Simone Lawson
The U.S. Constitution is a concise document of just 7,400 words, including the amendments ratified over the past 200 years. It outlines the framework for the American government and its citizens' rights. The Constitution's authors, the delegates to the Philadelphia Convention, established a separation of powers with three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. Benjamin Franklin, of Pennsylvania, was known as the Sage of the Constitutional Convention, while James Madison, of Virginia, was dubbed the Father of the Constitution. The Constitution's creation and its consequences are explored through worksheets that delve into the amendments, their framers, and their enforcement. These resources are designed to educate students about the U.S. government's structure, the separation of powers, and the roles of key figures like Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of words | 7,400 |
| Amendments | 26 |
| First 10 Amendments known as | Bill of Rights |
| Author of Bill of Rights | James Madison |
| Rights granted | Anyone born in the US is automatically a citizen |
| Rights granted | Right to a fair and speedy trial |
| Rights granted | Right to counsel by an attorney |
| Number of States | 13 |
| Number of States required to ratify the Constitution | 9 |
| States that ratified the Constitution | Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, and New York |
| States that ratified after Washington's inauguration | North Carolina and Rhode Island |
| States that did not send deputies to the Convention | Rhode Island and Providence Plantations |
| Number of Branches of Government | 3 |
| Branches of Government | Legislative, Executive, and Judicial |
| Number of Supreme Court Justices | Not specified |
| Person called the "Sage of the Constitutional Convention" | Benjamin Franklin, of Pennsylvania |
| Person called the "Father of the Constitution" | James Madison, of Virginia |
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What You'll Learn
The three branches of the US government
The US Constitution outlines a government with three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. Each branch has distinct roles and responsibilities, and they work together to govern the country. This system is known as the separation of powers, and it ensures that no one branch has too much control.
The legislative branch of the US government is responsible for making laws. It consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, where elected representatives from each state come together to propose, debate, and vote on legislation. This branch also has the power to amend the Constitution and oversee the execution of laws.
The executive branch is responsible for enforcing the laws created by the legislative branch. It is led by the President, who is the head of state and government. The President is in charge of executing the laws, commanding the armed forces, conducting foreign policy, and appointing federal officers. The President also has the power to veto legislation passed by Congress, which can be overridden by a two-thirds majority vote in both houses.
The judicial branch interprets the laws and ensures that they are applied fairly and consistently. This branch includes the Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the land. The judicial branch hears cases, interprets the Constitution, and decides if a law is unconstitutional. The Supreme Court also has original jurisdiction in certain cases, such as those involving ambassadors or public ministers.
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The authors of the Constitution
The Constitution of the United States of America is a document that outlines the framework for the organization of the government and the rights of its citizens. It is a crucial part of American history and serves as a symbol of the values and principles that shape the nation. The Constitution has been amended 27 times since it became operational in 1789, with the first ten amendments known as the Bill of Rights, offering specific protections of individual liberty and justice.
The writers of the Constitution, often referred to as the Founding Fathers, recognized the need to build rules for changing it when necessary, but this is not a simple process. The Constitution was drafted by a committee of fifty-five delegates from twelve states who met in Philadelphia in 1787. The committee included notable figures such as Alexander Hamilton from New York, William Samuel Johnson from Connecticut, Rufus King from Massachusetts, James Madison from Virginia, and Gouverneur Morris from Pennsylvania. James Madison, often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution," was the principal author and played a crucial role in the ratification process, especially in his home state of Virginia.
The final draft of the Constitution, presented to the convention on September 12, 1787, contained seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement, of which Gouverneur Morris was the primary author. The original U.S. Constitution was handwritten on five pages of parchment by Jacob Shallus. The delegates to the Philadelphia Convention wrote the Constitution with three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. Each branch has defined responsibilities and specific roles for officials.
The Constitution also includes provisions for the rights of citizens, such as the right to a fair and speedy trial and the right to counsel by an attorney. It outlines the powers of each house of Congress, including the ability to judge the elections, qualifications, and behavior of its members, as well as the process for passing laws. The separation of powers and checks and balances between the three branches of government are key features of the Constitution, ensuring a balanced and limited government.
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Amendments and their consequences
The United States Constitution is a concise document of just 7,400 words, including the amendments ratified over the last 200 years. The writers of the Constitution were astute enough to include rules for changing it when necessary, but it is not a simple process. The Constitution outlines a two-step process for making changes, with amendments needing to be proposed and ratified before becoming operative.
There have been 27 amendments to the Constitution, beginning with the first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, which were ratified on December 15, 1791. The Sixth Amendment, for example, guarantees citizens' rights to a fair and speedy trial and to be counselled by an attorney. The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments are collectively referred to as the Reconstruction Amendments.
Amendments can be proposed and sent for ratification by a two-thirds majority vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, or by a national convention called by Congress on the application of two-thirds of state legislatures. However, this second option has never been used. To become part of the Constitution, an amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the states, either through their legislatures or by a process determined by Congress. Congress has occasionally set a ratification deadline, typically seven years, and its authority to do so was affirmed by the Supreme Court in 1939.
The process of amending the Constitution ensures a balance between the need for change and stability. While it allows for necessary adjustments, it also prevents constant or rapid fluctuations that could lead to instability.
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Ratification process
The ratification process of the U.S. Constitution was a long and arduous journey. The final draft of the Constitution was signed by 38 or 39 out of 41 or 55 delegates on September 17, 1787, and it was then sent to the states for debate and ratification votes. The delegates had initially gathered in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787, with the purpose of amending the Articles of Confederation. However, the outcome was the proposal and creation of a new form of government.
The delegates decided that nine of the 13 states would need to ratify the Constitution for it to be accepted as the nation's founding document. This was because nine states were required in the Confederation Congress to adopt important matters. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, making it the official framework for the government of the United States of America. All 13 states eventually ratified the Constitution by May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island approved the document.
The road to ratification was not without opposition. Some states objected to the Constitution on the grounds that it did not protect certain rights, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. The Massachusetts Compromise, reached in February 1788, addressed these concerns by stipulating that amendments would be proposed, leading to the Bill of Rights. Additionally, there were opponents of the Constitution, known as Antifederalists, who wanted to send the Constitution to the states with amendments and believed that the ratification process violated the amendment procedure provided by the Articles of Confederation.
The ratification process for the U.S. Constitution involved navigating debates, amendments, and votes across the states, ultimately resulting in the establishment of a new governing framework for the nation.
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The Bill of Rights
The Sixth Amendment, for example, ensures the right to a fair and speedy trial and the right to legal representation. The Bill of Rights, as part of the Constitution, serves as the supreme law of the land, taking precedence over local and state laws. It allows for amendments, giving citizens the power to change foundational laws and adapt them to evolving societal needs.
The Constitution, with the Bill of Rights, is a concise document of only 7,400 words. It is the foundational legal framework of the United States, shaping the government's structure and safeguarding citizens' rights. The process of amending the Constitution is deliberately challenging, underscoring the importance of stability and consensus in governance.
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Frequently asked questions
James Madison, of Virginia, is known as the "Father of the Constitution" due to his erudition and significant contributions to the formation of the Constitution.
Historians generally refer to the attendees of the Constitutional Convention as "delegates".
The legislatures of the different states appointed deputies to the Constitutional Convention.
The writers of the Constitution included rules for changing it when necessary, but it is not a simple process.
