first 16 words emphasise that the nation is to be ruled by the people and not a king or dictator.
This initial section is known as the Preamble.
