The Supremacy of the Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the land. It is the foundation and source of the legal authority underlying the existence of the United States of America and the Federal Government of the United States. It provides the framework for the organization of the United States Government. The document defines the three main branches of the government: The legislative branch with a bicameral Congress, an executive branch led by the President, and a judicial branch headed by the Supreme Court. Besides providing for the organization of these branches, the Constitution outlines obligations of each office, as well as provides what powers each branch may exercise. It also reserves numerous rights for the individual states, thereby establishing the United States federal system of government. It is the shortest and oldest written constitution of any major sovereign state.
The Constitution 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 Supremacy Clause
The Supremacy Clause (Article VI, Clause 2) of the United States Constitution establishes the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties of the United States as “the supreme law of the land.” The clause establishes the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties as “the supreme law of the land” and mandates that state and local officials shall take an oath to support them. It also states that the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties are “the supreme law of the land” and that judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding.
The Supremacy Clause has been interpreted by the Supreme Court of the United States to mean that federal law is the supreme law of the land, and that state and local laws that conflict with federal law are invalid. The Supremacy Clause has been used to strike down state laws that discriminate against certain groups of people, such as women and minorities. It has also been used to uphold federal laws that regulate interstate commerce.
The Doctrine of Judicial Review
The Doctrine of Judicial Review is the power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional. The doctrine was established by the Supreme Court in the case of Marbury v. Madison (1803). In that case, the Court held that a law passed by Congress was unconstitutional. The Court’s decision in Marbury v. Madison established the principle that the Supreme Court is the final arbiter of the Constitution.
The Doctrine of Judicial Review has been used by the Supreme Court to strike down many laws that it has found to be unconstitutional. Some of the most famous examples of laws that have been struck down by the Supreme Court include laws that segregated schools, laws that prohibited interracial marriage, and laws that restricted abortion.
The Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights is the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution. The Bill of Rights was adopted in 1791 and guarantees certain fundamental rights and freedoms to the people of the United States. These rights include freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, and the right to bear arms. The Bill of Rights also prohibits the government from depriving people of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.
The Bill of Rights has been amended 17 times since it was adopted. The first ten amendments were ratified in 1791, the eleventh amendment was ratified in 1795, the twelfth amendment was ratified in 1804, the thirteenth amendment was ratified in 1865, the fourteenth amendment was ratified in 1868, the fifteenth amendment was ratified in 1870, the sixteenth amendment was ratified in 1913, the seventeenth amendment was ratified in 1913, the eighteenth amendment was ratified in 1919, the nineteenth amendment was ratified in 1920, the twentieth amendment was ratified in 1933, the twenty-first amendment was ratified in 1933, the twenty-second amendment was ratified in 1951, the twenty-third amendment was ratified in 1961, the twenty-fourth amendment was ratified in 1964, the twenty-fifth amendment was ratified in 1967, the twenty-sixth amendment was ratified in 1971, and the twenty-seventh amendment was ratified in 1992.
The Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. The Court has nine justices who are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The justices serve for life or until they resign or retire. The