Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution is a concise document outlining a new plan for government and defining the framework for the American government and its citizens' rights. The Constitution's history, structure, and function are covered in Super Teacher Worksheets, which also include reading comprehension questions, vocabulary activities, and writing assignments. Students can learn about the three branches of government, the rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and the process of amending the Constitution. The worksheets also delve into the people and events that influenced the creation of this document, providing an insightful glimpse into the country's foundational principles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Briefness | 7,400 words |
| Amendments | 200 years of changes |
| Framers | 55 delegates from 12 states |
| Ratification | Approved by states |
| Federal government | Three branches |
| Rights | Bill of Rights |
| Separation of powers | Checks and balances |
| Change | Rules for changing built-in |
| Founding | Written in 1787 |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution's creation and key characteristics
The US Constitution was created out of a fear that the young country was on the brink of collapse. America's first constitution, the Articles of Confederation, gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it had no enforcement powers, couldn't regulate commerce, or print money. The states' disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the country apart. Alexander Hamilton helped convince Congress to organize a Grand Convention of state delegates to work on revising the Articles of Confederation.
The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, with General George Washington unanimously elected as president of the convention. Fifty-five delegates from twelve states wrote the Constitution, which defined the framework for the American federal government and the rights of its citizens. On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, creating a powerful central government.
The Constitution's main provisions include seven articles that define the basic framework 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, consisting of the bicameral Congress (Article I); the executive, consisting of the president and subordinate officers (Article II); and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts (Article III). Article IV, Article V, and Article VI embody concepts of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments, the states in relation to the federal government, and the shared process of constitutional amendment.
The Constitution also contained three new limits on state power: a state shall not violate a citizen's privileges or immunities; shall not deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law; and must guarantee all persons equal protection of the laws. These limitations dramatically expanded the protections of the Constitution.
The Constitution's amendment process involves two steps. First, a proposed amendment must be adopted either by Congress, with a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, or by a national convention. Second, the amendment must be ratified with the approval of three-fourths of the states, either through the consent of the state legislatures or state ratifying conventions.
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Amendments and their application
The US Constitution is a concise document of about 7,400 words, including the Amendments added over the last 200 years. Amendments are changes made to the Constitution, and there have been 27 of them, with 33 proposed. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791, and cover a range of freedoms and rights, including freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the right to peaceably assemble.
The 12th Amendment modified Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution, changing the process by which Electors vote for President and Vice-President. The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments are known as the Reconstruction Amendments. The 14th Amendment also made changes to Article I, Section 2, defining citizenship and outlining the rights and protections of citizens. It also addresses the apportionment of representatives among the states.
The process of amending the Constitution is not an easy one. The writers of the Constitution included rules for changing it, and any amendments must be ratified by a certain number of states to become part of the Constitution. This number has been stipulated by Congress on several occasions, and a deadline for ratification is usually set at seven years. The authority of Congress to set such deadlines was affirmed by the Supreme Court in 1939.
The Amendments to the US Constitution have had a significant impact on the country's laws and government. They have helped shape the three branches of government and their functions, and continue to be a crucial part of the country's political system.
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The role of the Constitution in shaping the US government
The US Constitution is a concise document of about 7,400 words, including the amendments that have been ratified over 200 years. It plays a pivotal role in shaping the US government by defining the framework for the American government and outlining the rights of its citizens. The Constitution establishes a national government with three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. This system of checks and balances ensures that no single branch holds absolute power, preventing tyranny.
The legislative branch comprises the House of Representatives and the Senate, collectively known as Congress, which is responsible for passing laws. The executive branch, led by the President, has the power to veto these laws and is in charge of prosecuting individuals for criminal violations. The judicial branch, headed by the Supreme Court and other federal courts established by Congress, presides over the trials of those prosecuted by the executive branch. Additionally, the President appoints federal judges, subject to the Senate's confirmation.
The US Constitution also delineates the division of power between the federal government and the individual states. This concept, known as federalism, grants significant authority to the federal government while restricting it to the powers explicitly outlined in the Constitution. Any powers not delegated to the federal government or prohibited to the states are reserved for the states or the people. The Constitution further limits the states' powers, such as in regulating interstate commerce, as this falls under the jurisdiction of the United States Congress.
Furthermore, the Constitution safeguards the personal liberties of American citizens. For example, Article I, Sections 9 and 10, prohibit ex post facto laws and bills of attainder, protecting individuals from retroactive punishment and selective prosecution. Most protections for individual rights are found in the Bill of Rights, comprising the first ten amendments to the Constitution. These amendments were adopted soon after the Constitution's adoption to address concerns about safeguarding individual liberties.
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The reasons for the Constitution's brevity
The Constitution of the United States is a concise document, with the original text comprising only 4,200 words, and amendments made over the next two centuries adding just another 3,000 words. This brevity is surprising given the document's role in establishing the US government and defining its relationship with the people and individual states. Here are some reasons why the Constitution was kept brief:
Flexibility and Interpretation
The authors of the Constitution anticipated that it would need to be flexible and adaptable to future circumstances. They understood that the United States would likely grow and change significantly over time, and so they intended for the document to provide only the "great outlines" of government, leaving room for interpretation and future amendments. This flexibility allowed the Constitution to remain relevant and effective even as the nation expanded in territory, population, and international influence.
Checks and Balances
The Constitution's brevity also reflects the intention to create a system of checks and balances among the branches of government. By dividing power and providing only broad outlines of governmental structure, the authors of the Constitution aimed to prevent the accumulation of power in any one branch or individual. This system was designed to be self-regulating, with each branch holding the others accountable and limiting the potential for tyranny or the abuse of power.
State and Individual Rights
The Constitution's authors aimed to protect the freedoms and rights of citizens, having recently fought a war to obtain those liberties. They wanted to ensure that the new federal government would not infringe on these rights, and so they left room for interpretation and future amendments to safeguard individual liberties. Some states were reluctant to ratify the Constitution without a bill of rights, and this was eventually added to guarantee certain basic protections for the people.
Framing a New Government
The process of framing a new government was a complex and challenging task. The delegates who wrote the Constitution deliberated over the structure of the government, the powers of each branch, and the relationship between the federal government and the states. They recognized the need for a document that was concise and focused on key principles rather than an exhaustive list of rules. This allowed for adaptability and a stronger foundation for the nation's governance.
In summary, the brevity of the US Constitution can be attributed to the authors' desire for flexibility, the establishment of checks and balances, the protection of state and individual rights, and the recognition of the challenges inherent in framing a new government. Despite its conciseness, the Constitution has proven to be a durable and effective framework for the US government, adapting to the nation's changing needs over more than two centuries.
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The people and events that inspired the Constitution
The US Constitution was a federal constitution, influenced by the study of the Magna Carta and other federations, both ancient and modern. The Due Process Clause of the Constitution was based on common law and the Magna Carta, which became the foundation for English liberty against arbitrary power. The idea of the Separation of Powers in the Constitution was inspired by eighteenth-century Enlightenment philosophers, such as Montesquieu and John Locke. Other influential philosophers included Edward Coke and William Blackstone. The Scottish Enlightenment was also a significant influence, particularly in the advancement of personal liberties.
The 1755 Corsican Constitution, drafted by Pasquale Paoli, was an early example of a written constitution of an independent polity, which was adopted by representatives elected by the people. It inspired many American patriots. The Swedish Constitution of 1772 and the Constitution of San Marino of 1600 are other early examples of written constitutions.
The Continental Congress in 1774, which included figures such as Benjamin Franklin, George Bryan, and James Cannon, drafted a Declaration of Rights and Grievances, claiming liberties for the colonists, including self-government, freedom from taxation without representation, and the right to a trial by jury. The Declaration also asserted the rights to "life, liberty and property", free from interference by the crown. The Stamp Act Congress, the First Continental Congress, and the Declaration of Independence also influenced the Constitution.
The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 was a significant event, with General George Washington unanimously elected as president of the convention. James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton published The Federalist Papers, a series of eighty-five articles, to build support for the ratification of the Constitution. Hamilton and Madison, in particular, were vocal in their support for the Constitution and the need for a federal government.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution of the United States is a document that defines the framework for the American government and the rights of its citizens.
The Constitution has three branches of government: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. It also outlines the amendment process and the rights of citizens.
The writers of the Constitution wanted to ensure that their new country would preserve the freedoms that they had fought for. They also wanted to create a system of checks and balances to prevent any one branch of government from having too much power.
Fifty-five delegates from twelve states met in Philadelphia in 1787 and wrote the Constitution.
The writers of the Constitution built in rules for changing it, but it is not an easy process. Amendments can be made with the approval of a certain number of states.
