What Is the Constitution?

What Is the Constitution?

The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. It was written by delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787, ratified (officially approved) by the states in 1788, and has been in effect since 1789. At just over 4,500 words in its original form, it is the oldest and shortest written national constitution still in use.

The Constitution does two main things:

1. Sets up the structure of the federal government (three branches and their powers)
2. Protects the rights of citizens from government overreach

The Preamble

The Preamble is the famous opening of the Constitution. It explains why the Constitution was written:

"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."

The first three words - "We the People" - are critically important: they establish that the government's power comes from the citizens, not from kings or rulers.

The Seven Articles

The original Constitution has seven articles (sections):

I: The legislative branch (Congress)

II: The executive branch (the President)

III: The judicial branch (the Supreme Court)

IV: Relations between states

V: How to amend the Constitution

VI: The Constitution as supreme law

VII: Ratification process

The Bill of Rights

When the Constitution was ratified, many people feared it gave the federal government too much power. To address these concerns, James Madison drafted the first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, which were ratified in 1791.

1st: Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, petition

2nd: Right to bear arms

3rd: Soldiers cannot be quartered in private homes

4th: Protection from unreasonable searches and seizures

5th: Right to remain silent; no double jeopardy

6th: Right to a speedy, fair, public trial with a lawyer

7th: Right to a jury trial in civil cases

8th: No cruel or unusual punishment

9th: Other rights not listed are still protected

10th: Powers not given to federal government belong to states and people

Amending the Constitution

The Constitution can be changed - but only through a deliberate, difficult process to ensure amendments represent true national consensus:

1. An amendment is proposed by two-thirds of both houses of Congress (or by a constitutional convention called by two-thirds of states)
2. It must be ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures (38 out of 50 states)

There are currently 27 amendments. The most recent (27th Amendment, limiting Congressional pay raises) was ratified in 1992, though it was originally proposed in 1789.

Why the Constitution Still Matters

The Constitution has guided the United States for over 235 years. Courts use it to decide whether laws are legal. The rights in the Bill of Rights protect every American citizen every day. It is the foundation of American democracy.

Practice Activities

• Preamble memorization: Teach students the Preamble; many schools have students memorize it.

• Bill of Rights matching: Match each amendment number to the freedom it protects.

• Constitutional Convention drama: Students role-play the delegates debating whether to include the Bill of Rights.

• Amendment research: Each student researches one of the 27 amendments and explains when it was added and why.

• We the People writing: Students write their own class constitution with rights and rules they think are most important.

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