The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States. It was adopted on September 17, 1787, by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, and later ratified by conventions in each state. Here are key aspects of the United States Constitution:
Historical Context
- The Constitution was created to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, which was the first government framework following independence from Great Britain.
- It established a federal system with a balance of power between the national government and the states, and among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal government.
Structure
- Preamble: Sets forth the purpose of the document, famously beginning with "We the People."
- Articles: There are seven original articles:
- Establishes the Legislative Branch (Congress).
- Establishes the Executive Branch (President).
- Establishes the Judicial Branch (Supreme Court and lower federal courts).
- Addresses relations among the states.
- Describes the process for amending the Constitution.
- Declares the Constitution as the supreme law of the land.
- Details the ratification process.
- Amendments: Since its adoption, 27 amendments have been added to the Constitution, with the first ten known as the Bill of Rights.
Key Features
- Separation of Powers: This principle ensures that no single branch of government can dominate the others, promoting checks and balances.
- Federalism: Defines the distribution of power between the federal government and state governments.
- Bill of Rights: Protects individual freedoms and rights against government infringement.
Amendments
- The process for amending the Constitution is intentionally difficult, requiring proposal by two-thirds of both houses of Congress or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the state legislatures, followed by ratification by three-fourths of the states.
Notable Amendments
- Bill of Rights (1791) - Protects fundamental rights like freedom of speech, religion, and the right to bear arms.
- 13th Amendment (1865) - Abolished slavery.
- 19th Amendment (1920) - Granted women the right to vote.
- 26th Amendment (1971) - Lowered the voting age to 18.
Influence
- The United States Constitution has served as a model for other countries drafting their constitutions, influencing constitutional law globally.
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