United States Constitution
For the full text of the U.S. Constitution, see Full Text of the United States Constitution.
For a course on Government and the Constitution, see List of Courses.
The United States Constitution is the supreme legal text that forms the framework of the United States government. It was written by the Constitutional Convention of 1787 which debated many plans and compromises. The existing Congress sent it to the 13 states; after heated debates, all 13 states ratified it in 1788 and it started in operation in 1789, with George Washington the first president, as the first Congress met in New York City.
The U.S. Constitution is a conservative perpetual motion machine, persistently making United States more conservative overall while overcoming liberal creep and O'Sullivan's First Law.
Some call the values the U.S. Constitution promotes "Americanism"; it is a rejection of globalism. This is reflected in multiple provisions, including its Treaty Clause and its prohibition on nobility.
Contents
Other interesting facts about the Constitution:
- It superseded the Articles of Confederation.
- It is the oldest written national constitution. (San Marino did not write one until the 20th century.) [1]
- Constitution Day is celebrated on September 17th, and all public schools must devote attention to it that day.
- Established on November 26, 1789, the first national "Thanksgiving Day" was originally created by George Washington as a way of "giving thanks" for the Constitution. [2]
- The U.S. Constitution was prepared in secret, behind locked doors so that outside interests could not interfere. Historians believe that the delegates did keep absolute secrecy.
- Some of the original framers and many delegates in the state ratifying conventions were troubled that the original Constitution lacked a guarantee of individual rights to protect them against the federal government. Supporters promised such a "bill of rights" and in 1791 the first ten amendments were ratified and became known as "The Bill of Rights." [3] After the Civil War, the Constitution was amended to prevent state governments from infringing on the rights of the people.
Constitutional Principles
The Constitution of the United States of America specifies the laws by which The United States government is allowed to govern, included among these are the Freedom of Religion, Freedom of The Press, Freedom of Speech, and the right of habeas corpus (Amendment XIV). It also helps to guarantee the rights of minorities by Rule of Law, such as African Americans and other minority groups, and to guarantee religious freedoms. It also defines a system of checks and balances by establishing three separate but equal branches of government (Legislative, Judicial and Executive), The powers not specified in The Constitution are reserved to the states and to the people, as established by the Tenth Amendment.
The Constitution established a representative republic form of national government, by the consent of the governed, and in its Article IV guarantees a republican form of government in every state.
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. | ” |
Articles
The US Constitution contains seven articles, followed by twenty-seven amendments. Click the Article names to read a full description of each article.
- Article I pertains to Congress.
- Article II pertains to the presidency.
- Article III pertains to the Judicial branch of government.
- Article IV addresses relations between the states of the United States.
- Article V details the process for amending the Constitution.
- Article VI establishes the Constitution, law passed by Congress, and treaties entered by the United States as the supreme law of the land.
- Article VII explains the Constitution's ratification.
Amendments
- First Amendment
- Second Amendment
- Third Amendment
- Fourth Amendment
- Fifth Amendment
- Sixth Amendment
- Seventh Amendment
- Eighth Amendment
- Ninth Amendment
- Tenth Amendment
- Eleventh Amendment
- Twelfth Amendment
- Thirteenth Amendment
- Fourteenth Amendment
- Fifteenth Amendment
- Sixteenth Amendment
- Seventeenth Amendment
- Eighteenth Amendment
- Nineteenth Amendment
- Twentieth Amendment
- Twenty-First Amendment
- Twenty-Second Amendment
- Twenty-Third Amendment
- Twenty-Fourth Amendment
- Twenty-Fifth Amendment
- Twenty-Sixth Amendment
- Twenty-Seventh Amendment
See also
- Constitutional Convention
- Declaration of Independence
- Articles of Confederation
- Founding Fathers
- James Madison
- Thomas Jefferson
- John Adams
References
- ↑ http://www.constitutioncenter.org/explore/FastFacts/index.shtml
- ↑ http://www.constitutioncenter.org/explore/FastFacts/index.shtml
- ↑ http://www.constitutioncenter.org/explore/TheU.S.Constitution/index.shtml
- ↑ http://www.constitutioncenter.org Constitution Center
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