The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme law of the United States ^ b. English is the de facto language of American government and the sole language spoken at home by 80% of Americans age five and older. Spanish is the second most commonly spoken language. It is the foundation and source of the legal authority underlying the existence of the United States of America and the federal government of the United States. It provides the framework for the organization of the United States government The federal government of the United States is the central government entity established by the United States Constitution, which shares sovereignty over the United States of America with the governments of the individual U.S. states. For official purposes in U.S. courts, the government is sued as the United States of America, and is referred to and for the relationship of the federal government to the states, to citizens, and to all people within the United States.

The Constitution defines the three main branches of government: a legislature, the bicameral In government, bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers. Thus, a bicameral parliament or bicameral legislature is a legislature which consists of two chambers or houses. Bicameralism is an essential and defining feature of the classical notion of mixed government. Bicameral legislatures tend to require a Congress The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C; an executive branch led by the President The President of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is one of only two nationally elected federal officers, the other being the Vice President of the United States; and a judicial branch headed by the Supreme Court The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest judicial body in the United States, and leads the federal judiciary. It consists of the Chief Justice of the United States and eight Associate Justices, who are nominated by the President and confirmed with the "advice and consent" of the Senate. Once appointed, Justices effectively. The Constitution specifies the powers and duties of each branch. The Constitution reserves all unenumerated powers for the respective states A U.S. state is any one of 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of commonwealth rather than state. State citizenship is and the people, thereby establishing the federal system Federalism is a political concept in which a group of members are bound together by covenant with a governing representative head. The term federalism is also used to describe a system of the government in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between a central governing authority and constituent political units (like states or provinces) of government.

The United States Constitution was adopted on September 17, 1787, by the Constitutional Convention The Philadelphia Convention took place from May 25 to September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to address problems in governing the United States of America, which had been operating under the Articles of Confederation following independence from Great Britain. Although the Convention was purportedly intended only to revise the Articles in Philadelphia Philadelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania and the sixth-most-populous city in the United States, Pennsylvania Pennsylvania has 51 miles of coastline along Lake Erie and 57 miles (92 km) of shoreline along the Delaware Estuary, and ratified Ratification is the approval by the principal of an act of its agent where the agent lacked authority to legally bind the principal. The term applies to private contract law, international treaties, and constitutionals in federations such as the United States and Canada by conventions in each U.S. state A U.S. state is any one of 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of commonwealth rather than state. State citizenship is in the name of "The People". The Constitution has been amended Before an amendment can take effect, it must be proposed to the states by a two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress or by a convention called by two-thirds of the states, and ratified by three-fourths of the states or by three-fourths of conventions thereof, the method of ratification being determined by Congress at the time of proposal. To twenty-seven times; the first ten amendments are known as the Bill of Rights The Bill of Rights is the name by which the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution are known. They were introduced by James Madison to the First United States Congress in 1789 as a series of articles, and came into effect on December 15, 1791, when they had been ratified by three-fourths of the States. An agreement to create the.[1][2]

The United States Constitution is the shortest and oldest written constitution A constitution is a set of laws that a set of people have made and agreed upon for government—often codified as a written document—that enumerates and limits the powers and functions of a political entity. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is. In the case of countries and autonomous regions of federal countries the still in use by any nation in the world today.[3]

The Constitution has a central place in United States law The law of the United States consists of many levels of codified and uncodified forms of law, of which the most important is the United States Constitution, the foundation of the federal government of the United States. The Constitution sets out the boundaries of federal law, which consists of constitutional acts of Congress, constitutional and political culture The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States , Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments. Federal and state elections generally take place within a two-party system, although this is not.[4] The handwritten original document penned by Jacob Shallus Jacob Shallus was the Engrosser or Penman of the United States Constitution whose hand-written copy of the Constitution is on display in the US National Archives is on display at the National Archives and Records Administration The United States National Archives and Records Administration is an independent agency of the United States government charged with preserving and documenting government and historical records and with increasing public access to those documents. NARA is officially responsible for maintaining and publishing the legally authentic and authoritative in Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. , formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States, founded on July 16, 1790. The City of Washington was originally a separate municipality within the Territory of Columbia until an act of Congress in 1871 effectively merged the City and the

Contents

History

Main article: History of the United States Constitution The United States Constitution was written in 1787; however, it did not take full effect until it was ratified in 1788, when it replaced the Articles of Confederation. It remains the basic law of the United States Federal government

Drafting and ratification requirements

The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, customarily referred to as the Articles of Confederation, was the first constitution of the United States of America and legally established the union of the states. The Second Continental Congress appointed a committee to draft the Articles in June 1776 and sent the draft to the states for was the first constitution of the United States of America.[5]

In September 1786, commissioners from five states met in the Annapolis Convention The Annapolis Convention was a meeting at Annapolis, Maryland of 12 delegates from five states that called for a constitutional convention. The formal title of the meeting was a Meeting of Commissioners to Remedy Defects of the Federal Government. The defects that they were to remedy were those barriers that limited trade or commerce between the to discuss adjustments to the Articles of Confederation The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, customarily referred to as the Articles of Confederation, was the first constitution of the United States of America and legally established the union of the states. The Second Continental Congress appointed a committee to draft the Articles in June 1776 and sent the draft to the states for that would improve commerce. They invited state representatives to convene in Philadelphia Philadelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania and the sixth-most-populous city in the United States to discuss improvements to the federal government. After debate, the Congress of the Confederation The Congress of the Confederation or the United States in Congress Assembled was the governing body of the United States of America from March 1, 1781, to March 4, 1789. It comprised delegates appointed by the legislatures of the states. It was the immediate successor to the Second Continental Congress. The membership of the Second Continental endorsed the plan to revise the Articles of Confederation on February 21, 1787.[6] Twelve states, Rhode Island The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island ( /ˌroʊd ˈaɪlɨnd/ or /rɵˈdaɪlɨnd/), is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area. Rhode Island borders Connecticut to the west and Massachusetts to the north and east, and it shares a water being the only exception, accepted this invitation and sent delegates to convene in May 1787.[6] The resolution calling the Convention specified that its purpose was to propose amendments to the Articles, but through discussion and debate it became clear by mid-June that, rather than amend the existing Articles, the Convention decided to propose a rewritten Constitution.[7] The Philadelphia Convention The Philadelphia Convention took place from May 25 to September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to address problems in governing the United States of America, which had been operating under the Articles of Confederation following independence from Great Britain. Although the Convention was purportedly intended only to revise the Articles voted to keep the debates secret, so that the delegates could speak freely. They also decided to draft a new fundamental government design. Despite Article 13 of the Articles of Confederation stating that the union created under the Articles was "perpetual" and that any alteration must be "agreed to in a Congress of the United States, and be afterwards confirmed by the legislatures of every State,"[8] Article VII of the proposed constitution stipulated that only nine of the thirteen states would have to ratify for the new government to go into effect (for the participating states).[1] Current knowledge of the drafting and construction of the United States Constitution comes primarily from the diaries left by James Madison James Madison was an American politician and political philosopher who served as the fourth President of the United States (1809–1817) and is considered one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, who kept a complete record of the proceedings at the Constitutional Convention.[9]

Work of the Philadelphia Convention

The Virginia Plan The Virginia Plan was a proposal by Virginia delegates, drafted by James Madison while he waited for a quorum to assemble at the Philadelphia Convention of 1787. The Virginia Plan was notable for its role in setting the overall agenda for debate in the convention and, in particular, for setting forth the idea of population-weighted representation was the unofficial agenda for the Convention, and was drafted chiefly by James Madison James Madison was an American politician and political philosopher who served as the fourth President of the United States (1809–1817) and is considered one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, considered to be "The Father of the Constitution" for his major contributions.[9] It was weighted toward the interests of the larger states, and proposed among other points:

The Philadelphia Convention The Philadelphia Convention took place from May 25 to September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to address problems in governing the United States of America, which had been operating under the Articles of Confederation following independence from Great Britain. Although the Convention was purportedly intended only to revise the Articles

An alternative proposal, William Paterson William Paterson was a New Jersey statesman, a signer of the U.S. Constitution, and Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, who served as the 2nd governor of New Jersey, from 1790 to 1793's New Jersey Plan The New Jersey Plan was a proposal for the structure of the United States Government proposed by William Paterson at the Philadelphia Convention on June 15, 1787. The plan was created in response to the Virginia Plan's call for two houses of Congress, both elected with apportionment according to population or direct taxes paid. The less populous, gave states equal weights and was supported by the smaller states.[11] Roger Sherman Roger Sherman was an early American lawyer and politician. He served as the first mayor of New Haven, Connecticut, and served on the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence, and was also a representative and senator in the new republic of Connecticut Southwestern Connecticut is part of the New York metropolitan area; three of Connecticut's eight counties, including most of the state's population, are in the New York City combined statistical area, commonly called the Tri-State Region. Connecticut's center of population is in Cheshire, New Haven County brokered The Great Compromise The Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise of 1787 or Sherman's Compromise, was an agreement between large and small states reached during the Philadelphia Convention of 1787 that in part defined the legislative structure and representation that each state would have under the United States Constitution. It proposed a bicameral whereby the House would represent the people, a Senate would represent the states, and a president would be elected by electors The Electoral College consists of the popularly elected representatives who formally elect the President and Vice President of the United States. Since 1964, there have been 538 electors in each presidential election. Article II, Section 1, Clause 2 of the Constitution specifies how many electors each state is entitled to have and that each state'.[12]

The contentious issue of slavery Slavery in the United States was a form of unfree labor which existed as a legal institution on American soil before the founding of the United States in 1776, and remained a legal feature of American society until the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1865. It had its origins with the first English was too controversial to be resolved during the convention. As a result, the original Constitution contained four provisions tacitly allowing slavery to continue for the next 20 years. Section 9 of Article I allowed the continued "importation" of such persons, Section 2 of Article IV prohibited the provision of assistance to escaping persons and required their return if successful and Section 2 of Article I defined other persons as "three-fifths" of a person for calculations of each state's official population for representation and federal taxation.[13] Article V prohibited any amendments or legislation changing the provision regarding slave importation until 1808, thereby giving the States then existing 20 years to resolve this issue. The failure to do so contributed to the Civil War Union blockade – Eastern – Western – Lower Seaboard – Trans-Mississippi – Pacific Coast.[14]

Ratification

Ratification of the Constitution
Date State Votes
Yes No
1 December 7, 1787 Delaware Delaware is located in the northeastern portion of the Delmarva Peninsula and is the second smallest state in area . Estimates in 2007 rank the population of Delaware as 45th in the nation, but 6th in population density, with more than 60% of the population in New Castle County. Delaware is divided into three counties. From north to south, these 30 0
2 December 11, 1787 Pennsylvania Pennsylvania has 51 miles of coastline along Lake Erie and 57 miles (92 km) of shoreline along the Delaware Estuary 46 23
3 December 18, 1787 New Jersey 38 0
4 January 2, 1788 Georgia 26 0
5 January 9, 1788 Connecticut 128 40
6 February 6, 1788 Massachusetts 187 168
7 April 26, 1788 Maryland 63 11
8 May 23, 1788 South Carolina 149 73
9 June 21, 1788 New Hampshire 57 47
10 June 25, 1788 Virginia 89 79
11 July 26, 1788 New York 30 27
12 November 21, 1789 North Carolina 194 77
13 May 29, 1790 Rhode Island 34 32

Contrary to the process for "alteration" set out in Article 13 of the Articles, Congress submitted the proposal to the states and set the terms for representation.

On September 17, 1787, the Constitution was completed, followed by a speech given by Benjamin Franklin, who urged unanimity, although the Convention decided that only nine states were needed to ratify. The Convention submitted the Constitution to the Congress of the Confederation, where it received approval according to Article 13 of the Articles of Confederation.[10]

Once the Congress of the Confederation received word of New Hampshire's ratification, it set a timetable for the start of operations under the new Constitution, and on March 4, 1789, the government began operations.

Historical influences

Several ideas in the Constitution were new, and a large number were drawn from the literature of Republicanism in the United States, the experiences of the 13 states, and the British experience with mixed government. The most important influence from the European continent was from Montesquieu, who emphasized the need to have balanced forces pushing against each other to prevent tyranny. (This in itself reflects the influence of Polybius's 2nd century BC treatise on the checks and balances of the constitution of the Roman Republic.) British political philosopher John Locke was a major influence, and the due process clause of the Constitution was partly based on common law stretching back to Magna Carta (1215).[10]

Influences on the Bill of Rights

The United States Bill of Rights consists of the ten amendments added to the Constitution in 1791, as supporters of the constitution had promised critics during the debates of 1788.[15] The English Bill of Rights (1689) was an inspiration for the American Bill of Rights. Both require jury trials, contain a right to keep and bear arms, prohibit excessive bail and forbid "cruel and unusual punishments." Many liberties protected by state constitutions and the Virginia Declaration of Rights were incorporated into the Bill of Rights.

Articles of the Constitution

Wikisource has original text related to this article: Constitution of the United States of America

The Constitution consists of a preamble, seven original articles, twenty-seven amendments, and a paragraph certifying its enactment by the constitutional convention.

Preamble: Statement of purpose

Main article: Preamble to the United States Constitution See also: wikisource:Constitution of the United States of America#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.

—United States Constitution, Preamble

The Preamble does not grant any particular authority to the federal government and it does not prohibit any particular authority. It establishes the fact that the federal government has no authority outside of what follows the preamble, as amended. "We the people", is one of the most-quoted sections of the Constitution. It was thought by the Federalists during this time that there was no need for a bill of rights as they thought that the preamble explained the people's rights.[citation needed]

Article One: Legislative power

United States

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of the United States


Federal government Legislature Presidency Judiciary Elections Political parties Subdivisions

Other countries · Atlas US Government Portal
Main article: Article One of the United States Constitution See also: wikisource:Constitution of the United States of America#Article I

Article One describes the Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government. The United States Congress is a bicameral body consisting of two co-equal houses: the House of Representatives to represent the people, and the Senate to represent the States.

The article establishes the manner of election and the qualifications of members of each body. Representatives must be at least 25 years old, be a citizen of the United States for seven years, and live in the state they represent. Senators must be at least 30 years old, be a citizen for nine years, and live in the state they represent.

Article I, Section 1, reads, "All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives." This provision gives Congress more than simply the responsibility to establish the rules governing its proceedings and for the punishment of its members; it places the power of the government primarily in Congress.

Article I Section 8 enumerates the legislative powers. The powers listed and all other powers are made the exclusive responsibility of the legislative branch:

The Congress shall have power... To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof.

Article I Section IX provides a list of eight specific limits on congressional power and Article I Section X limits the rights of the states.

The United States Supreme Court has interpreted the Commerce Clause and the Necessary and Proper Clause in Article One to allow Congress to enact legislation that is neither expressly listed in the enumerated power nor expressly denied in the limitations on Congress. In McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), the United States Supreme Court fell back on the strict construction of the necessary and proper clause to read that Congress had "[t]he foregoing powers and all other powers..."

Article Two: Executive power

Main article: Article Two of the United States Constitution See also: wikisource:Constitution of the United States of America#Article II

Section analysis

Section 1 creates the presidency. The section states that the executive power is vested in a President. The presidential term is four years and the Vice President serves the identical term. This section originally set the method of electing the President and Vice President, but this method has been superseded by the Twelfth Amendment.

Section 2 grants substantive powers to the president:

Section 2 grants and limits the president's appointment powers:

Section 3 opens by describing the president's relations with Congress:

Section 3 adds:

Section 4 provides for removal of the president and other federal officers. The president is removed on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.

Article Three: Judicial power

Main article: Article Three of the United States Constitution See also: wikisource:Constitution of the United States of America#Article III

Article Three describes the court system (the judicial branch), including the Supreme Court. The article requires that there be one court called the Supreme Court; Congress, at its discretion, can create lower courts, whose judgments and orders are reviewable by the Supreme Court. Article Three also creates the right to trial by jury in all criminal cases, defines the crime of treason, and charges Congress with providing for a punishment for it. This Article also sets the kinds of cases that may be heard by the federal judiciary, which cases the Supreme Court may hear first (called original jurisdiction), and that all other cases heard by the Supreme Court are by appeal under such regulations as the Congress shall make.

Article Four: States' powers and limits

Main article: Article Four of the United States Constitution See also: wikisource:Constitution of the United States of America#Article IV

Article Four describes the relationship between the states and the federal government and amongst the states. For instance, it requires states to give "full faith and credit" to the public acts, records, and court proceedings of the other states. Congress is permitted to regulate the manner in which proof of such acts, records, or proceedings may be admitted. The "privileges and immunities" clause prohibits state governments from discriminating against citizens of other states in favor of resident citizens (e.g., having tougher penalties for residents of Ohio convicted of crimes within Michigan). It also establishes extradition between the states, as well as laying down a legal basis for freedom of movement and travel amongst the states. Today, this provision is sometimes taken for granted, especially by citizens who live near state borders; but in the days of the Articles of Confederation, crossing state lines was often a much more arduous and costly process. Article Four also provides for the creation and admission of new states. The Territorial Clause gives Congress the power to make rules for disposing of federal property and governing non-state territories of the United States. Finally, the fourth section of Article Four requires the United States to guarantee to each state a republican form of government, and to protect the states from invasion and violence.

Article Five: Amendments

Main article: Article Five of the United States Constitution See also: wikisource:Constitution of the United States of America#Article V

An amendment may be ratified in three ways:

Regardless of the method of proposing an amendment, final ratification requires approval by three-fourths of the states.

Today Article Five places only one limit on the amending power: no amendment may deprive a state of equal representation in the Senate without that state's consent. The original Article V included other limits on the amending power regarding slavery and taxation; however, these limits expired in 1808.

Article Six: Federal power

Main article: Article Six of the United States Constitution See also: wikisource:Constitution of the United States of America#Article VI

Article Six establishes the Constitution, and the laws and treaties of the United States made according to it, to be the supreme law of the land, and that "the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, any thing in the laws or constitutions of any state notwithstanding." It also validates national debt created under the Articles of Confederation and requires that all federal and state legislators, officers, and judges take oaths or affirmations to support the Constitution. This means that the states' constitutions and laws should not conflict with the laws of the federal constitution and that in case of a conflict, state judges are legally bound to honor the federal laws and constitution over those of any state.

Article Six also states "no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."

Article Seven: Ratification

Main article: Article Seven of the United States Constitution See also: wikisource:Constitution of the United States of America#Article VII

Article Seven sets forth the requirements for ratification of the Constitution. The Constitution would not take effect until at least nine states had ratified the Constitution in state conventions specially convened for that purpose, and it would only apply to those states that ratified it.[7] (See above Drafting and ratification requirements.)

Judicial review

See also: Judicial review in the United States

The way the Constitution is understood is influenced by court decisions, especially those of the Supreme Court. These decisions are referred to as precedents. In the 1803 case Marbury v. Madison, the Supreme Court established the doctrine of judicial review. Judicial review is the power of the Court to examine federal legislation, executive agency rules and state laws, to decide their constitutionality, and to strike them down if found unconstitutional. Judicial review includes the power of the Court to explain the meaning of the Constitution as it applies to particular cases. Over the years, Court decisions on issues ranging from governmental regulation of radio and television to the rights of the accused in criminal cases have changed the way many constitutional clauses are interpreted, without amendment to the actual text of the Constitution.

Legislation passed to implement the Constitution, or to adapt those implementations to changing conditions, broadens and, in subtle ways, changes the meanings given to the words of the Constitution. Up to a point, the rules and regulations of the many federal executive agencies have a similar effect. If an action of Congress or the agencies is challenged, however, it is the court system that ultimately decides whether these actions are permissible under the Constitution.

Amendments

The framers of the Constitution were aware that changes would be necessary if the Constitution was to endure as the nation grew. However, they were also conscious that such change should not be easy, lest it permit ill-conceived and hastily passed amendments. On the other hand, they also wanted to ensure that a rigid requirement of unanimity would not block action desired by the vast majority of the population. Their solution was a two-step process for proposing and ratifying new amendments.[16]

Amending the Constitution is a two-part process: amendments must be proposed then ratified. Amendments can be proposed one of two ways. To date, all amendments, whether ratified or not, have been proposed by a two-thirds vote in each house of Congress. Over 10,000 constitutional amendments have been introduced in Congress since 1789; during the last several decades, between 100 and 200 have been offered in a typical congressional year. Most of these ideas never leave Congressional committee, and far fewer get proposed by the Congress for ratification.

Alternatively, if two-thirds of the state legislatures demand one, Congress must call for a constitutional convention, which would have the power to propose amendments. As no such convention has been called, it is unclear how one would work in practice. In two instances—reapportionment in the 1960s and a balanced federal budget during the 1970s and 1980s—attempts to use this process have come extremely close to triggering a constitutional convention. The apportionment debate of the 1960s fell only one state short of the required number of states

Regardless of how the amendment is proposed, it must also be ratified by three-fourths of states. Congress determines whether the state legislatures or special state conventions ratify the amendment. The 21st Amendment is the only one that employed state conventions for ratification.

There are currently only a few proposals for amendments which have entered mainstream political debate. These include the Federal Marriage Amendment, the Balanced Budget Amendment, and the Flag Desecration Amendment. All three proposals are supported primarily by conservatives, but failed during periods of Republican control of Congress to achieve the supermajorities necessary for submission to the states. As such, none of these is likely to be proposed under the current Congress, which is controlled by the more liberal Democratic Party.

Unlike amendments to most constitutions, amendments to the United States Constitution are appended to the body of the text without altering or removing what already exists, although nothing prevents a future amendment from doing so.

Successful amendments

Main article: List of amendments to the United States Constitution

The Constitution has twenty-seven amendments. The first ten, collectively known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified simultaneously by 1791. The following seventeen were ratified separately over the next two centuries.

The Bill of Rights (Amendments 1 to 10)

Main article: United States Bill of Rights United States Bill of Rights currently housed in the National Archives.
Wikisource has original text related to this article: United States Bill of Rights

It is commonly understood that originally the Bill of Rights was not intended to apply to the states; however, there is no such limit in the text itself, except where an amendment refers specifically to the federal government. One example is the First Amendment, which says only that "Congress shall make no law...", and under which some states in the early years of the nation officially established a religion. A rule of inapplicability to the states remained until 1868, when the Fourteenth Amendment was passed, which stated, in part, that:

No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

The Supreme Court has interpreted this clause to extend most, but not all, parts of the Bill of Rights to the states. Nevertheless, the balance of state and federal power has remained a battle in the Supreme Court.

The amendments that became the Bill of Rights were the last ten of the twelve amendments proposed in 1789. The second of the twelve proposed amendments, regarding the compensation of members of Congress, remained unratified until 1992, when the legislatures of enough states finally approved it; as a result, after pending for two centuries, it became the Twenty-seventh Amendment.

The first of the twelve, which is still technically pending before the state legislatures for ratification, pertains to the apportionment of the United States House of Representatives after each decennial census. The most recent state whose lawmakers are known to have ratified this proposal is Kentucky in 1792, during that commonwealth's first month of statehood.

Subsequent amendments (11 to 27)

Wikisource has original text related to this article: Additional amendments to the United States Constitution

Amendments to the Constitution after the Bill of Rights cover many subjects. The majority of the seventeen later amendments stem from continued efforts to expand individual civil or political liberties, while a few are concerned with modifying the basic governmental structure drafted in Philadelphia in 1787. Although the United States Constitution has been amended 27 times, only 26 of the amendments are currently in effect because the twenty-first amendment supersedes the eighteenth.

Unratified amendments

See also: Proposals for Amendments to the United States Constitution and Unsuccessful attempts to amend the U.S. Constitution

Of the thirty-three amendments that have been proposed by Congress, six have failed ratification by the required three-quarters of the state legislatures, and four of those six are still technically pending before state lawmakers (see Coleman v. Miller). Starting with the 18th Amendment, each proposed amendment has included a deadline for passage, except the 19th Amendment (women's voting) and the Child Labor Amendment, proposed in 1924 and still unratified. The following are the unratified proposals:

Expired deadlines. This category is separate from the other four unratified constitutional amendments. These two were not ratified by their deadlines and they have expired.

Criticism of the Constitution

Several academics have criticized the Constitution for specific shortcomings. University of Virginia professor Larry Sabato wants an amendment to organize primaries to prevent a "frontloaded calendar" long before the election to prevent a "race by states to the front of the primary pack" which subverts the national interest, in his view.[19] Sabato details more objections in his book A More Perfect Constitution.[19] Richard Labunski agrees with Sabato about the "incoherent organization of primaries and caucuses,"[20] and faults the Constitution for enabling presidents to continue unpopular wars,[20] for requiring presidents to be "natural born citizens",[20] for lifetime tenure for Supreme Court judges which "produces senior judges representing the views of past generations better than views of the current day."[20] He writes "If the 26 least populated states voted as a bloc, they would control the U.S. Senate with a total of just under 17% of the country’s population."[20]

University of Texas law professor Sanford Levinson also wonders whether it makes sense to give "Wyoming the same number of votes as California, which has roughly seventy times the population".[21] He thinks this imbalance causes a "steady redistribution of resources from large states to small states."[21] Levinson is critical of the electoral college since it allows the possibility of electing presidents who do not win the majority of votes.[21] Three times in American history, presidents have been elected by the electoral college despite failing to win the popular vote: 1876 (Rutherford B. Hayes), 1888 (Benjamin Harrison) and 2000 (George W. Bush).[22][23][24][25] The current Constitution does not give the people a quick way to remove incompetent or ill presidents, in his view.[25] Others have criticized the politically driven redistricting process popularly known as gerrymandering.[26]

Vanderbilt professor Dana D. Nelson believes the presidency has become too powerful. In her book, Bad for Democracy, she argues that all citizens seem to do, politically, is vote for president every four years, and not much else. Nelson criticizes excessive worship of the president or presidentialism and sees the office as essentially undemocratic.[27]

Yale professor Robert A. Dahl sees a problem with an American tendency towards worship of the Constitution itself, and sees aspects of American governance which are "unusual and potentially undemocratic: the federal system, the bicameral legislature, judicial review, presidentialism, and the electoral college system."[28] Levinson and Labunski and others have called for a Second Constitutional Convention,[29] although professors like Dahl believe there is no real hope this might ever happen.[28]

Translations

The Constitution has been translated into many world languages:

Professor James Chen has annotated the Spanish translation prepared by the U.S. State Department.[51] His notes focus on the problems and nuances of this translation.

Nguyen Canh Binh has translated the Constitution into Vietnamese.[52]

The Bill of Rights has been translated into Hawaiian.[53]

There is a partial translation of the Bill of Rights into Esperanto.[54]

The Federal Judicial Center has links to other materials about the United States government and judicial system.[47] The site has materials in 16 languages besides English, such as Indonesian, Malay, Serb, and Vietnamese.

Original pages of the Constitution

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

Page 4

See also

General

Related documents

Notes

  1. ^ a b WikiSource. "WikiSource: Constitution of the United States of America". http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_United_States_of_America. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  2. ^ Library of Congress. "Primary Documents in American History: The United States Constitution". http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/Constitution.html. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  3. ^ Constitution still holds surprisesBrewton Standard - Sep 17, 2008
  4. ^ Casey (1974)
  5. ^ Christian G. Fritz, American Sovereigns: The People and America's Constitutional Tradition Before the Civil War (Cambridge University Press, 2008) at p. 131 [ISBN 978-0-521-88188-3 (noting that "Madison, along with other Americans clearly understood" the Articles of Confederation "to be the first federal Constitution.")
  6. ^ a b NARA. "National Archives Article on the Constitutional Convention". http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/charters.html. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  7. ^ a b National Archives and Records Administration. "National Archives Article on the Constitution". http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
  8. ^ WikiSource. "Articles of Confederation". http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Articles_of_Confederation. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
  9. ^ a b NARA. "National Archives Article on James Madison". http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/charters.html. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  10. ^ a b c NARA. "National Archives Article on the Entire Constitutional Convention". http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/charters.html. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  11. ^ NARA. "National Archives Article on William Paterson". http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/charters.html. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  12. ^ NARA. "National Archives Article on Roger Sherman". http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/charters.html. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  13. ^ Section 2 of Article I provides in part: "Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several states . . . by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other persons."
  14. ^ See South Carolina Declaration of Causes in Seccession (December 24, 1860), reprinted in Richard Hofstadter, Great Issues in American History. Volume II, Vintage Books (1958), p.76-7; Abraham Lincoln, Message to Congress (July 4, 1861) reprinted in Hofstadter, supra.
  15. ^ NARA. "National Archives Article on the Bill of Rights". http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/charters.html. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  16. ^ Lutz, Donald (1994). Toward a theory of constitutional amendment.
  17. ^ "Findlaw.com". Caselaw.lp.findlaw.com. http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/amendment03/. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
  18. ^ "The Missing Thirteenth Amendment". Thirdamendment.com. http://www.thirdamendment.com/missing.html. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
  19. ^ a b By Larry J. Sabato (September 26, 2007). "An amendment is needed to fix the primary mess". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20070926/opcomwednesday.art.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
  20. ^ a b c d e Richard Labunski interviewed by Policy Today's Dan Schwartz (18 October 2007). "Time for a Second Constitutional Convention?". Policy Today. http://www.policytoday.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=258&Itemid=148. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
  21. ^ a b c Reviewed by Robert Justin Lipkin (January, 2007). "OUR UNDEMOCRATIC CONSTITUTION: WHERE THE CONSTITUTION GOES WRONG (AND HOW WE THE PEOPLE CAN CORRECT IT)". Widener University School of Law. http://www.bsos.umd.edu/gvpt/lpbr/subpages/reviews/levinson0107.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
  22. ^ "Popular vote, Electoral College vote at odds?". USA Today. November 2008. http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/benedetto/230.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
  23. ^ Levinson, Sanford (2006). Our undemocratic constitution: where the constitution goes wrong (and how we the people can correct it). New York: Oxford University Press. p. 248. ISBN 978-0-19-530751-1. http://books.google.com/books?id=ZHQ8z2MAZToC&pg=PT30&lpg=PT30&dq=%22our+undemocratic+constitution%22+critic%3F+review%3F&source=bl&ots=MPCtI3lq3b&sig=iGh7cA-guR2_ES22AcxKnPM23Fk&hl=en&ei=39e2SrHHD9LU8Abvi4zNDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8#v=onepage&q=&f=false.
  24. ^ Randall Kennedy (May 12, 2008). "Books: Randall Kennedy". Newsweek. http://www.newsweek.com/id/135401. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
  25. ^ a b Nora Krug (reviewer) (March 23, 2008). "Radical Re-readings -- OUR UNDEMOCRATIC CONSTITUTION Where the Constitution Goes Wrong (And How We the People Can Correct It) By Sanford Levinson". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/20/AR2008032003015.html. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
  26. ^ Macedo, Stephen (August 11, 2008). "Toward a more democratic Congress? Our imperfect democratic constitution: the critics examined". Boston University Law Review (Boston University Law Review) 89: 609–628. http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&q=cache%3AQ33mcnJC4pkJ%3Awww.bu.edu%2Flaw%2Fcentral%2Fjd%2Forganizations%2Fjournals%2Fbulr%2Fvolume89n2%2Fdocuments%2FMACEDO.pdf+%22our+undemocratic+constitution%22+critic%3F+review%3F&hl=en&gl=us&pli=1. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
  27. ^ interview by David Schimke (September-October 2008). "Presidential Power to the People -- Author Dana D. Nelson on why democracy demands that the next president be taken down a notch". Utne Reader. http://www.utne.com/2008-09-01/Politics/Presidential-Power-to-the-People.aspx. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
  28. ^ a b Robert A. Dahl (Feb 11, 2002). "How Democratic Is the American Constitution?". Yale University Press. http://yalepress.yale.edu/yupbooks/book.asp?isbn=0300092180. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
  29. ^ "Professor Stanford Levinson Proposes a New Constitutional Convention". Colorado Law -- Univ. of Colorado at Boulder. January 25, 2008. http://lawweb.colorado.edu/news/showArticle.jsp?id=434. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
  30. ^ "Arabic-Constitution-2" (PDF). http://constitutioncenter.org/Images/constitution%20translations/Arabic-Constitution-2.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-17.
  31. ^ "دستور الولايات المتحدة الأميركية - دستور الولايات المتحدة الأميركية". America.gov. http://www.america.gov/ar/publications/books/the-constitution.html. Retrieved 2010-03-17.
  32. ^ "Simplified Chinese translation" (PDF). http://constitutioncenter.org/Images/constitution%20translations/SCH-Constitution.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-17.
  33. ^ "Constitution of the United States (1787)". Usinfo.org. http://usinfo.org/zhtw/PUBS/BasicReadings/6.htm. Retrieved 2010-03-17.
  34. ^ "French translation of the U.S. Constitution" (PDF). http://constitutioncenter.org/Images/constitution%20translations/French%20Constitution%208-19.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-17.
  35. ^ "German Constitution 8-19" (PDF). http://constitutioncenter.org/Images/constitution%20translations/German%20Constitution%208-19.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-17.
  36. ^ "Verfassung" (PDF). http://usa.usembassy.de/etexts/gov/gov-constitutiond.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-17.
  37. ^ "U.S. Constitution". Israel.usembassy.gov. http://israel.usembassy.gov/publish/constitution/p1.html. Retrieved 2010-03-17.
  38. ^ "Hungarian translation of the U.S. Constitution". Hungarian.hungary.usembassy.gov. http://hungarian.hungary.usembassy.gov/constitution_in_hungarian.html. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
  39. ^ "Italian translation of the U.S. Constitution" (PDF). http://constitutioncenter.org/Images/constitution%20translations/Italian%20Constitution%208-19.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-17.
  40. ^ "Japanese translation of the U.S. Constitution". Aboutusa.japan.usembassy.gov. 2009-03-13. http://aboutusa.japan.usembassy.gov/j/jusaj-constitution.html. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
  41. ^ "Korean translation of the U.S. Constitution" (PDF). http://constitutioncenter.org/Images/constitution%20translations/KOR-Constitution.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-17.
  42. ^ "Portuguese translation of the U.S. Constitution" (PDF). http://constitutioncenter.org/Images/constitution%20translations/Port%20Constitution%208-19.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-17.
  43. ^ "Russian translation of the U.S. Constitution" (PDF). http://constitutioncenter.org/Images/constitution%20translations/RU-Constitution.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-17.
  44. ^ http://slovakia.usembassy.gov/20090618_us_constitution_slovak.pdf
  45. ^ "Spanish translation of the U.S. Constitution". Cato.org. http://www.cato.org/pubs/constitution/constitution_en.html. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
  46. ^ http://www.constitution.org/cons/usa_span.htm
  47. ^ a b "International Judicial Relations — Translated Material". Fjc.gov. http://www.fjc.gov/ijr/home.nsf/page/transl_mat#United. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
  48. ^ "United States of America: Constitución de 1787 en español". Pdba.georgetown.edu. http://pdba.georgetown.edu/Constitutions/USA/eeuu1787.html. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
  49. ^ "Constitución de los Estados Unidos de América — The U.S. Constitution Online". USConstitution.net. 2010-01-24. http://www.usconstitution.net/const_sp.html. Retrieved 2010-03-17.
  50. ^ http://kyiv.usembassy.gov/files/american_constitution_ukr.pdf
  51. ^ "SSRN-The Constitution of the United States in Spanish: A Service for the American People (La Constitucion de los Estados Unidos en Espanol: Un Servicio para el Pueblo Americano) by James Ming Chen". Papers.ssrn.com. http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=925271#. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
  52. ^ "Alphabooks". Alphabooks.vn. http://alphabooks.vn/web/SearchResult.aspx?cmd=search&key=Hi%E1%BA%BFn%20ph%C3%A1p%20M%E1%BB%B9%20%C4%91%C6%B0%E1%BB%A3c%20l%C3%A0m%20ra%20nh%C6%B0%20th%E1%BA%BF%20n%C3%A0o. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
  53. ^ http://www.jpfo.org/pdf/bor-Hawaiian.pdf
  54. ^ Česky. "Usona Konstitucio — Vikipedio" (in (Esperanto)). Eo.wikipedia.org. http://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usona_Konstitucio. Retrieved 2009-05-04.

References

Primary sources

Reference books

Secondary sources

Further reading

External links

Find more about United States Constitution on Wikipedia's sister projects:

Definitions from Wiktionary Textbooks from Wikibooks Quotations from Wikiquote Source texts from Wikisource Images and media from Commons News stories from Wikinews Learning resources from Wikiversity

National Archives

Official U.S. government sources

Listen to this article (info/dl) This audio file was created from a revision of United States Constitution dated 2008-07-17, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article. (Audio help) More spoken articles

Non-governmental web sites

United States Constitution
Text Preamble and Articles · Bill of Rights · Subsequent Amendments
Articles Preamble · One · Two · Three · Four · Five · Six · Seven
Amendments
Bill of Rights 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10
11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17 · 18 · 19 · 20 · 21 · 22 · 23 · 24 · 25 · 26 · 27 Ratified · Proposed · Unsuccessful · Conventions to propose · State ratifying conventions
Formation History · Articles of Confederation · Mount Vernon Conference · Annapolis Convention · Philadelphia Convention (Virginia Plan · New Jersey Plan · Connecticut Compromise · Three-Fifths Compromise · Signers) · Federalist Papers (list) · Massachusetts Compromise
Clauses Appointments · Appropriations · Case or Controversy · Citizenship · Commerce · Compact · Confrontation · Contract · Copyright and Patent · Due Process · Emolument · Equal Protection · Establishment · Exceptions · Ex post facto · Extradition · Free Exercise · Fugitive Slave · Full Faith and Credit · General Welfare · Guarantee · Impeachment · Ineligibility · Militia · Natural–born citizen · Necessary and Proper · No Religious Test · Origination · Postal · Presentment · Privileges and Immunities · Privileges or Immunities · Speech or Debate · Supremacy · Suspension · Takings · Taxing and Spending · Territorial · Title of Nobility · Treaty · Trial by Jury · Vesting · War Powers
Interpretation Theory · Concurrent powers · Congressional enforcement · Double jeopardy · Dormant Commerce Clause · Enumerated powers · Executive privilege · Incorporation of the Bill of Rights · Nondelegation doctrine · Preemption · Saxbe fix · Separation of church and state · Separation of powers · Unitary executive theory
Historical Documents of the United States
Constitution
Articles PreambleOneTwoThreeFourFiveSixSeven
Amendments
Bill of Rights OneTwoThreeFourFiveSixSevenEightNineTen
Subsequent ElevenTwelveThirteenFourteenFifteenSixteenSeventeenEighteenNineteenTwentyTwenty-OneTwenty-TwoTwenty-ThreeTwenty-FourTwenty-FiveTwenty-SixTwenty-seven
Clauses AppointmentsAppropriationsCase or ControversyCitizenshipCommerceCompactConfrontationContractCopyrightDue processEmolumentEqual protectionEstablishmentExceptionsEx post factoExtraditionFree ExerciseFugitive SlaveFull Faith and CreditGeneral WelfareGuaranteeImpeachmentMilitiaNatural-born citizenNecessary and ProperNo Religious TestOriginationPostalPresentmentPrivileges and ImmunitiesPrivileges or ImmunitiesSpeech or DebateSupremacySuspensionTakingsTaxing and SpendingTerritorialTitle of NobilityTreatyTrial by JuryVestingWar Powers
Signatories
Commander-in-Chief George Washington (Virginia)
Delaware George ReedGunning Bedford, Jr.John DickinsonJacob Broom
Maryland James McHenryDaniel of St. Thomas JeniferDaniel Carroll
Virginia John BlairJames Madison
North Carolina William Blount • Knight Dobbs • Hugh Williamson
South Carolina John RutledgeCharles Cotesworth PinckneyCharles PinckneyPierce Butler
Georgia William FewAbraham Baldwin
New Hampshire John LangdonNicholas Gilman
Massachusetts Nathaniel GorhamRufus King
Connecticut William Samuel JohnsonRoger Sherman
New York Alexander Hamilton
New Jersey William LivingstonDavid BrearleyWilliam Paterson
Pennsylvania Benjamin FranklinThomas MifflinRobert MorrisGeorge ClymerThomas FitzsimonsJared IngersollJames WilsonGouverneur Morris
See also HistoryPhiladelphia Convention
Declaration of Independence
Primary author Thomas Jefferson
Signatories
President of Congress John Hancock (Massachusetts)
New Hampshire Josiah BartlettWilliam WhippleMatthew Thornton
Massachusetts Samuel AdamsJohn AdamsRobert Treat PaineElbridge Gerry
Rhode Island Stephen HopkinsWilliam Ellery
Connecticut Roger ShermanSamuel HuntingtonWilliam WilliamsOliver Wolcott
New York William FloydPhilip LivingstonFrancis LewisLewis Morris
New Jersey Richard StocktonJohn WitherspoonFrancis HopkinsonJohn HartAbraham Clark
Pennsylvania Robert MorrisBenjamin RushBenjamin FranklinGeorge MortonJohn ClymerJames SmithGeorge TaylorJames WilsonGeorge Ross
Delaware George ReedCaesar RodneyThomas McKean
Maryland Samuel ChaseWilliam PacaThomas StoneCharles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia George WytheRichard Henry LeeThomas JeffersonBenjamin HarrisonThomas Nelson, Jr.Francis Lightfoot LeeCarter Braxton
North Carolina William HooperJoseph HewesJohn Penn
South Carolina Edward RutledgeThomas Heyward, Jr.Thomas Lynch, Jr.Arthur Middleton
Georgia Button GwinettLyman HallGeorge Walton
See also Second Continental CongressIndependence HallLife, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
Articles of Confederation
Signatories
New Hampshire Josiah BartlettJohn Wentworth, Jr.
Massachusetts John HancockSamuel AdamsElbridge GerryFrancis DanaJames LovellSamuel Holten
Rhode Island William ElleryHenry MarchantJohn Collins
Connecticut Roger ShermanSamuel HuntingtonOliver WolcottTitus HosmerAndrew Adams
New York James DuaneFrancis LewisWilliam DuerGouverneur Morris
New Jersey John WitherspoonNathaniel Scudder
Pennsylvania Robert MorrisDaniel RoberdeauJonathan Bayard SmithWilliam ClinganJoseph Reed
Delaware Thomas McKeanJohn DickinsonNicholas Van Dyke
Maryland John HansonDaniel Carroll
Virginia Richard Henry LeeJohn BanisterThomas AdamsJohn HarvieFrancis Lightfoot Lee
North Carolina John PennCornelius HarnettJohn Williams
South Carolina Henry LaurensWilliam Henry DraytonJohn MathewsRichard HutsonThomas Heyward, Jr.
Georgia John WaltonEdward TelfairEdward Langworthy
See also Continental Congress
Continental Association
Signatories
President of Congress Peyton Randolph
New Hampshire John SullivanNathaniel Folsom
Massachusetts Bay Thomas CushingSamuel AdamsJohn AdamsRobert Treat Paine
Rhode Island Stephen HopkinsSamuel Ward
Connecticut Eliphalet DyerRoger ShermanSilas Deane
New York Isaac LowJohn AlsopJohn JayJames DuanePhilip LivingstonWilliam FloydHenry WisnerSimon Boerum
New Jersey James KinseyWilliam LivingstonStephen CraneRichard SmithJohn De Hart
Pennsylvania Joseph GallowayJohn DickinsonCharles HumphreysThomas MifflinEdward BiddleJohn MortonGeorge Ross
United States topics
History
Timeline Pre-Columbian era · Colonial era (Thirteen Colonies · Colonial American military history) · American Revolution (War) · Federalist Era War of 1812 · Territorial changes · Mexican–American War · American Civil War · Reconstruction era · American Indian Wars · Gilded Age · African-American Civil Rights Movement (1896–1954) · Spanish–American War · World War I · Roaring Twenties · Great Depression · World War II (Home front) · Cold War · Korean War · Space Race · African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955–1968) · Feminist Movement · Vietnam War · Post-Cold War (1991–present) · War on Terror (War in Afghanistan · Iraq War)
Topics Demographic · Economic · Military · Postal · Technological and industrial · Inventions · Discoveries
Federal government
Law Constitution Bill of Rights Civil liberties Federalism Separation of powers Law enforcement Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation Legislature - Congress House of Representatives (Speaker) Senate (President) Executive - President Vice President Executive Office Cabinet / executive departments Independent agencies Civil service · Policies Judiciary - Supreme Court Federal courts Courts of appeal District courts Intelligence Intelligence Community Central Intelligence Agency Defense Intelligence Agency National Security Agency Armed Forces Army Marine Corps Navy Air Force Coast Guard
Politics State governments · Local governments · Elections (Electoral College) · Divisions · Ideologies · Parties (Democratic Party · Republican Party · Third parties) · Scandals · Political status of Puerto Rico · Red states and blue states · Uncle Sam
Geography Cities, towns, and villages · Counties · Extreme points · Islands · Mountains (Peaks · Appalachian · Rocky) · National Park System · Regions (Great Plains · Mid-Atlantic · Midwestern · New England · Northwestern · Southern · Southwestern · Pacific · Western) · Rivers (Colorado · Columbia · Mississippi · Missouri) · States · Territory · Water supply and sanitation
Economy Agriculture · Banking · Communications · Companies · Dollar · Energy · Federal Budget · Federal Reserve System · Insurance · Mining · Public debt · Taxation · Tourism · Trade · Transportation · Wall Street
Society
Topics Adolescent sexuality · Crime · Demographics · Education · Family structure · Health care · Health insurance · Incarceration · Languages (American English · Spanish) · Media · People · Public holidays · Religion · Sports
Social class Standard of living · Personal income · Household income · Homelessness · Homeownership · Income inequality · Affluence · American Dream · Middle class · Educational attainment · Poverty · Professional and working class conflict · Wealth
Culture Literature · Philosophy · Architecture · Cuisine · Dance · Fashion · Flag · Folklore · Music · Radio · Television / Cinema · Visual arts
Issues Abortion · Affirmative action · Anti-Americanism · Capital punishment · Drug policy · Exceptionalism · Energy policy · Environmental movement · Gun politics · Health care reform · Human rights · Immigration · LGBT rights (Same-sex marriage) · Obesity · Racism · Terrorism
Portal
Constitutions of states and dependencies in the Americas
North America · South America
Sovereign states

Antigua and Barbuda · Argentina · Bahamas · Barbados · Belize · Bolivia · Brazil · Canada · Chile · Colombia · Costa Rica · Cuba · Dominica · Dominican Republic · Ecuador · El Salvador · Grenada · Guatemala · Guyana · Haiti · Honduras · Jamaica · Mexico · Nicaragua · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Saint Kitts and Nevis · Saint Lucia · Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Suriname · Trinidad and Tobago · United States · Uruguay · Venezuela

Dependencies and other territories

Anguilla · Aruba · Bermuda · British Virgin Islands · Cayman Islands · Falkland Islands · French Guiana · Greenland · Guadeloupe · Martinique · Montserrat · Navassa Island · Netherlands Antilles · Puerto Rico · Saint Barthélemy · Saint Martin · Saint Pierre and Miquelon · South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands · Turks and Caicos Islands · US Virgin Islands

Categories: United States Constitution | 1789 establishments | 1789 in law | James Madison | Official documents of the United States | Political charters

 

The above information uses material from Wikipedia and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Some facts may not have been fully verified for accuracy. [Disclaimers]
This page was last archived by our server on Mon Jul 26 23:07:04 2010. [ refresh local cache ]
Displaying this page or its contents does not use any Wikimedia Foundation's resources.
The owners of this site proudly support the Wikimedia Foundation.


Why McChrystal's Out, but Obama's Still Down - OUPblog (blog)
blog.oup.com
Why McChrystal's Out, but Obama's Still Down - OUPblog (blog)
Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:44:46 GMT+00:00
OUPblog (blog) The Constitution states that it is Congress who declares war and who controls the purse strings. That is to say, even the President, designated the ... Ariel Gonzalez: McClellan, MacArthur, McChrystal USA Trends (blog)
Google News Search: United States Constitution,
Mon Jul 26 23:07:11 2010
tcme
theconstitutionmadeeasy.com
tcme
892px x 575px | 135.90kB

[source page]



Yahoo Images Search: United States Constitution,
Thu Jul 29 10:16:28 2010
The United States Constitutional Requirements Of Due Process ...
nationimmigration.com
The United States Constitutional Requirements Of Due Process ...

veranos

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 19:37:08 GM

The . United States. (U.S.) . Constitution. applies to the public employment relationship (Walsh, Kemerer & Maniotis, 2005). This fact distinguishes public employment from private employment. The due process of the Fourteenth Amendment is not ...

Google Blogs Search: United States Constitution,
Mon Jul 26 23:07:12 2010
In What amendment of the United States Constitution?
Q. Where in the constitution of the United States is it writen separation of the church and state
Asked by intransition - Tue Aug 21 19:49:23 2007 - - 13 Answers - 0 Comments

A. The First Amendment includes two related clauses -- one banning any laws that prohibits the Free Exercise of Religion and one banning the Establishment of Religion. The First Amendment was drafted by James Madison who was a close associate of Thomas Jefferson. Several years after the adoption of the First Amendment, Thomas Jefferson described the First Amendment as creating "a wall of separation between church and state." This quote has worked its way into judicial opinions as an expression of the intent of the framers (as have many other writings of the founding fathers -- some used by liberal judges and some used by conservative judges). Since I only know of one Supreme Court judge in the past century who was a literalist (Justice… [cont.]
Answered by Tmess2 - Tue Aug 21 20:01:26 2007

Yahoo Answers Search: United States Constitution,
Mon Jul 26 23:07:12 2010