Eleanor Finch
The U.S. Constitution is the oldest and shortest written national constitution, signed on September 17, 1787, and outlining the basic rules of the U.S. government. The preamble, drafted in six weeks, sets the stage for the Constitution, communicating the intentions of the Founding Fathers and the purpose of the document. The Founding Fathers wanted to make it difficult for one person, party, or group to control the government. The preamble outlines six aspirations: forming a more perfect union, establishing justice, insuring domestic tranquility, providing for the common defense, promoting general welfare, and securing the blessings of liberty. The Constitution also outlines the President's duties, including acting as commander-in-chief of the U.S. military, appointing the Cabinet and federal judges, and the power to veto laws passed by Congress. It also establishes a Supreme Court to decide on the constitutionality of laws, with justices appointed for life to ensure neutrality.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Signed on | September 17, 1787 |
| Oldest constitution | Yes |
| Shortest constitution | Yes |
| Purpose | To set up a fair and balanced government |
| Powers of the President | Commander-in-chief of the U.S. military, appointing the Cabinet, appointing federal judges and other government officials, power to "veto" laws passed by Congress |
| Election of President and Vice President | Every four years |
| Limits on President | Two terms in office |
| Requirements for President | Must be born in the United States, must be at least 35 years old, must have lived in the United States for 14 years |
| Supreme Court | Highest court in the nation, decides what laws are constitutional or unconstitutional, appoints nine Supreme Court justices |
| Preamble | "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, 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, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." |
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What You'll Learn
- The US Constitution is the oldest and shortest written national constitution
- The Founding Fathers wanted to make it difficult for one person to control the government
- The President has the power to veto laws passed by Congress
- The Supreme Court decides what laws are constitutional or unconstitutional
- The Preamble sets the stage for the Constitution
The US Constitution is the oldest and shortest written national constitution
The US Constitution is also notable for its preamble, which sets out the intentions of the framers and the purpose of the document. The preamble begins with the famous words, "We the People of the United States", and outlines the aspirations of "We the People" for our government and our way of life as a nation. It is worth noting that the preamble is not part of the law but serves as an introduction to the highest law of the land.
The length of time taken to draft a constitution can vary significantly. For example, the Myanmar 2008 Constitution was secretly drafted over 17 years, while Japan's 1946 Constitution was drafted in less than a week. The US Constitution, with its relatively short drafting time of six weeks, falls on the shorter end of the spectrum.
The US Constitution has served as an inspiration for other nations' constitutions, such as the Swiss Federal Constitution, which was first written in 1848 and influenced by the ideals of the French Revolution and the US Constitution. The US Constitution's impact can also be seen in the 1811 Constitution of Venezuela, which established a federal government.
The US Constitution's longevity and influence demonstrate the success of its foundational principles and the effectiveness of its checks and balances system in maintaining a stable and functioning democracy. Its adaptability, as evidenced by its amendments, has also allowed it to remain relevant and responsive to the changing needs of the nation.
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The Founding Fathers wanted to make it difficult for one person to control the government
The Founding Fathers of the United States Constitution wanted to ensure that it would be difficult for any one person, party, or group to gain control of the government. This was a crucial consideration, given the context of the country's recent independence from Great Britain, which had left many Americans wary of strong rulers and distrustful of concentrated power.
The Constitution, as the "Supreme Law of the Land," establishes the fundamental rules of governance and serves as a framework to safeguard against the concentration of power. One of the key ways it achieves this is by outlining a system of checks and balances that distributes powers and responsibilities across three branches of government: the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
The executive branch, led by the President, is responsible for executing and enforcing the laws of the land. The President acts as the commander-in-chief of the military, appoints the Cabinet for specialized advice, and nominates federal judges and other key officials. Notably, the President also has the power to veto laws passed by Congress, providing a check on the legislative branch.
The legislative branch, consisting of Congress, is responsible for creating and passing laws. While Congress can propose legislation, it requires the President's approval to enact these laws, demonstrating the checks and balances at play. Additionally, Congress decides on matters such as the number of judges on the Supreme Court and the establishment of lower courts.
The judicial branch, headed by the Supreme Court, is tasked with interpreting the laws and ensuring their constitutionality. The Supreme Court, as the highest court in the nation, serves as the "court of last resort." Its justices are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Importantly, once appointed, Supreme Court justices cannot be easily removed, providing insulation from political influence.
By dividing the government into these branches and establishing a system of checks and balances, the Founding Fathers made it challenging for any single entity to dominate the government and reinforced the principles of fairness and balance in the American democratic system.
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The President has the power to veto laws passed by Congress
The U.S. Constitution is the oldest and shortest written national constitution in the world. It was signed on September 17, 1787, and is considered the "Supreme Law of the Land." The Constitution lays out the basic rules of the government and is considered the highest law of the land. The Founding Fathers wanted to establish a fair and balanced government, making it difficult for one person, party, or group to gain control.
The President has many duties, which are listed in the Constitution. One of these duties is the power to veto laws passed by Congress. A veto means that the President does not think the law passed by Congress should go into effect. This power is one of the precautions built into the Constitution by the Founding Fathers.
The President also has the duty to act as the commander-in-chief of the U.S. military, appoint the Cabinet to advise on specialized matters, and appoint federal judges and other important government officials. The President is elected by popular vote every four years and is limited to two terms in office by the 22nd Amendment.
The Constitution also outlines the role of the Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the nation. The President appoints the Supreme Court justices, who are then approved by the Senate. These justices cannot be removed once appointed unless they commit a crime or become unable to perform their duties. The Supreme Court's most important responsibility is deciding whether laws are constitutional or not.
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The Supreme Court decides what laws are constitutional or unconstitutional
The U.S. Constitution is the oldest and shortest of all the written national constitutions. Signed on September 17, 1787, it is the oldest constitution in the world. The Constitution is the "Supreme Law of the Land" and lays out the fundamental rules of the government. No other law is above it.
The Constitution's preamble sets the stage for the document and communicates the intentions of its framers. The first objective outlined in the preamble is "establish justice". The Constitution also outlines the duties of the President, such as acting as commander-in-chief of the U.S. military, appointing the Cabinet, and appointing federal judges and other important government officials.
Article 3 of the Constitution provides for a system of United States courts, including the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the nation, or the "court of last resort". The number of judges on the Supreme Court is decided by Congress, and they are appointed by the President and approved by the Senate. Supreme Court justices cannot be removed once appointed unless they commit a crime or are unable to perform their duties. The goal is to have a group of neutral justices who are not appointed based on current political thought.
The Supreme Court's most important duty is to decide which laws are constitutional and which are not. This power allows the Supreme Court to interpret the Constitution and ensure that the laws passed by Congress and enacted by the President are in line with the nation's founding document. This interpretation and review of laws are crucial to maintaining the balance of powers and preserving the rights and liberties outlined in the Constitution.
By vesting the power of judicial review in the Supreme Court, the founders of the Constitution built-in a crucial precaution to safeguard the document's principles and ensure a fair and balanced government. This precaution helps prevent the concentration of power in a single person, party, or group, protecting against tyranny and promoting justice and liberty for all Americans.
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The Preamble sets the stage for the Constitution
The Preamble to the US Constitution is an introductory statement that sets out the intentions and purpose of the document. It is not a law itself, but it is an important part of the Constitution, which is the "Supreme Law of the Land". The Preamble was drafted in six weeks during the summer of 1787 and sets out the Founding Fathers' aspirations for the government and the nation.
The Preamble begins with the famous words, "We the People of the United States", and goes on to outline six key objectives: to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty for the American people and their posterity. These objectives reflect the Founding Fathers' desire to create a fair and balanced government, free from the control of any one person, party, or group.
The Preamble is followed by the main body of the Constitution, which outlines the structure and powers of the government. This includes the roles and responsibilities of the President, such as acting as commander-in-chief of the military, appointing federal judges, and vetoing laws passed by Congress. The Constitution also establishes a system of courts, including the Supreme Court, which is responsible for interpreting the Constitution and deciding on the constitutionality of laws.
The Constitution is the oldest written national constitution still in use today, signed on September 17, 1787. It is a valuable part of American history, reflecting the ideals and aspirations of the Founding Fathers for a fair and independent nation.
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