The Making of the Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It was adopted on September 17, 1787, by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and ratified by conventions in each U.S. state in the name of “The People.” The Constitution has a central place in United States law and political culture. The handwritten, or “engrossed,” original document penned by Jacob Shallus is on display at the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, D.C.
The Constitution establishes a federal government consisting of three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The executive branch is headed by the President. The judicial branch is headed by the Supreme Court.
The Constitution also establishes the relationship between the federal government and the states. The federal government is a government of limited powers, meaning that it can only exercise the powers that are granted to it by the Constitution. The states, on the other hand, are governments of general powers, meaning that they can exercise any power that is not prohibited by the Constitution.
The Constitution has been amended 27 times since it was adopted. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were adopted in 1791. The Bill of Rights guarantees certain fundamental rights and freedoms, such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to bear arms.
The Constitution has been amended several times to address issues that have arisen since it was adopted. For example, the 13th Amendment abolished slavery, the 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote, and the 26th Amendment lowered the voting age to 18.
The Constitution is a living document that has been interpreted and reinterpreted over the years. The Supreme Court is the final authority on the meaning of the Constitution. The Court’s decisions have had a profound impact on American society, from the desegregation of schools to the legalization of abortion.
The Constitution is a remarkable document that has stood the test of time. It has been the foundation of American democracy for over 200 years. It is a document that is worth studying and understanding.
The Making of the Constitution
The Constitution of the United States was written in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the summer of 1787. The delegates to the Constitutional Convention were appointed by the legislatures of the 13 states. They were tasked with revising the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the United States.
The delegates quickly realized that the Articles of Confederation were not working. The central government was too weak, and the states were too powerful. The delegates decided to write a new constitution that would create a stronger central government.
The Convention was held in secret, and the delegates debated the issues for four months. There were many disagreements among the delegates, but they eventually agreed on a new constitution. The Constitution was ratified by the states in 1788, and it went into effect in 1789.
The Structure of the Constitution
The Constitution is divided into three parts: the Preamble, the Articles, and the Amendments.
The Preamble states the purpose of the Constitution. It says that the Constitution is “ordained and established” by 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.”
The Articles of the Constitution establish the three branches of government: the legislative branch, the executive branch, and the judicial branch. The legislative branch is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The executive branch is headed by the President. The judicial branch is headed by the Supreme Court.
The Amendments to the Constitution have been added over the years to address various issues. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were adopted in 1791. The Bill of Rights guarantees certain fundamental rights and freedoms, such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to bear arms.
The Significance of the Constitution
The Constitution is the supreme law of the United States. It is the foundation of American democracy. The Constitution has been amended 27 times since it was adopted, but its basic principles remain the same. The Constitution is a living document that has been interpreted and reinterpreted over the years. The Supreme Court is the final authority on the meaning of the Constitution. The Court’s decisions have had a profound impact on American society, from the desegregation of schools to the legalization of abortion.
The Constitution is a remarkable document that has stood the test of time. It is a document that is worth studying and understanding.