The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States and serves as the framework for the country's government. It was adopted on September 17, 1787, and has since been amended 27 times. The Constitution outlines the powers and responsibilities of the three branches of the federal government—legislative, executive, and judicial—and defines the relationship between the federal government and the states. It also guarantees certain fundamental rights and liberties to the American people. The Constitution is composed of a preamble and seven articles.
Preamble
The preamble sets the tone and purpose of the Constitution. It begins with the famous phrase, "We the People," emphasising that the power of the government comes from the citizens of the United States. It states the goals of the government, including establishing justice, ensuring domestic tranquility, providing for the common defence, promoting the general welfare, and securing the blessings of liberty.
Article I: The Legislature
This article establishes the legislative branch, which is the US Congress. It is divided into two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. It outlines the qualifications and terms of office for members of Congress, as well as their powers and responsibilities. It also specifies the process for making laws, including the requirement for bills to pass both chambers and be presented to the President for approval.
Article II: The Executive
This article establishes the executive branch, which is headed by the President of the United States. It outlines the qualifications, term, and election process for the President. It details the powers and responsibilities of the President, including the power to enforce laws, command the military, and make treaties with the advice and consent of the Senate. It also outlines the process for impeachment and removal of the President.
Article III: The Judiciary
This article establishes the judicial branch, which is headed by the Supreme Court of the United States. It authorises the creation of lower federal courts by Congress. It grants the judiciary the power to interpret laws, resolve disputes, and determine the constitutionality of laws through a process called judicial review. It guarantees the right to trial by jury and outlines the scope of federal jurisdiction.
Article IV: The States
This article outlines the relationship between the states and the federal government. It requires states to give full faith and credit to the laws and judicial proceedings of other states. It provides for the extradition of fugitives between states. It allows Congress to admit new states to the Union and guarantees a republican form of government to every state.
Article V: Amendment Process
This article outlines the process for amending the Constitution. It provides two methods for proposing amendments: by a two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress or by a constitutional convention called by two-thirds of the state legislatures. It requires that amendments be ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures or by conventions in three-fourths of the states.
Article VI: Federal Powers
This article establishes the supremacy of the Constitution and federal laws over state laws. It requires all government officials, both federal and state, to take an oath to support the Constitution. It prohibits religious tests for holding public office.
Article VII: Ratification
This article addresses the ratification process of the Constitution and establishes the requirement that the Constitution must be ratified by nine out of the thirteen states in order for it to become effective and bind those states.
In addition to these articles, the Constitution is supplemented by the Bill of Rights, which consists of the first ten amendments made in 1791. The Bill of Rights guarantees individual rights and freedoms, such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly, the right to bear arms, protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, the right to a fair trial, prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment. The remaining 17 amendments cover a wide range of topics. Some notable examples include the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery; the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote; and the 26th Amendment, which lowered the voting age to 18.
The Constitution also incorporates various principles and concepts that guide its interpretation and application. These include the separation of powers, which divides governmental authority among the three branches, and checks and balances, which ensures that no branch becomes too dominant. Additionally, federalism allocates powers between the federal government and the states, fostering a balance between national unity and local autonomy.
