| United States Constitution | |
|---|---|
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| The U.S. Constitution | |
| Preamble | |
| Articles of the Constitution | |
| I ‣ II ‣ III ‣ IV ‣ V ‣ VI ‣ VII | |
| Amendments to the Constitution | |
| Bill of Rights | |
| I ‣ II ‣ III ‣ IV ‣ V ‣ VI ‣ VII ‣ VIII ‣ IX ‣ X | |
| Additional Amendments | |
| XI ‣ XII ‣ XIII ‣ XIV ‣ XV ‣ XVI ‣ XVII ‣ XVIII ‣ XIX ‣ XX ‣ XXI ‣ XXII ‣ XXIII ‣ XXIV ‣ XXV ‣ XXVI ‣ XXVII | |
| View the Full Text | |
| Original Constitution | |
| Bill of Rights | |
| Additional Amendments |
The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. Since its creation, it has shaped the country’s politics that affect the economy, culture, and even the daily lives of all American citizens. The major decisions of the leaders are based on the Constitution. Indeed, it is a ponderous read but it is important for all learners to understand the essence of the document, its facts and its history.
Balance of Power
Although every state in America has its own constitution, the Constitution of the United States is the highest law. To achieve balance, power is separated between three governing branches: the Bicameral Congress as the legislative branch, the President which as the executive branch, and the Supreme Court as the judiciary branch. Although its last four Articles support the principles of federalism, its federal characteristics were not confirmed until the Tenth Amendment.
Written in 1787, the Constitution is now more than 200 years old with its original copy stored in Washington D.C. The primary driving forces that lead the American to write the Constitution are the conflicts between the country and the governing authorities in England. Thirteen representatives from 13 states debated, compromised, and talked about matters regarding how to govern the country for a number of months.
George Washington and Benjamin Franklin were two of the framers of the U.S. Constitution which was ratified on September 17, 1787.
There were 38 signees for the U.S. Constitution coming from the original states which include Georgia, Connecticut, Delaware, Virginia, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Massachusetts, South Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
Amendments
Although the first draft of the Constitution was well thought, the framers left room for changes. As of 2006, there have already been 27 amendments in the US constitution. The first ten amendments of the Constitution are called the Bill of Rights, which mostly encompass the rights of the people. Slavery in America was ended on the 13th amendment. The 15th amendment gave black people their right to vote.
At the most basic level, the Constitution grants the citizens their right to freedom. This right encompasses the right to choose a religion, the right to freedom of expression and the right to protection for the freedom of thought. As for the government, the Constitution guarantees the provision of fair and representative governance. In essence the Constitution limits the power of the government. For example, the authorization to govern can only be provided by the people.
It is important to note that balance can also be found within the Constitution. In the case of crime and punishment, those who committed a crime have the right to a fair trial. They also have the right to know the reasons for arrest according to the Constitution. If convicted, they still have their basic rights. This way, the abuse of power by the government can be prevented. The distribution of power between the three branches always keeps the balance in check.