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The
US Constitution. American Law and constitution
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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 defense, 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.
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The Articles of
the Constitution
The articles
of the Constitution explain how the three branches of government
work and what each can and cannot do. The articles also explain
how the federal and state governments must work together,
and how the constitution can be amended or changed.
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Article
1
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explains
the legislative branch, how laws are made, and how Congress
works.
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Article
2
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explains
the executive branch, the offices of the President and
Vice President, and the powers of the executive branch.
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Article
3
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explains
the judicial branch, the Supreme Court and other courts,
and warns people about trying to overthrow the government.
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Article
4
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describes
how the United States federal government and the individual
state governments work together.
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Article
5
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tells
how the Constitution can be amended or changed.
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Article
6
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states
that the United States federal government and the Constitution
are the law of the land.
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Article
7
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outlines
how the Constitution must be adopted to become official.
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The Bill
of Rights
To get the
necessary votes to approve the Constitution, a number of changes
(amendments) had to be made. These 10 original amendments
are called the Bill of Rights. They guarantee all Americans
some very basic rights, including the right to worship and
speak freely and the right to have a jury trial. The first
eight amendments grant individual rights and freedoms. The
ninth and tenth amendments prevent Congress from passing laws
that would deprive citizens of these rights.
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1
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People
have the right to worship, to speak freely, to gather
together, and to question the government.
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2
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People
have the right to bear arms.
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3
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The government
cannot have soldiers stay in People’s homes without
their permission.
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4
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People
and their property cannot be searched without the written
permission of a judge.
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5
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People
cannot be tried for a serious crime without a jury.
They cannot be tried twice for the same crime or be
forced to testify against themselves. Also, they cannot
have property taken away while they are on trial. Any
property taken for public use must receive a fair price.
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6
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In criminal
cases, people have a right to a speedy and public trial,
to be told what they are accused of, to hear witnesses
against them, to get witnesses in their favor, and to
have a lawyer.
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7
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In cases
involving more than $20, people have the right for a
jury trial.
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8
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People
have a right to fair bail (money given as a promise
the person will return for trial) and to fair fines
and punishments
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9
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People
have rights that are not listed in the Constitution
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10
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Powers
not given to the federal government are given to the
states or to the people.
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The Other
Amendments
The Constitution
and the Bill of Rights were ratified in 1791. Since that time,
more than 7,000 amendments in the Constitution have been proposed.
Because three-fourths of the states must approve an amendment
before it becomes law, just 27 amendments have been passed.
Following are the remaining 17 amendments other than the Bill
of Rights.
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1
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A person
cannot sue a state in federal court (1795).
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2
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The President
and Vice President are elected separately (1804).
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3
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Slavery
is abolishes (1865).
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4
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All persons
born in the United States or those who have become citizens
enjoy full citizenship rights (1868).
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5
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Voting
rights are given to all [adult male] citizens regardless
of race, creed, or color (1870).
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6
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Congress
has the power to collect income taxes (1913).
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7
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United
States Senators are elected directly by the people (1913).
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8
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Making,
buying, and selling alcoholic beverages is no longer
allowed (1919).
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9
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Women
have the right to vote (1920).
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10
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The President’s
term begins January 20; Senators’ and Representatives’
terms begin January 3 (1933).
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11
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(Repeals
Amendment 18) Alcoholic beverages can be made, bought,
and sold again (1933).
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12
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The President
is limited to two elected terms (1951).
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13
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District
of Columbia residents gain the right to vote (1961).
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14
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All voter
poll taxes are forbidden (1964).
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15
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If the
Presidency is vacant, the Vice President takes over.
If the Vice Presidency is vacant, the President names
someone and the Congress votes on the choice (1967).
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16
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Citizens
18 years old gain the right to vote (1971).
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17
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No law
changing the pay for members of Congress will take effect
until after an election of Representatives (1992).
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Links
of Interest:
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