Anatomy of The Constitution

Below, read about the Constitutional Convention. Later, there will be a variety of activities that will allow you to show what you have learned by applying ideas of the Constitution to events that are happening today.

There is an option for you to listen along as you read where is says link to audio if you so choose. Once you click the link, it will open another page where you will need to download the recording.

How Do They Govern?

The U.S. Constitution is the document that creates our nation’s government. The contents of the Constitution create the three branches of our government and give directions for how the federal government work. (It does this with a little over 4,500 words covering only four sheets of paper!) Although the Constitution was written over 220 years ago, it still guides our officials in running our country today. It is also the oldest written constitution in the world that is still in use.

Breaking Down the Preamble

Our Constitution is divided into many parts. The first paragraph is called the Preamble. Its job is to introduce the Constitution, explain what the Constitution is meant to do, and describe the purpose of the new government.

Principles of the Constitution The framers wanted to create a flexible way to govern that would take our country into the future. The Constitution is based on seven principles that guide our country:

• popular sovereignty - this refers to “We the people,” or those who live here, govern here
• republicanism - people voting for political representatives
• federalism - a way of governing that shares power between the individual states and the nation as a whole. For example, on the federation government can print money or declare war, but states are allowed to make their own laws about schools or
• separation of powers - the three branches of government: legislative (makes the laws), executive (enforces laws), and judicial (makes sure laws are fair). Having the three ensures that one cannot have too much power.
• checks and balances: the three branches of power hold one another accountable. Congress may pass a law, but the President may veto it, but even if the President did say it was ok the Supreme Court may say that they law violates our Constitution. Basically, no one part of the government can do a whole lot without the ‘ok’ of the other two.
• limited government - this means the government only has the powers that were written into the Constitution. If it tries to take more power than it is acting unconstitutionally
• individual rights - these are written in the Constitution and are called the Bill of Rights and cannot be taken away

What if Change is Needed? Luckily, the Founding Father thought ahead and they made sure that a process was put into place in case there is a need to amend, or change, the Constitution. There are only two steps needed for a change to be made. First, it must be formally introduced, then it needs to be ratified, or passed. Sounds simple, right? Not really! Hundreds of amendment proposals are introduced to Congress every year. Since 1787 only 33 have ever received enough votes to be considered, and of those, only 27 have become amendments to the Constitution.