Our Current Constitution: Years And Amendments

The United States Constitution, which has been in force since 1789, is the oldest active codified constitution in the world. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The US Constitution is the fundamental framework of America's system of government, delineating the frame of the federal government and separating its powers into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. The Constitution has been amended several times, with the first ten amendments known as the Bill of Rights.

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The US Constitution is the oldest active codified constitution

The US Constitution, which came into force in 1789, is the oldest active codified constitution in the world. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The US Constitution was ratified in 1788 on June 21, after nine of the 13 original states signed it. The Constitution was then introduced into operation in 1789, making it one of the oldest still in place in the world today.

The US Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. It consists of seven articles that 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, the executive, and the judicial. The legislative branch consists of the bicameral Congress (Article I), the executive branch consists of the President and subordinate officers (Article II), and the judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court and other federal courts (Article III).

The US Constitution is also notable for its influence on the constitutions of several other countries. It was the first permanent constitution of its kind, and its adoption on September 17, 1787, is celebrated as Constitution Day in the United States. This day recognizes not only the establishment of the Constitution but also those who have become US citizens.

While the Constitution of San Marino dates back to 1600 and is nearly 200 years older, it is not fully codified. The Constitution of San Marino is comprised of a series of six books written in Latin, known as the "Statutes of 1600". These books came into effect on October 8, 1600, and while they form the basis of San Marino's current legal system, not all elements are considered law.

The longevity of the US Constitution is particularly notable given the relatively short life expectancy of constitutions. According to Thomas Jefferson, a period of 20 years would be the optimal time for any constitution to remain in force. Recent studies support this, showing that the average life of a newly written constitution is around 19 years, with many constitutions lasting less than 10 years. In contrast, the US Constitution has remained in force for several centuries, with only minor revisions in some periods.

The US Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation in 1789

The United States Constitution, the supreme law of the United States of America, came into force on March 4, 1789. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, which served as the nation's first constitution. The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and came into force on March 1, 1781.

The Articles of Confederation established a "league of friendship" for the 13 sovereign and independent states. Each state retained "every Power... which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States". The Articles also outlined a Congress with representation not based on population – each state held one vote. The central government's power was kept limited, and it could not tax or effectively regulate commerce or set commercial policy. It also lacked the power to support a war effort.

The US Constitution, on the other hand, establishes a federal government with 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). The Constitution also establishes the rights and responsibilities of state governments and their relationship to the federal government.

The need for a new constitution arose from the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation in foreign policy and military matters, as well as the limited powers of the central government. In 1786, the Jay-Gardoqui Treaty with Spain further highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles, as the United States was to give up its rights to use the Mississippi River for 25 years, which would have harmed the economy of western states. Additionally, the British army delayed evacuating frontier forts on American soil, as the Confederation lacked the military power to compel them to leave.

The Constitutional Convention was assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation. However, it was soon decided that the defects in the government's framework could not be remedied by altering the Articles, and a new constitution was authored and sent to the states for ratification. The Constitution was ratified by the required number of states, and the federal government under the new Constitution replaced the government under the Articles on March 4, 1789.

The US Constitution is composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments

The US Constitution, which came into force in 1788, is composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The seven articles define the basic framework of the federal government.

Article I describes the Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government. It establishes the manner of election and the qualifications of members of each body. Representatives must be at least 25 years old and be a citizen of the United States for at least seven years.

Article II establishes the executive branch, led by the President, who is responsible for the execution of the laws and the direction of the nation's foreign policy.

Article III establishes the judicial branch, with the Supreme Court at its head. It also defines the role of federal courts and the types of cases they can hear.

Article IV focuses on the states and their relationships with each other and the federal government. It includes provisions for admitting new states and protecting each state's governmental structure.

Article V sets out the process for amending the Constitution. Amendments can be proposed by Congress or by a national convention requested by the states. To become part of the Constitution, an amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the states.

Article VI establishes the Constitution as the supreme law of the land and binds federal and state judges to it.

Article VII outlines the process for ratifying the Constitution, which was signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788.

The 27 amendments to the Constitution include the Bill of Rights, which are the first 10 amendments, ratified in 1791. These amendments protect various individual freedoms and rights, such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly, the right to keep and bear arms, and protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. Other amendments include the Twenty-first Amendment, which repealed the prohibition on alcohol, and the Twenty-third Amendment, which granted the District of Columbia unconditional Electoral College voting rights.

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The US Constitution separates the powers of government into three branches

The US Constitution is the oldest active codified constitution in the world, superseding the Articles of Confederation in 1789. The US Constitution separates the powers of the federal government into three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial.

The legislative branch is made up of Congress, which consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. This branch holds all legislative powers, with members elected in a prescribed manner and with qualifications for representatives outlined in the Constitution.

The executive branch is headed by the President, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the US armed forces and is supported by the Vice President and Cabinet members who serve as advisors.

The judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court and other federal courts. This branch has the power to examine federal legislation, the federal executive, and all state branches of government to decide their constitutionality and strike them down if found unconstitutional.

The separation of powers is a key concept derived from the US Constitution, influenced by the Framers' experience with the British monarchy. They believed that concentrating governmental powers in a single entity would lead to arbitrary and oppressive actions. Thus, the separation of powers ensures that no individual or group has too much authority and preserves individual liberty.

The relationships and boundaries between these three branches of government are often addressed in the Court's decisions, particularly in separation-of-powers cases, where the structural divisions in the Constitution are closely adhered to.

The Child Labor Amendment was proposed in 1924

The United States Constitution, the oldest active codified constitution, is the supreme law of the United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Constitution has been in force for several centuries, often without major revisions for long periods.

The Child Labor Amendment (CLA) was proposed on June 2, 1924, as the 20th Amendment to the Constitution. It was a permissive law that sought to authorize Congress to regulate and prohibit the "labor of persons under eighteen years of age". The amendment was proposed in response to Supreme Court rulings in 1918 and 1922, which deemed federal laws regulating and taxing goods produced by employees under the ages of 14 and 16 as unconstitutional. The Child Labor Amendment was approved by both houses of Congress and was ratified by 28 states by the mid-1930s. However, it failed to gain the required ratification from three-fourths of the states, as mandated by Article V of the Constitution.

The debate surrounding the Child Labor Amendment touched on concerns about the balance of power between the federal government, local governments, and families. Supporters of the amendment argued that the state had a compelling interest in nurturing children for future citizenship. On the other hand, opponents believed that the amendment would give Congress power over what should be a family decision. Despite having bipartisan support and the endorsement of Republican presidents Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover, the amendment ultimately stalled.

Interest in the Child Labor Amendment waned after the passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, which addressed child labor concerns. The act prohibited "oppressive child labor" and regulated the employment of youth under the age of 16 or 18 in hazardous occupations. The Fair Labor Standards Act was challenged in the Supreme Court but was upheld, further diminishing the prospects of the Child Labor Amendment.

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