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The United States Constitution |
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The U.S. Constitution is the central instrument of government and the "supreme law of the land". It is the oldest written Constitution in the world that is in force. It was written in 1787 in Philadelphia by the Continental Congress of the new American republic and was officially adopted in 1789. The objective of the writers was to outline the structure of a new, strong central government after the years of weakness and chaos resulting from the preexisting "Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union" which loosely bound the colonies together since 1778.
The U S Constitution outlines the structure and powers of the 3 branches of government (executive, legislative, judicial) and the 3 levels of government (federal, state, local). The basic principles of the Constitution are the same today as when it was written:
1 --the 3 branches of government (executive, legislative, judicial) are separate and each is checked and balanced off by the power of the other two,
2 --the U S Constitution is supreme,
3 -all persons are equal before the law, as are all states and each state must be democratic and respect the law of others,
4 --the people can change the U S Constitution by the methods outlined within it.
Amendment of the U S Constitution may be initiated by a 2/3 vote in each chamber of congress, or 2/3 of the states calling for a national convention. In either case a vote of 3/4 of the states is required to actually make an amendment. The interpretation of the Constitution has changed over time without amendment by various pieces of legislation and judicial decisions.
The U S Constitution has had 27 amendments. The Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, were adopted in 1791 in order to meet demands for the signature of Massachusetts and other states to the Constitution:
BILL OF RIGHTS (THE FIRST 10 AMENDMENTS TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION)
1 -freedom of worship, speech, press, right of peaceful assembly, right to petition the government
2 -right of citizens to bear arms
3 -troops may not be quartered in private homes without owner's consent
4 -guards against unreasonable searches, arrests, seizures of property
5 -requires indictment by a grand jury for major crimes before trial, prohibits repeated trials for the same offense, forbids punishment without process & that you don't have to testify against yourself
6 -guarantees a speedy public trial for criminal offenses, trial by an unbiased jury, legal counsel for the accused, and that witnesses must attend the trial in the presence of the accused
7 -guarantees trial by jury in civil cases in anything valued at more than 20 US dollars
8 -forbids excessive bail or fines and cruel or unusual punishment
9 -people have other rights than those mentioned in the Constitution
10 -powers not delegated to the federal government belong to the states or the people
The U S Constitution: An Enduring Document
U S Constitution Timeline
1764-1775 | 1776-1789
President Harry S. Trumans Remarks at the original
opening of the Capital Rotunda - December, 1952
". . . . Perhaps it takes a lifetime of experience to understand how much the Constitution means to our national life. You can read about the Constitution and you can study it in books, but the Constitution is not merely a matter of words. The Constitution is a living force. It is a growing thing.
The Constitution belongs to no one group of people and to no single branch of the government. We acknowledge our judges as the interpreters of the Constitution, but our Executive branch and our Legislative branch alike, operate within its framework and must apply it and its principles in all they do.
The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence can live only as long as they are enshrined in our hearts and minds. If they are not so enshrined, they would be no better than mummies in their glass cases and they could, in time, become idols whose worship would be a grim mockery of the true faith. Only as these documents are reflected in the thoughts and acts of Americans, can they remain symbols of power that can move the world. That power, is our faith in human liberty. . ."
George W. Bush: 2004 Presidential Election Victory Speech - Nov. 3, 2004
Tribute To A Hero
Lt. John F. Kennedy receives the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps medal for heroic conduct from Capt. Frederic L. Conklin June 12, 1944. JFK used his father's connections to get assigned to active duty. Says Dallek, "He was determined to get into combat. It was part of the culture at the time, patriotism. But he was heroic in doing that."
Questions and Answers Pertaining to the U.S. Constitution
20 Things You Didn't Know About U.S. Presidents
Read the text of hundreds of important historical documents and speeches from the Magna Carta in 1215 through the Declaration of Independence , U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights in the 1700's up to and including the Declaration of War after Pearl Harbor and every Inaugural Address by the Presidents from George Washington until our current Chief Executive George W. Bush. These documents represent what brought about the laws of the United States as we have them today especially the U.S. Constitution on which this website is founded.
What It Truly Means To Be A Citizen
First Amendment and Freedom of the Press
What is Democracy
Legal Glossary
US Constitution
Founding Fathers
History of America Chronology
Bill Of Rights
US Presidents
US History Departments
Amendments
Inaugural Addresses
US State History Archives
Images of The US Constitution
First Ladies
Historical Documents
Constitution Facts
Congress
Foreign Embassies
Constitution of the Confederate States
Vice Presidents
US Embassies and Consulates
Continental Congress
George Washington
US Secret Service - FBI
USS Constitution (Old Ironsides)
John Adams
Courts - Attorneys General
The 13th Amendment
Thomas Jefferson
Betsy Ross - Old Glory
The 14th Amendment
Abraham Lincoln
Liberty Bell - Statue of Liberty
Supreme Court
Franklin D Roosevelt
Great Quotes
Arlington Cemetery
John F Kennedy
Washington DC
Declaration Of Independence
George W Bush
Pledge Of Allegiance
Amendments Not Ratified
Yankee Doodle
National Monuments
Succession of the President
Patriotic Holidays
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Duties of the Secretary of State
US Lawmakers Consider Amending Constitution to Allow Foreign Born to Run for President
The Greatest Military Heroes That Our Country Has Ever Produced Are Honored With The Nations Highest Award Known As The Congressional Medal Of Honor
"The presidency and vice presidency may be the highest offices in the land, but there's an even greater distinction that our country bestows, the Congressional Medal of Honor."
Vice President Dick Cheney
Inaugural Salute, January 2001
Leaders of the Free World - Past & Present
CONGRESSIONAL OATH OF OFFICE: "I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion: and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me, God."
Tour the White House, Washington D.C. USA
John Wayne Describes The Pledge of Allegiance
Red Skelton Describes The Pledge of Allegiance
 "All Gave Some, Some Gave All"
The Preamble
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Prelude to The US Constitution
UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
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The U. S. Constitution
