Omar Bennett
The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. It superseded the nation's first constitution, the Articles of Confederation, on March 4, 1789. The final document was engrossed by Jacob Shallus and signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788. The opening part of the US Constitution is called the Preamble. Beginning with the words We the People, the Preamble introduces the seven articles and 27 amendments that follow.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The opening part of the US Constitution is called the Preamble
The Preamble to the US Constitution begins with the words "We the People" and outlines the purposes and goals of the Constitution. It is composed of 52 famous words that introduce the articles and amendments that follow. The Preamble sets out the intentions of the Constitution, which include forming a more perfect union, establishing justice, ensuring domestic tranquility, providing for the common defence, promoting the general welfare, and securing the blessings of liberty for the people and their posterity.
The US Constitution is composed of the Preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights. The seven articles make up the structural constitution and delineate the 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, the executive, and the judicial.
The legislative branch, consisting of the bicameral Congress (Article I), is responsible for making laws and includes the House of Representatives and the Senate. The executive branch, consisting of the President and subordinate officers (Article II), is responsible for executing the laws. The judicial branch, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts (Article III), is responsible for interpreting the laws and ensuring that they are consistent with the Constitution.
The remaining articles of the Constitution (Articles IV-VI) embody concepts of federalism and describe the rights and responsibilities of state governments, the relationship between the states and the federal government, and the shared processes and procedures that govern their interactions.
Pledge of Allegiance: Is 'Under God' Unconstitutional?
You may want to see also
The Preamble introduces the seven articles and 27 amendments
The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Constitution's Preamble introduces the seven articles and 27 amendments that make up the rest of the document.
The seven articles of the Constitution delineate the frame 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 processes between them. Article VII covers the ratification of the Constitution.
The 27 amendments to the Constitution include the Bill of Rights, which comprises the first 10 amendments, ratified on December 15, 1791. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. The Second Amendment addresses the bearing and keeping of arms, and the Third Amendment covers the quartering of soldiers. The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures, and the Fifth Amendment outlines the rights of those accused in criminal cases, including the right to a grand jury, protection against double jeopardy, and protection against self-incrimination. The Sixth Amendment outlines the rights of those charged in criminal prosecutions, and the Seventh Amendment guarantees civil trial rights. The Eighth Amendment prohibits excessive bail and fines and cruel and unusual punishment, and the Ninth Amendment addresses citizens' unenumerated rights. The Tenth Amendment states that any powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved for the states or the people.
The final document was engrossed by Jacob Shallus and was taken up on Monday, September 17, at the convention's final session. Several delegates were disappointed with the result, a series of compromises, and some left before the ceremony or refused to sign. Of the thirty-nine signers, Benjamin Franklin summed up his thoughts by saying, "There are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them." He ultimately accepted the Constitution because "I expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best."
Georgia Constitution's Longest Article: Understanding Its Significance
You may want to see also
The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation in 1789
The US Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the United States, on March 4, 1789. The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and came into force on March 1, 1781. It was an agreement and early body of law in the Thirteen Colonies, serving as the nation's first frame of government during the American Revolution. It established a league of friendship for the 13 sovereign and independent states, with each state retaining "every Power... which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States".
The Articles of Confederation had several shortcomings. Firstly, it gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers and could not regulate commerce or print money. This led to states' disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade, threatening to tear the young country apart. Secondly, the central government had insufficient power to regulate commerce, levy taxes, or effectively support a war effort. The government was attempting to function with a depleted treasury, and paper money was flooding the country, causing extraordinary inflation.
The Constitution of the United States, which came into effect in 1789, addressed these issues by providing for a much stronger federal government. It established a chief executive (the president), courts, and taxing powers. The Constitution's 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).
The final document, engrossed by Jacob Shallus, was taken up on Monday, September 17, at the convention's final session. Of the thirty-nine signers, Benjamin Franklin summed up by addressing the convention: "There are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them." The advocates of the Constitution sought unanimous support from all twelve states represented in the convention, and their accepted formula for the closing endorsement was "Done in Convention, by the unanimous consent of the States present".
Title IX: Constitutional Amendment or Cultural Change?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The document was engrossed by Jacob Shallus
The United States Constitution was engrossed by Jacob Shallus, a merchant and assistant clerk of the Pennsylvania Assembly. Shallus was born in 1750 to German immigrant parents who had settled in Pennsylvania. During the Revolutionary War, he served as a quartermaster in the First Pennsylvania Battalion and later became a deputy commissary general for Pennsylvania. After the war, in 1783, he was appointed assistant clerk of the Pennsylvania Assembly, a position he held for several years.
Shallus was chosen to engross the Constitution due to his proximity to the convention's meeting place and the desire for speedy drafting. He transcribed the final draft of the Constitution onto four sheets of parchment, measuring 28-3/4 inches by 23-5/8 inches, using a goose quill and black ink made of iron filings in oak gall. Shallus wrote over 25,000 letters in nearly 4,500 words, completing the task on Sunday, September 16, 1787, just in time for the signing the next day. The original document, inscribed by Shallus, is on display in the Rotunda of the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C.
Shallus' name does not appear on the Constitution, and his identity as the engrosser was only revealed in 1937 during the 150th anniversary of the Constitution. His contribution to the creation of the United States Constitution was significant, and he played a crucial role in transcribing the final draft of the supreme law of the United States.
The process of engrossing the Constitution was not Shallus' only involvement with historical documents. He also served as Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, which played a significant role in the ratification process of the Constitution. Shallus was tasked with returning two Antifederalist assemblymen to the chamber to reestablish a quorum and allow for the completion of the call for a ratifying convention. This action demonstrates his further involvement in the establishment of the United States government.
The Indian Constitution and the ISC Code: What's the Link?
You may want to see also
The Constitution is the supreme law of the United States
The Constitution is the supreme law of the land in the United States. This means that it is the foundational document that establishes the structure and powers of the federal government, as well as the rights and freedoms of its citizens. The Constitution is divided into several parts, but it is the opening section that is often considered the most important, as it sets out the underlying principles and values that underpin the entire document.
This introductory section is known as the Preamble, and it begins with the famous words: "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 Preamble outlines the intentions and goals of the Constitution, emphasizing the desire to create a fair and just society, to ensure peace and security, and to protect the freedom and well-being of the American people.
By starting with "We the People," the Preamble makes it clear that the power and sovereignty lie with the citizens of the country. This simple yet powerful phrase establishes the democratic nature of the US government and underscores the idea that the Constitution is a social contract between the government and the governed. It also highlights the idea that the Constitution is a living document that can be amended and interpreted to meet the changing needs and circumstances of the nation.
The Preamble sets the tone and provides context for the rest of the Constitution. It reflects the core beliefs and aspirations of the Founding Fathers, who drafted the document, and it continues to inspire and guide Americans today. While the specific provisions and amendments that follow the Preamble are crucial in governing the country, it is the opening section that captures the spirit and essence of the United States Constitution.
The Census: A Constitutional Cornerstone?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The opening part of the US Constitution is called the Preamble.
The first three words of the US Constitution are "We the People".
The final session of the convention that took up the US Constitution was on Monday, September 17.
The US Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789.
