Isabella Carter
The Constitution of the United States is the foundation of the Federal Government and is considered the supreme law of the land. It is a living document that can be amended, although in over 200 years there have only been 27 amendments. The Constitution is divided into three parts: the Preamble, the seven Articles, and the Amendments. The Preamble describes the purpose of the document and the Federal Government. The seven Articles establish the three branches of government and their powers: Legislative (Congress), Executive (office of the President), and Judicial (Federal court system). The first three articles establish these three branches, while Articles four through seven describe the relationship of the states to the Federal Government, establish the Constitution as the supreme law of the land, and define the amendment and ratification processes. The Amendments list changes to the Constitution, with the first 10 being called the Bill of Rights.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| 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 defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity |
| Seven Articles | Describe the way the government is structured and how it operates |
| First Three Articles | Establish the three branches of government and their powers: Legislative (Congress), Executive (office of the President), and Judicial (Federal court system) |
| Article I | Assigns the responsibility for making laws to the Legislative Branch (Congress). Congress is divided into two parts, or “Houses,” the House of Representatives and the Senate |
| Article II | Details the Executive Branch and the offices of the President and Vice President. It lays down rules for electing the President (through the Electoral College), eligibility (must be a natural-born citizen at least 35 years old), and term length |
| Article III | Establishes the Judicial Branch with the U.S. Supreme Court as the federal court system’s highest court. Federal judges are appointed for life unless they commit a serious crime |
| Article IV | Outlines states’ powers in relationship to each other. States have the authority to create and enforce their own laws but must respect and help enforce the laws of other states |
| Article V | Explains the amendment process, which is different and more difficult than the process for making laws |
| Article VI | States that Federal law is supreme, or higher than, state and local laws |
| Article VII | Describes the ratification process for the Constitution |
| Amendments | Lists changes to the Constitution; the first 10 are called the Bill of Rights |
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The Preamble
The United States Constitution, the oldest written national constitution still in use, is often referred to as the "supreme law of the land". It is composed of three parts: the Preamble, the seven Articles, and the Amendments.
By stating these goals, the Preamble establishes a framework for the rights and responsibilities of the government and its citizens. It emphasizes the importance of a fair and just society, where the government works to protect its citizens, ensure their well-being, and guarantee their freedoms. This introductory statement is essential in understanding the intentions and ideals that underpin the US Constitution.
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The seven Articles
Article I assigns the responsibility for making laws to the Legislative Branch (Congress). Congress is divided into two parts, or “Houses”: the House of Representatives and the Senate. A bicameral legislature was created with a Senate, in which all states are equally represented, and a House of Representatives, in which representation is apportioned based on a state’s free population plus three-fifths of its enslaved population.
Article II details the Executive Branch and the offices of the President and Vice President. It lays down rules for electing the President (through the Electoral College), eligibility (must be a natural-born citizen at least 35 years old), and term length.
Article III establishes the Judicial Branch, with the US Supreme Court as the highest court in the federal court system. It specifies that federal judges are appointed for life unless they commit serious crimes.
Articles four through seven describe the relationship of the states to the Federal Government, establish the Constitution as the supreme law of the land, and define the amendment and ratification processes. Article IV outlines states’ powers in relation to each other. States have the authority to create and enforce their own laws but must respect and help enforce the laws of other states. Article V explains the amendment process, which is different and more difficult than the process for making laws. Article VI states that Federal law is supreme, or higher than, state and local laws. This means that if a state law conflicts with a Federal law, Federal law takes precedence. Article VII describes the ratification process for the Constitution, requiring special state ratifying conventions and nine states to enact the Constitution.
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The Amendments
The 1808 prohibition on Congress banning the importation of enslaved people is another example of an amendment, outlined in Article I, Section 9. This amendment was part of the Great Compromise, which also created a bicameral legislature with a Senate and a House of Representatives. In the Senate, all states are equally represented, while representation in the House of Representatives is apportioned based on a state's free population plus three-fifths of its enslaved population.
The 13th Amendment, ratified in 1865, abolished slavery in the United States. The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, granted citizenship to "all persons born or naturalized in the United States" and guaranteed them due process and equal protection under the law. The 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870, prohibited the denial of the right to vote based on race, colour, or previous condition of servitude. These three amendments, known as the Reconstruction Amendments, were passed in the wake of the Civil War to abolish slavery and extend civil rights to freed slaves.
The process of amending the Constitution is outlined in Article V and requires a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, or alternatively through a national convention called by Congress in response to applications from two-thirds of state legislatures. An amendment must then be ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures or state conventions. This process is deliberately difficult, ensuring that any changes to the Constitution reflect broad consensus across the country.
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The Bill of Rights
The United States Constitution is the foundation of the federal government and is often referred to as the "supreme law of the land". It is a "living" document that can be amended and has been, over the course of more than 200 years, 27 times. The Constitution is divided into three parts: the Preamble, the seven Articles, and the Amendments.
The first ten Amendments, also known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791, and form the basis of the basic rights of citizens. The Bill of Rights was a crucial addition to the Constitution, as it was a requirement for the ratification of the document in many states. The Bill of Rights is an integral part of the Constitution, guaranteeing the fundamental freedoms and rights of Americans.
The sixth amendment grants citizens the right to a speedy trial, to legal counsel, and to an impartial jury, while the seventh amendment guarantees trial by jury in civil cases. The eighth amendment prohibits excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishments, and the ninth amendment addresses rights not specifically enumerated in the Constitution, reserving them to the people. Finally, the tenth amendment reaffirms the federal nature of the government, stating that powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved for the states or the people.
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Checks and Balances
The US Constitution is the foundation of the federal government and is often called the supreme law of the land. It is a "living" document that can be amended, although in over 200 years there have only been 27 amendments. The Constitution is divided into three parts: the Preamble, the seven Articles, and the Amendments.
The seven Articles establish the three branches of government and their powers: the Legislative Branch (Congress), the Executive Branch (office of the President), and the Judicial Branch (Federal court system). Each branch has specific checks and balances on the others to prevent any one branch from becoming dominant.
Article I assigns the responsibility for making laws to the Legislative Branch (Congress). Congress is divided into two parts, or "Houses": the House of Representatives and the Senate. The inclusion of the enslaved population in the representation in these Houses was known as the three-fifths compromise. A compromise on slavery prohibited Congress from banning the importation of enslaved people until 1808.
Article II details the Executive Branch, including the rules for electing the President through the Electoral College, eligibility requirements, and term length. The 12th and 25th Amendments modified some of these rules.
Article III establishes the Judicial Branch, with the US Supreme Court as the highest court in the federal court system. Federal judges are appointed for life unless they commit serious crimes.
The system of checks and balances ensures that no one branch of government holds too much power and protects against the potential excesses of each branch. For example, while Congress has the power to make laws, the President has the power to veto those laws. However, Congress can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both Houses. Similarly, the President appoints federal judges, but the Senate must confirm those appointments.
The Constitution also outlines the amendment process in Article V, which is different and more difficult than the process for making laws. An amendment must be approved by two-thirds of both Houses of Congress and three-fourths of the state legislatures or state conventions to be ratified. This process ensures that any changes to the Constitution are carefully considered and widely supported.
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Frequently asked questions
The main body of the U.S. Constitution is composed of the Preamble, seven Articles, and 27 Amendments. The Preamble describes the purpose of the document, while the seven Articles establish the structure and operation of the three branches of the Government: Legislative (Congress), Executive (Office of the President), and Judicial (Federal Court System). The 27 Amendments make changes to the Constitution, with the first 10 being called the Bill of Rights.
Article I establishes the Legislative Branch, which is divided into the House of Representatives and the Senate. Article II outlines the Executive Branch, including the roles and election process of the President and Vice President. Article III establishes the Judicial Branch, with the Supreme Court as the highest court. Articles IV to VII describe the relationship between the states and the Federal Government, and outline the amendment and ratification processes.
The Bill of Rights consists of the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution, which outline the basic rights of citizens. These Amendments were ratified on December 15, 1791, and were added to the Constitution to address concerns about retaining state independence and sovereignty.
The Constitution can be amended through a process outlined in Article V. This involves a two-thirds majority vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, followed by a vote in the state legislatures, or through a national convention called by Congress upon application by two-thirds of the state legislatures. An amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures or state conventions.
