What is the Constitution of the United States?

The Constitution of the United States is a foundational document that serves as the supreme law of the land, guiding the principles and framework of the nation's government. It is essential to have the Constitution as it establishes the separation of powers among the branches of government, ensuring a system of checks and balances that prevents any one branch from becoming too powerful. The Constitution also protects individual rights and liberties through the Bill of Rights, guaranteeing civil liberties such as freedom of speech, religion, and due process. By upholding the Constitution, the United States maintains a stable and democratic society under a Constitutional Republic where the rule of law prevails, fostering a sense of accountability and providing a framework for resolving disputes.

What does the constitution do?

The US Constitution is the main law of the United States that explains how the government is set up and protects the rights of American citizens. It creates the three parts of the government—executive, legislative, and judicial—and gives each part different jobs. Also, it has the Bill of Rights, which are the first ten amendments guaranteeing basic freedoms like speech, religion, and fair trials. In general, the US Constitution is an important document that helps run the country and protects people's rights.

What Principles does it reflect?

• Popular Sovereignty – The right of people to make political decisions for themselves

• Republicanism – People can exercise their power by voting for their political representatives

• Federalism – A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

• Separation of Powers – Dividing the powers of government among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches

• Limited Government – Citizens and powerful government leaders alike, must obey the law.

• Individual Rights – Basic liberties and rights of all citizens are guaranteed in the Bill of Rights

• Checks and Balances – A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power.

Why is the Constitution so important?

In The Constitution: The Essential User’s Guide, the Honorable Sandra Day O’Connor, former associate justice of the Supreme Court, put it this way:

“What makes the Constitution worthy of our commitment? First and foremost, the answer is our freedom. It is, quite simply, the most powerful vision of freedom ever expressed. It’s also the world’s shortest and oldest national constitution, neither so rigid as to be stifling, nor so malleable as to be devoid of meaning.

Our Constitution has been an inspiration that changed the trajectory of world history for the perpetual benefit of mankind. In 1787, no country in the world had ever allowed its citizens to select their own form of government, much less to select a democratic government. What was revolutionary when it was written, and what continues to inspire the world today, is that the Constitution put governance in the hands of the people.”