Simone Lawson
The US Constitution is unique among written constitutions for its age and brevity. It is the oldest constitution currently in effect and is among the shortest at 7591 words, including amendments. The Constitution broadly embraces three interrelated but distinct concepts that define American democracy: the separation of powers, federalism, and popular sovereignty. The first principle written into the Constitution is the Preamble, which sets the stage for the rest of the document. It communicates the intentions of the framers and the purpose of the document, which is to establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To establish a framework for the United States government |
| Intentions | To represent, protect, and serve the people |
| Principles | Separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, limited government, popular sovereignty, republicanism |
| 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 constitution
The US Constitution, ratified on June 21, 1788, is the oldest and shortest written constitution still in use. It was influenced by the writings of Polybius, Locke, Montesquieu, and others, and became a benchmark for republicanism and codified constitutions that followed. The US Constitution has been in force for several centuries and has remained largely unchanged for long periods.
The Constitution of San Marino, written in Latin and contained in six books, dates back to 1600 and is the oldest constitution in the world. However, it is uncodified, meaning not all its elements are law, which is why the US Constitution is often cited as the oldest. San Marino's constitution has been amended more recently, in 2002, when the Declaration of Citizen Rights from 1974 was updated.
The average life of a newly written constitution is around 19 years, and only about half of constitutions last more than 19 years. Many do not even last 10 years, and around 10% do not survive beyond a year. The US Constitution has defied these odds and remains the oldest working constitution.
The preamble to the US Constitution, drafted in six weeks, sets the stage for the document. It introduces the highest law of the land but does not define government powers or individual rights. The first of five objectives outlined in the 52-word paragraph is "establish justice." The preamble communicates the intentions of the framers and the purpose of the document, which is 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."
The Constitution embodies several major principles of government, including checks and balances, federalism, limited government, popular sovereignty, republicanism, and separation of powers. The separation of powers keeps the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government separate and equal, with each branch's powers and responsibilities described in a separate article.
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The preamble is an introduction to the highest law of the land
The United States Constitution is exceptional among written constitutions for its age and brevity. It is the oldest currently in effect and is among the shortest at 7591 words, including amendments. The federal Constitution consists of three central provisions: a short introductory paragraph called the Preamble, seven Articles that comprise the original Constitution that came into force in 1789, and twenty-seven Amendments added subsequently.
The Preamble to the Constitution is an introduction to the type of government the Founders were creating. It is not a law but a statement of purpose and intent. The Preamble sets the stage for the Constitution, clearly communicating the intentions of the framers. The opening phrase stresses that this government is made by the people and exists to represent, protect, and serve them.
The Preamble outlines the basic principles that the framers agreed upon. It 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 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."
The Constitution, by its very nature, reflects overarching principles and fundamental decisions to which individual provisions are subordinate. It serves as a framework for governance, allocating powers and responsibilities to the federal government. A central purpose of the Constitution is to restrain the government by immunizing certain values and principles from government interference.
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Separation of powers
The US Constitution is exceptional among written constitutions for its age and brevity. It is the oldest constitution currently in effect and is among the shortest at 7,591 words, including amendments. The first three Articles of the Constitution establish a Federal Government consisting of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
The first principle written into the Constitution is the "Establish Justice" clause. The preamble to the Constitution, drafted in 1787, sets the stage for the Constitution and communicates the intentions of its framers. The preamble is an introduction to the highest law of the land, but it is not the law. It does not define government powers or individual rights. The "Establish Justice" clause is the first of five objectives outlined in the 52-word paragraph. The framers agreed on the following basic principles:
> "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."
One of the central principles of the US Constitution is the separation of powers. The Constitution keeps the three branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial) separate, with each branch having specified duties and powers. The powers and responsibilities of each branch are described in separate Articles, making each branch equal to the others. This separation of powers is intended to prevent any one branch from having too much power and to protect the rights of citizens.
The separation of powers is also related to the principle of checks and balances. The Constitution specifies instances in which one of the three branches can stop action by another branch. This system of checks and balances helps to maintain the balance of power between the branches and ensure that no one branch becomes too powerful.
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Checks and balances
The US Constitution is unique among written constitutions for its age and brevity. It is the oldest constitution currently in use and is among the shortest at 7,591 words, including amendments. The Constitution consists of three central provisions: a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The first three articles establish a Federal Government consisting of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
The principle of checks and balances is a cornerstone of the US Constitution. This principle grants each branch of the government the power to limit or block certain actions of another branch, creating a system of balanced powers. The Constitution outlines specific instances in which one of the three branches can stop the actions of another. This system of checks and balances is designed to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful and to protect against the abuse of power.
The separation of powers is a key aspect of checks and balances. The Constitution keeps the three branches of government separate, with each branch having its own distinct powers and responsibilities outlined in separate articles. This separation ensures that each branch is equal to the others and cannot encroach on the duties of another without accountability.
The system of checks and balances also extends beyond the federal government to the states. Federalism, as outlined in the Constitution, divides power between the state and federal governments, ensuring that authority is balanced between these two layers of government. This division of power prevents the federal government from having too much control over the states and allows states to have a say in how they are governed.
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Federalism
The first three Articles of the Constitution establish a Federal Government consisting of the legislative branch. The Constitution keeps the three branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial) separate, with the powers and responsibilities of each described in a separate Article. This separation of powers is a defining feature of American democracy, with each branch having equal status.
The US Constitution is an exceptional document, both in its length and its endurance. It is the oldest constitution still in effect and, at 7591 words, is notably concise. The Constitution has changed very little since its inception, with only 27 Amendments added since 1789. The principles it embodies, including federalism, have helped shape the US government and continue to guide and influence political decisions today.
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Frequently asked questions
The first principle written into the US Constitution is the establishment of justice.
The preamble to the US Constitution is an introduction to the highest law of the land. It is not the law, but it communicates the intentions of the framers and the purpose of the document.
The key principles of the US Constitution include checks and balances, federalism, limited government, popular sovereignty, republicanism, and separation of powers.
