Eleanor Finch
The US Constitution, signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788, is the framework for the US federal government. It superseded the nation's first constitution, the Articles of Confederation, on March 4, 1789. The Constitution is composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The preamble sets the stage for the Constitution, communicating the intentions of its framers and the purpose of the document. The first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of signing | September 17, 1787 |
| Number of signatories | 39 |
| Number of articles | 7 |
| Number of amendments | 27 |
| First 10 amendments | The Bill of Rights |
| First step in the amendment process | Proposals to amend must be adopted by two-thirds of both Houses of Congress or by a national convention requested by two-thirds of state legislatures |
| Second step in the amendment process | Ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures or state ratifying conventions |
| Separation of powers | Legislative, executive, and judicial branches |
| Legislative branch | Bicameral Congress (Senate and House of Representatives) |
| Executive branch | President and subordinate officers |
| Judicial branch | Supreme Court and other federal courts |
| Federalism | Rights and responsibilities of state governments, relationship between states and the federal government, and shared process of constitutional amendment |
| Purpose | To form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty |
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What You'll Learn
To form a more perfect union
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates, superseding the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution. The Constitution's main provisions include seven articles that define the basic framework of the federal government, with the first three articles embodying the doctrine of the separation of powers.
The Preamble to the Constitution, which begins with the words "We the People," sets the stage for the document and communicates the intentions of its framers. The phrase "to form a more perfect union" in the Preamble refers to the goal of uniting a group of states with different interests, laws, and cultures under a single national government. It aimed to vest the power of the union in the people, bringing them together as members of a whole.
The Constitution's first article, which falls under the legislative branch of the federal government, establishes the Congress of the United States, consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives. It outlines the manner of election and qualifications for members of each body. For instance, representatives must be at least 25 years old, be citizens of the United States for seven years, and live in the state they represent.
The second article of the Constitution, falling under the executive branch, focuses on the President and subordinate officers. It establishes the role and responsibilities of the President, including the power to declare war and make rules concerning captures on land and water.
The third article, the judicial branch, establishes the Supreme Court and other federal courts, outlining their roles in interpreting and enforcing the laws of the land.
Overall, the Constitution's intent "to form a more perfect union" was to create a unified nation with a strong federal government, defined by the separation of powers and the protection of individual rights, thus securing the blessings of liberty for its citizens and future generations.
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Establish justice and ensure domestic tranquility
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates, superseding the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution. The Constitution's main provisions include seven articles that define the basic framework of the federal government.
The Preamble to the Constitution states that one of its purposes is to "establish Justice" and "insure domestic Tranquility". Justice refers generally to fairness, a concept that has been contested for more than 2,000 years. The concept of justice is divided into three types: distributive justice, procedural justice, and corrective justice. Distributive justice refers to the fairness of the distribution of benefits and burdens among persons or groups in society. Phrases in the Constitution that promote corrective justice include Amendment VIII, which states that "excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted".
"Domestic Tranquility" means peace and quiet at home in America. For the Framers, tranquility meant the absence of riots, rebellions, and similar symptoms of social disorder. They were greatly concerned with domestic tranquility because social disorder had become an increasingly common state of affairs in the new states. Today, laws enacted by Congress that promote domestic tranquility include those dealing with terrorism, providing for national security, and providing for and protecting peaceful assemblies and demonstrations.
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Provide for the common defence
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates, superseding the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Constitution's main provisions include seven articles that define the basic framework of the federal government.
The preamble sets the stage for the Constitution and communicates the intentions of its framers and the purpose of the document. The preamble is not the law, but it outlines the basic principles that the framers agreed on. One of these principles is to "provide for the common defence".
Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution instructs the Legislative Branch, which includes the bicameral Congress (Article I), to "provide for the common defence and general welfare of the United States". This means that Congress has the responsibility to establish and maintain a national fighting force.
Congress has fulfilled this duty through legislation such as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which ensures that the military has the necessary resources and upholds the nation's commitment to service members and their families. The NDAA also includes provisions for healthcare benefits, pay increases, and bonus pay for service members.
The "provide for the common defence" clause of the Constitution ensures that the United States has the means to defend itself and protect its citizens' security and freedoms.
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Promote general welfare
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates, and superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 789. The Constitution's main provisions include seven articles that outline the framework for the federal government.
The preamble sets the stage for the Constitution and communicates the intentions of its framers. It is not the law, but it introduces the highest law of the land. The preamble includes 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 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 framers of the Constitution intended to promote the general welfare of the people by establishing a system that would provide for their well-being and prosperity. This included ensuring domestic tranquility, justice, and the blessings of liberty.
Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 of the Constitution, known as the General Welfare Clause, states that Congress has the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises to pay the debts and provide for the general welfare of the United States. This clause gives Congress the authority to make expenditures that promote the general welfare, such as funding infrastructure projects, education, and social programs.
The interpretation of "general welfare" has been debated and evaluated by the Court, with some questioning whether it is a judicially enforceable restriction. The Court has developed the Unconstitutional Conditions Doctrine, examining Spending Clause legislation and determining that expenditures must be in pursuit of the general welfare. The specific expenditures that promote general welfare are largely left to Congress to decide.
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Secure the blessings of liberty
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, which was the first constitution of the nation. 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 Preamble sets the stage for the Constitution and communicates the intentions of its framers. 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 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 phrase "secure the Blessings of Liberty" in the Preamble refers to the intention of the framers of the Constitution to protect and guarantee the freedoms and rights of the people of the United States. This phrase reflects the belief that liberty is a fundamental principle of the nation and that the government should safeguard it for both the present and future generations.
The Constitution's seven articles define the basic 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, 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).
Articles IV, V, and VI embody concepts of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments, their relationship to the federal government, and the shared process of constitutional amendment. Article VII establishes the procedure for the states to ratify the Constitution.
The Constitution's focus on securing the blessings of liberty is further emphasized in various provisions throughout the document. For example, the First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion, speech, and the press, among other liberties. The Second Amendment protects the right to keep and bear arms, while the Fourth Amendment safeguards against unreasonable searches and seizures.
In conclusion, the intent of the US Constitution, particularly the phrase "secure the Blessings of Liberty," is to protect and guarantee the liberties and rights of the American people. The Constitution establishes a framework for the federal government, separates powers, and outlines the rights and responsibilities of the states, all while securing liberty for present and future generations.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was created to unite a group of states with different interests, laws, and cultures under one national government. It also aimed to establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote general welfare, and secure liberty for its citizens.
The US Constitution is composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights. The seven articles define the basic framework of the federal government, including the separation of powers into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial.
Amendments to the US Constitution must be proposed and adopted by either two-thirds of both houses of Congress or by a national convention requested by two-thirds of state legislatures. The proposed amendment is then sent to the states for ratification, requiring approval from three-fourths of the states to become part of the Constitution.
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates and was ratified on June 21, 1788. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789.
