Omar Bennett
The US Constitution is a framework for the country's government, uniting a group of states with different interests, laws, and cultures. It begins with the words We the People, which embody the idea that the people, not the states, are the source of the government's legitimacy. The Constitution consists of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and include protections such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to keep and bear arms. The seven articles establish the separation of powers into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. Amendments can be proposed and ratified through a process involving Congress and state legislatures or state ratifying conventions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Opening words | "We the People" |
| Number of articles | 7 |
| Number of amendments | 27 |
| First 10 amendments | The Bill of Rights |
| Legislative branch | Consisting of the bicameral Congress (Article I) |
| Executive branch | Consisting of the President and subordinate officers (Article II) |
| Judicial branch | Consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts (Article III) |
| Federalism | Describes the rights and responsibilities of state governments and their relationship with the federal government (Articles IV, V, and VI) |
| Ratification procedure | Established by Article VII |
| Amendment process | Proposals must be adopted and ratified; two procedures for each step (Article V) |
| Third Amendment | Prohibits federal government from forcing individuals to provide lodging to soldiers during peacetime without consent (1791) |
| Fourth Amendment | Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures of self or property by government officials (1791) |
| Eighteenth Amendment | Prohibited transportation or importation of intoxicating liquors, but was later repealed |
| Establishment of Constitution | Ratification of the Conventions of nine States |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution's opening words
The US Constitution is a document that outlines the basic framework of the federal government and defines the relationship between the government and its citizens. It is composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights.
The opening words of the US Constitution are "We the People," which embodies the idea that the people, rather than the states, are the source of the government's legitimacy. This phrase, coined by Gouverneur Morris of Pennsylvania, who chaired the convention's Committee of Style, represents a significant shift in thinking. The original draft listed the 13 states after "We the People," but Morris replaced them with "of the United States," emphasizing the unity of the nation.
The full preamble, or the introduction 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."
This preamble sets out the goals and principles that the Constitution aims to uphold. It emphasizes the desire to create a unified nation with justice, peace, and the protection of individual liberties. The preamble also highlights the role of the people in establishing and upholding the Constitution, reinforcing the idea of a government derived from the consent of the governed.
In summary, the opening words of the US Constitution, "We the People," are significant because they represent a fundamental shift in political philosophy, empowering the people and uniting the nation under a single constitution. The preamble that follows outlines the aspirations and principles that guide the creation and interpretation of the nation's laws and governing structure.
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The seven articles
The US Constitution is composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The seven articles make up the structural constitution, which was signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788. The first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial.
Article I covers the legislative branch, which consists of the bicameral Congress. This branch is responsible for making laws and consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Article II covers the executive branch, which consists of the President and subordinate officers. This branch is responsible for executing the laws and includes the President, Vice President, and the various departments and agencies that carry out the day-to-day functions of the government.
Article III covers the judicial branch, which consists of the Supreme Court and other federal courts. This branch is responsible for interpreting the laws and resolving disputes. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land, and its decisions are binding on all other courts.
Article IV, Article V, and Article VI embody the concepts of federalism and describe the rights and responsibilities of state governments, the relationship between the states and the federal government, and the shared process of constitutional amendment.
Article VII establishes the procedure used by the 13 states to ratify the Constitution. This article outlines the process by which the Constitution was approved and adopted by the states, including the number of states required to ratify it for it to take effect.
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Amendments
The US Constitution is a legal document that outlines the framework of the US federal government and the rights of its citizens. It is composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments.
The first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791. These amendments include the Third Amendment, which prohibits the federal government from forcing individuals to house soldiers during peacetime without consent, and the Fourth Amendment, which protects people against unreasonable searches and seizures of self or property by government officials.
Since 1789, approximately 11,848 proposals to amend the Constitution have been introduced in Congress. Twenty-seven amendments have been successfully ratified and are part of the Constitution, while six amendments have not been ratified by the required number of states. The last time a proposal gained the necessary two-thirds support in both the House and the Senate was the District of Columbia Voting Rights Amendment.
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Ratification
The US Constitution is a document that outlines the framework for the country's federal government and establishes the rights and responsibilities of its citizens. It is composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments, beginning with the Bill of Rights. The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788.
The process of ratifying an amendment involves two steps. Firstly, a proposal for an amendment must be adopted by either a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives or by a national convention requested by two-thirds of the state legislatures. This first step ensures that any potential amendment has significant support before progressing further.
Once a proposal is adopted, the second step involves ratification by the states. The proposed amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the states (currently 38 out of 50) to become an operative part of the Constitution. The states have the option to provide their consent through their legislatures or, in rare cases, through state ratifying conventions. The choice between these methods is made by Congress for each amendment.
The ratification process allows for flexibility and ensures that the views of individual states are considered. While most amendments are ratified by state legislatures, the Twenty-first Amendment, which ended the prohibition of alcohol, was the only amendment to be ratified by state ratifying conventions.
The ratification process played a crucial role in the early years of the Constitution, with the first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, being ratified on December 15, 1791. These amendments addressed key issues such as the protection of citizens' rights and limitations on the federal government's powers. The Third Amendment, for example, prohibited the federal government from forcing individuals to provide lodging to soldiers during peacetime without their consent, addressing the lingering resentment over British policies during the Revolutionary War.
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Separation of powers
The US Constitution is a document that outlines the basic framework of the federal government and acts as a merger, uniting a group of states with different interests, laws, and cultures. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789, and is composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights.
The first three articles of the US Constitution 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
The legislative branch is responsible for making laws. It consists of a bicameral Congress, with a Senate and a House of Representatives. Congress writes legislation to restrain executive officials and ensure they perform their duties, as outlined in the laws passed by Congress.
The Executive Branch
The executive branch enforces the law and consists of the President and subordinate officers. The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy and has the power to make treaties and appointments with the advice and consent of the Senate. The President also has the power to ensure the faithful execution of laws made by Congress.
The Judicial Branch
The judicial branch interprets the law and consists of the Supreme Court and other federal courts. The Supreme Court has vacillated between a formalistic approach, emphasising the maintenance of distinct branches, and a functional approach that permits flexibility and focuses on core functions and relationships between branches.
The separation of powers is a fundamental aspect of the US Constitution, aiming to prevent one branch of government from becoming too powerful and creating a system of checks and balances.
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