Omar Bennett
The US Constitution is the oldest and shortest written national constitution in the world. It is the Supreme Law of the Land and the source of all government powers. The goals of the Constitution are outlined in its preamble, which communicates the intentions of its framers and the purpose of the document. The preamble is not the law, but it does provide an introduction to the law. The preamble outlines six goals: 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 to the people and their posterity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To set out the aspirations of "We the People" for the government and the way of life as a nation |
| To create a fair and balanced government | |
| To establish a government with enough power to act on a national level, without risking fundamental rights | |
| To separate the power of government into three branches, with checks and balances to assure that no one branch gains supremacy | |
| To establish the relationship between the states | |
| To outline the duties of the President | |
| To provide a process by which the Constitution may be amended |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution is the 'Supreme Law of the Land'
The US Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world. The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Constitution is written in terms general or abstract enough to retain a core set of values while remaining amenable to changing interpretations as called for by the times.
The Constitution's 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, composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The executive branch consists of the President and subordinate officers. The judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
The Constitution's remaining articles embody concepts of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments, the states in relation to the federal government, and the shared process of constitutional amendment. The Constitution also establishes the power of eminent domain, ensuring that private property is not seized for public use without just compensation.
The US Constitution has three main functions. Firstly, it creates a national government consisting of a legislative, an executive, and a judicial branch, with a system of checks and balances among the three branches. Secondly, it divides power between the federal government and the states. Thirdly, it protects various individual liberties of American citizens, such as the right to a speedy trial by a jury of one's peers and the right to remain silent.
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The Constitution's preamble and its purpose
The Preamble to the US Constitution is an introductory statement that outlines the intentions of its framers and the purpose of the document. It is not a law, but it sets the stage for the Constitution, the highest law of the land. The Preamble communicates the aspirations of "We the People" for the government and the way of life in the nation. It is a primary outline of the Constitution's purpose, and its 52 words were drafted in six weeks during the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia.
The Preamble to the US Constitution reads: "We the People of the United States, in Order 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 to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
The six goals of the Preamble are 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. These goals reflect the framers' desire to create a fair and balanced government that protects the fundamental rights of its citizens. The first three goals focus on the structure and function of the government, while the latter three emphasise the well-being and freedom of the citizens.
The Preamble's purpose is to provide a clear direction for the Constitution, ensuring that the government acts in the best interests of its citizens and protects their rights. It sets the tone for the rest of the Constitution, which outlines the powers and duties of each branch of government, including the President, the House of Representatives, and the Supreme Court. The Constitution also establishes the relationship between the states, requiring them to respect each other's laws and records and prohibiting discrimination against citizens from other states.
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The three branches of government
The US Constitution is the supreme law of the land in the United States. It is the source of all government powers and provides important limitations on the government to protect the fundamental rights of US citizens. The goals of the Constitution are written in its preamble, which is an introduction to the highest law of the land.
The Constitution separates the power of the government into three branches: the executive, the legislative, and the judicial. This separation of powers, along with a system of checks and balances, ensures that no one branch of the government holds too much power.
The executive branch is led by the President and includes the Cabinet, executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards, commissions, and committees. The President can veto legislation created by Congress, nominate heads of federal agencies and high court appointees, and can be removed from office by Congress in exceptional circumstances. The Cabinet serves as advisors to the President and includes the Vice President, heads of executive departments, and other high-ranking government officials.
The legislative branch is made up of the two houses of Congress, the House of Representatives, and the Senate. Congress can confirm or reject the President's nominees, as well as propose amendments to the Constitution with a two-thirds vote.
The judicial branch includes the Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the country, and other federal courts. The Supreme Court has nine Justices who interpret laws according to the Constitution and hear cases pertaining to constitutional issues. The federal judicial system also has lower courts in each state to handle cases involving federal issues.
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The role of the President
The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme law of the land, and it outlines the role of the President, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Navy, and Militia of the US. The President is also the legislative leader, and while they are not obliged to impart information that they feel should be withheld in the public interest, they are required to report to Congress on the state of the union. The President has the power to adjourn the Houses, though this power has never been exercised.
The President has the power to make treaties with the advice and consent of the Senate, and two-thirds of the Senators must concur. They also appoint Ambassadors, public ministers, and consuls, as well as nominating judges of the Supreme Court and other officers of the United States. The President has the power to fill vacancies that occur during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions that last until the end of the next Senate session.
The President's role also includes the power to grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the United States, except in cases of impeachment. The President is elected for a term of four years, and before entering office, they must take an oath to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States".
The Constitution also outlines the process for electing the President, with each state appointing electors equal to the number of Senators and Representatives that the state is entitled to in Congress. The Electors then meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for two people, one of whom must not be an inhabitant of the same state. The Electors' votes are then sent to the President of the Senate, and the person with the majority of votes becomes President, with the runner-up becoming Vice President.
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The Constitution's amendments
The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme law of the land in the United States. It is the source of all government powers and also provides limitations on the government to protect the fundamental rights of United States citizens. The Constitution was drafted by the Convention, and one of its chief aims was to create a government with enough power to act on a national level, but without so much power that fundamental rights would be at risk.
The Constitution achieves this by separating the power of the government into three branches, with checks and balances on those powers to ensure that no one branch of government becomes too powerful. The powers of each branch are enumerated in the Constitution, with powers not specifically assigned to them being reserved for the states.
The founders also took care to establish the relationship between the states. States are required to give "full faith and credit" to the laws, records, contracts, and judicial proceedings of the other states, although Congress may regulate the record-sharing process and define the scope of this clause. States are barred from discriminating against citizens of other states and cannot enact tariffs against one another. States must also extradite those accused of crimes to other states for trial.
The Constitution also outlines a process by which it may be amended. This process is deliberately onerous to prevent arbitrary changes. An amendment may be proposed by a two-thirds vote of both Houses of Congress, or if two-thirds of the states request one, by a convention called for that purpose. Since its ratification, the Constitution has been amended 27 times, beginning with the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments, ratified on December 15, 1791.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution has several goals, including establishing justice, ensuring domestic tranquility, providing for the common defense, promoting the general welfare, and securing the blessings of liberty for the people.
The goals of the US Constitution are written in the Preamble, which serves as an introduction to the Constitution and outlines its purpose.
The Preamble to the US Constitution communicates the intentions of its framers and sets out the aspirations that "We the People" have for their government and way of life as a nation.
The US Constitution is the supreme law of the land and the oldest written national constitution in the world. It lays out the basic rules of the US government and is the source of all government powers, while also providing limitations on the government to protect the fundamental rights of US citizens.
