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What Is the Constitution? What Was It?

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The Constitution is the supreme law of the United States. It was written in 1787 and has been amended 27 times. The Constitution establishes the framework for the federal government and protects the rights of individuals.

What Is the Constitution? (What Was?)

by Patricia Brennan Demuth

4.8 out of 5

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The Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation was the first constitution of the United States. It was adopted in 1781 and created a loose confederation of states. The Articles of Confederation did not give the federal government much power. It could not regulate commerce, tax citizens, or raise an army.

The Articles of Confederation were soon found to be inadequate. The federal government was too weak to deal with the problems facing the country. In 1787, a convention was held in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation. The convention ended up writing a new constitution, which was ratified by the states in 1788.

The Constitution

The Constitution established a new federal government that was stronger than the one under the Articles of Confederation. The Constitution created three branches of government: the legislative branch, the executive branch, and the judicial branch.

The legislative branch is responsible for making laws. It is composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate is composed of two senators from each state. The House of Representatives is composed of members who are elected from districts within each state. The number of representatives each state gets is based on its population.

The executive branch is responsible for carrying out the laws. It is headed by the president. The president is elected by the people for a four-year term. The president appoints the members of his cabinet, who help him to run the government.

The judicial branch is responsible for interpreting the laws. It is composed of the Supreme Court and the lower federal courts. The Supreme Court is composed of nine justices who are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The justices serve for life.

The Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the Constitution. It was adopted in 1791 and protects the rights of individuals. The Bill of Rights includes the right to freedom of speech, religion, and the press. It also includes the right to bear arms and the right to a fair trial.

The Constitution Today

The Constitution is still the supreme law of the United States. It has been amended 27 times, but its basic principles have remained the same. The Constitution is a living document that has been interpreted by the courts to meet the changing needs of the country.

The Constitution is a testament to the wisdom of the Founding Fathers. It has served the United States well for over 200 years. The Constitution is a symbol of our freedom and our democracy.

### Images with Alt Attributes

| Image | Alt Attribute | |---|---| | [Image of the Constitution](constitution.jpg) | The Constitution of the United States | | [Image of the Founding Fathers](founding-fathers.jpg) | The Founding Fathers of the United States | | [Image of the Supreme Court](supreme-court.jpg) | The Supreme Court of the United States |

What Is the Constitution? (What Was?)

by Patricia Brennan Demuth

4.8 out of 5