U.S. Constitution

Definition

The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the United States, establishing the framework for the federal government and outlining the rights and responsibilities of its citizens. This foundational document created three separate branches of government—executive, legislative, and judicial—each with distinct powers and responsibilities, ensuring a system of checks and balances to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The U.S. Constitution was drafted in 1787 during the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia and ratified by the states in 1788.
2. The Constitution outlines the structure and powers of the federal government, dividing it into three branches: the legislative (Congress), executive (President), and judicial (Supreme Court).
3. The concept of checks and balances is central to the Constitution, ensuring that each branch can limit the powers of the others, which helps maintain a balance of power.
4. The Bill of Rights, added in 1791, guarantees essential rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly, addressing concerns about individual liberties at the time of ratification.
5. The U.S. Constitution has been amended 27 times, with the amendment process outlined in Article V, allowing for changes to be made as society evolves.

Review Questions

• How does the U.S. Constitution establish a system of checks and balances among the branches of government?
  • The U.S. Constitution establishes checks and balances by assigning specific powers to each branch of government—legislative, executive, and judicial—while also giving them authority to limit each other's powers. For example, Congress can pass laws, but the President can veto those laws. Additionally, the judicial branch can review laws and executive actions for their constitutionality. This system prevents any one branch from gaining too much power and promotes accountability within the government.
• Analyze the significance of the Bill of Rights in relation to the U.S. Constitution and individual liberties.
  • The Bill of Rights is significant because it explicitly protects individual liberties from potential government infringement, addressing concerns raised during the Constitution's ratification. By enshrining fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, press, and religion, these first ten amendments serve as a safeguard against tyranny and overreach by the federal government. This addition helped to gain support for ratification among those who feared that the original Constitution did not adequately protect personal freedoms.
• Evaluate how federalism within the U.S. Constitution impacts governance at both federal and state levels.
  • Federalism in the U.S. Constitution creates a division of powers between national and state governments, which impacts governance by allowing both levels to operate independently within their respective jurisdictions. The Constitution grants certain powers exclusively to the federal government while reserving others for states or sharing them through concurrent powers. This structure fosters diverse governance strategies tailored to local needs while maintaining national unity. Additionally, federalism encourages experimentation in policy-making as states can implement different approaches without impacting other states or national law.

Related terms

Federalism:

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units, such as states.

Checks and Balances: A principle that ensures that no single branch of government becomes too powerful by providing each branch with specific powers to limit the actions of the others.

Bill of Rights:

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution that guarantee individual liberties and protect citizens from government overreach.