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Enjoy this free article courtesy of Junior Scholastic, the Social Studies classroom magazine for grades 6–8.
5-Minute Guide to the U.S. Constitution
The Constitution created our government. More than 200 years later, here’s how it affects you.
On September 17, 1787, our nation’s Founders created a document that continues to shape Americans’ lives today. That day, delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, signed the United States Constitution.
The Constitution is the supreme law of the land. It set up our federal (national) government, as well as the government’s relationship with the states and citizens. Amendments—which were added later—spell out important changes, including guarantees of Americans’ rights. Read on for a quick overview of the Constitution and how it works.
CREATING OUR GOVERNMENT
1. American colonists won independence from Great Britain in the Revolutionary War (1775-1783). After the war, the 13 original states established a country whose federal government had limited power.
2. Leaders called for a conference to form a stronger government. On May 25, 1787, delegates from most states met in Philadelphia for what would become known as the Constitutional Convention.
3. The delegates debated for nearly four months. Finally, 39 of the 55 delegates signed a newly written Constitution.
116: Total number of days it took to create the Constitution 2: Number of Founders (John Adams and Thomas Jefferson) who didn’t sign because they were in Europe
SEPARATION OF POWERS
The U.S. Constitution outlines a system of "checks and balances" to make sure that no one branch of the federal government has too much power.
LEGISLATIVE Congress, which has two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives Main job: Writes the nation’s laws Checks: The Senate must confirm the president’s nominees for federal court and Cabinet positions.
EXECUTIVE The president, vice president, and Cabinet Main job: Enforces the nation’s laws Checks: The president can sign (approve) or veto (reject) laws passed by Congress and appoints federal judges, including Supreme Court justices.
JUDICIAL The federal court system: the U.S. Supreme Court and more than 100 federal courts Main job: Evaluates the nation’s laws Checks: The courts can overturn laws and executive orders they find unconstitutional.
WHO SIGNED IT?
Fifty-five delegates attended the Constitutional Convention. Meet three of them.
George Washington The first to sign the Constitution, he became the nation’s first president less than two years later, in 1789.
James Madison He played such a key role that he’s called the Father of the Constitution. He was later the fourth U.S. president.
Alexander HamiltonHe’s famous now because of Hamilton, the hit Broadway musical about his life. In the 1780s, his essays won support for the Constitution.
CORE QUESTION: Why might our nation’s Founders have created a process for changing the Constitution?
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