Ebook edition of The Constitution of the United States of America. Including the 27 Amendments.
The supreme law of the United States of America is found in its Constitution, which replaced the country's original set of principles, the Articles of Confederation. The Constitution defines the framework of national government and originally had seven articles. Four pages of parchment were used to write the first draught of the United States Constitution. Delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia signed it on September 17, 1787.
The federal government is divided into three branches according to the doctrine of the separation of powers, which is embodied in the constitution's first three articles. The legislative branch is represented by the bicameral Congress (Article I); the executive branch is made up of the president and other top officials (Article II); and the judicial branch is made up of the Supreme Court and other federal courts (Article III). Federalism is embodied in Articles IV, V, and VI, which detail the roles and responsibilities of state governments, the connection between the states and the central government, and the joint process of amending the constitution.
27 amendments have been made to the Constitution since it was passed and put into effect, including one that overturned an earlier amendment, to adapt it to the needs of a country that has undergone significant change since the 18th century.
Generally speaking, the first 10 amendments, generally referred to as the Bill of Rights, provide particular guarantees for individual liberty and justice and impose limitations on the authority of the government. The majority of the 17 subsequent amendments increase protections for each person's civil rights, while others deal with matters pertaining to federal jurisdiction or alter policies and practises inside the government.
Rightly so, the US Senate maintains "We the People", the first three words of the Constitution, declare that the purpose of the American government is to serve its people. Because its authors correctly divided and balanced governmental authorities to protect the interests of majority rule and minority rights, freedom and equality, and the federal and state governments, the Constitution has been in effect for more than 200 years, it is interpreted, supplemented, and enforced by a substantial body of federal constitutional law, and it has impacted the constitutions of many other countries.
The United States Constitution established the country's national government, established its core laws, and provided its citizens with a number of essential rights. Delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia signed it on September 17, 1787.
Excerpt
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.
Article I
Section 1.
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.
Section 2.
The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislature.
No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.
Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined 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. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by law Direct. The number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.
When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.
The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.
Section 3.
The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the legislature thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.
Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the expiration of the second Year, of the second Class at the expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second Year; and if vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies.
No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.
The Vice-President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.
The Senate shall choose their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice-President, or when he shall exercise the Office of President of the United States.
The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.
Judgment in cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.
Section 4.
The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.
The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by law appoint a different Day.
