Jonah Patel
The first part of the Constitution of the United States is the Preamble. It is an introduction to the highest law of the land, which is often called the 'supreme law of the land'. The Preamble describes the purpose of the document and the Federal Government. It does not define government powers or individual rights. The Preamble sets out five objectives, including to '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'.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty |
| Introduction to the supreme law of the land | The Constitution is the foundation of the Federal Government and the "supreme law of the land" |
| Structure of the government | The first three articles establish the three branches of government and their powers: Legislative (Congress), Executive (office of the President), and Judicial (Federal court system) |
| System of checks and balances | A system of checks and balances prevents any one of these separate powers from becoming dominant |
| Relationship of the states to the Federal Government | Articles four through seven describe the relationship of the states to the Federal Government |
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What You'll Learn
The Preamble
The Founding Fathers established three main principles on which the Government is based: inherent rights, or rights that anyone living in America has. The first three articles of the Constitution establish the three branches of government and their powers: Legislative (Congress), Executive (office of the President) and Judicial (Federal court system). A system of checks and balances prevents any one of these separate powers from becoming dominant.
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The purpose of the Federal Government
The Constitution is the foundation of the Federal Government and is often called the "supreme law of the land". No law may be passed that contradicts its principles, but it is flexible and allows for changes in the Government. It is known as a "living" document because it can be amended, although in over 200 years there have only been 27 amendments.
The Constitution is organised into three parts. The first part, as mentioned, is the Preamble. The second part, the seven Articles, establishes how the Government is structured and how the Constitution can be changed. The first three articles establish the three branches of government and their powers: Legislative (Congress), Executive (office of the President), and Judicial (Federal court system). A system of checks and balances prevents any one of these separate powers from becoming dominant.
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The three branches of government
The first part of the Constitution, the Preamble, describes the purpose of the document and the Federal Government. It is an introduction to the highest law of the land, but it is not the law. The Preamble does not define government powers or individual rights. Instead, it sets out the intentions of the framers and the purpose of the document. The first three articles of the Constitution establish the three branches of government and their powers: Legislative (Congress), Executive (office of the President) and Judicial (Federal court system). The Legislative branch is responsible for making laws and is divided into two parts, or 'Houses': the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Executive branch is the office of the President. The Judicial branch is the Federal court system. A system of checks and balances prevents any one of these separate powers from becoming dominant.
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The system of checks and balances
The first part of the US Constitution, the Preamble, describes the purpose of the document and the Federal Government. It is an introduction to the highest law of the land, but it is not the law itself. The Preamble does not define government powers or individual rights. Instead, it sets out the intentions of the framers and the purpose of the document. The first three articles of the Constitution establish the three branches of government and their powers: Legislative (Congress), Executive (office of the President), and Judicial (Federal court system).
A system of checks and balances prevents any one of these separate powers from becoming dominant. This system is designed to ensure that no one branch of government has too much power and that the powers of each branch are balanced. The Legislative Branch is responsible for making laws and is divided into two parts, or 'Houses': the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Executive Branch, headed by the President, is responsible for executing the laws and overseeing the day-to-day functions of the government. The Judicial Branch, or the Federal court system, interprets the laws and ensures that they are applied fairly and justly.
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The relationship of the states to the Federal Government
The first part of the Constitution of the United States is the Preamble. It describes the purpose of the document and the Federal Government. The Preamble is not the law, but it is an introduction to the highest law of the land. It sets out the intentions of the framers and the purpose of the document. The Preamble also establishes the three main principles on which the Government is based: inherent rights, or rights that anyone living in America has. The Preamble is followed by seven articles that describe the way the government is structured and how it operates.
Articles four through seven describe the relationship of the states to the Federal Government. They establish the Constitution as the supreme law of the land and define the amendment and ratification processes. The first three articles establish the three branches of government and their powers: Legislative (Congress), Executive (office of the President), and Judicial (Federal court system). A system of checks and balances prevents any one of these separate powers from becoming dominant.
The purpose of the Federal Government, as found in the Preamble of the Constitution, is to "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."
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Frequently asked questions
The first part of the Constitution is the Preamble.
The Preamble describes the purpose of the document and the Federal Government. It is an introduction to the highest law of the land, but it is not the law.
The Preamble states that the purpose of the Federal Government is to "establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity".
The Preamble sets the stage for the Constitution and clearly communicates the intentions of the framers. It is followed by seven Articles that describe the way the government is structured and how it operates.
