United States Constitution

The Supreme Law of the Land

Overview

The Constitution of the United States establishes the nation's fundamental laws and government structure. Signed in 1787, it is the oldest written national constitution still in use.

Key Facts

  • Signed: September 17, 1787
  • Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Ratified: June 21, 1788
  • Implemented: March 4, 1789

Structure

  • Articles: 7 original articles
  • Amendments: 27 total amendments
  • Bill of Rights: First 10 amendments
  • Words: 4,543 (including amendments)

Constitutional Articles

The Constitution is organized into seven articles that outline the core framework of the American government system.

Article I - Legislative Branch

  • Purpose:
    Establishes Congress and its powers
  • Structure:
    House of Representatives and Senate
  • Key Powers:
    Taxation, commerce regulation, declaring war

Article II - Executive Branch

  • Purpose:
    Establishes the presidency
  • Structure:
    President, Vice President, Cabinet
  • Key Powers:
    Commander in Chief, foreign policy, appointments

Article III - Judicial Branch

  • Purpose:
    Establishes federal courts
  • Structure:
    Supreme Court and lower courts
  • Key Powers:
    Constitutional interpretation, federal cases

Article IV - State Relations

  • Purpose:
    Defines relationships between states and federal government
  • Key Provisions:
    Full faith and credit, privileges and immunities, admission of new states

Article V - Amendment Process

  • Purpose:
    Establishes process for changing the Constitution
  • Requirements:
    Two-thirds of Congress or states to propose, three-fourths of states to ratify

Article VI - Federal Supremacy

  • Purpose:
    Establishes Constitution as supreme law
  • Key Elements:
    Federal law supremacy, debt validity, oath requirements

Article VII - Ratification

  • Purpose:
    Sets requirements for Constitution adoption
  • Requirement:
    Nine of thirteen original states needed to ratify

Constitutional Amendments

The Constitution has been amended 27 times to address changing needs and evolving social values.

Bill of Rights (1-10)

  • First: Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly
  • Second: Right to bear arms
  • Third: Quartering of soldiers
  • Fourth: Search and seizure rights
  • Fifth: Rights of the accused

Key Later Amendments

  • 13th: Abolition of slavery (1865)
  • 14th: Citizenship rights (1868)
  • 15th: Voting rights (1870)
  • 19th: Women's suffrage (1920)
  • 26th: 18-year-old voting (1971)

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and provide specific protections for individual liberties.

First Amendment Rights

  • Freedom of Religion:
    Prohibits establishment of state religion and protects religious freedom
  • Freedom of Speech:
    Protects right to express opinions without government interference
  • Freedom of Press:
    Guarantees free and independent media
  • Right to Assembly:
    Protects peaceful gatherings and protests

Legal Rights (Amendments 4-8)

  • Fourth Amendment:
    Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures
  • Fifth Amendment:
    Right to due process, protection against self-incrimination
  • Sixth Amendment:
    Right to speedy and public trial

Key Historical Amendments

Several amendments after the Bill of Rights dramatically expanded civil rights and changed how our government functions.

Civil War Amendments

  • 13th Amendment (1865):
    Abolished slavery and involuntary servitude
  • 14th Amendment (1868):
    Guaranteed citizenship rights and equal protection under law
  • 15th Amendment (1870):
    Prohibited denial of voting rights based on race

20th Century Rights

  • 19th Amendment (1920):
    Granted women the right to vote
  • 24th Amendment (1964):
    Prohibited poll taxes in federal elections
  • 26th Amendment (1971):
    Set voting age at 18 years

Historical Significance

The Constitution has served as a model for many other nations and continues to shape American society.

Global Influence

  • Democratic Model:
    First modern constitutional democracy
  • International Impact:
    Influenced constitutions of many nations

Living Document

  • Adaptability:
    Continues to evolve through amendments and interpretation
  • Supreme Court Role:
    Interprets Constitution for modern challenges

Interesting Facts

Discover some fascinating details about the U.S. Constitution.

Creation & Ratification

  • Writing Time:
    Took 116 days to write (May 25 to September 17, 1787)
  • Original Copies:
    Only 4 pages long with 4,543 words

Constitutional Firsts

  • First State:
    Delaware was first to ratify (December 7, 1787)
  • Last State:
    Rhode Island was last of original 13 (May 29, 1790)

Additional Resources

Explore more about the U.S. Constitution through these official resources and references.

Official Resources

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