U.S. Constitution study guide: Difference between revisions

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}}''' for definitions and explanations  
}}''' for definitions and explanations  


 
==Original Constitution==
 
 
{{#simple-tooltip: text | t<br>* = fundamental law<br>* = sets the underlying rules and structures for a government or organization<br>* in the United States it is the supreme law of the land<br>* the United States Constitution is the oldest and shortest written constitution in the world. <br>* the purpose of the U.S. Constitution was to structure a new government and to set the extents (powers) and limits of it.<br>* the Constitution has been amended 27 times, with the first ten amendments being known as the "Bill of Rights"<br> * the U.S. Constitution was adopted by the Constitutional Convention of 1787, and went into effect once it was ratified by nine of the thirteen original states.<br>* the new government it formed was opened on March 4, 1789.}}
 
==Original Constitution ==
* The '''{{#tip-text: constitution|
* The '''{{#tip-text: constitution|
a constitution =
a constitution =
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==Preamble==
==Preamble==
* '''<u>Preamble</u>''' <div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"; div style="background-color:#f2f2f2";>* the opening paragraph of the Constitution which states its general purposes and source of power (the people)</div>
'''{{#tip-text: Preamble|the opening paragraph of the Constitution which states its general purposes and source of power (the people)}}
* <u>'''We the People of the United States'''</u>, <div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"; div style="background-color:#f2f2f2";>"'''We the people"'''<br>= declaration of self-government<br>* the statement is important because it states that the ultimate authority of the nation belongs to the people and not the states or the new government itself</div> <u>'''in Order to form a more perfect Union/u>''',  <div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"; div style="background-color:#f2f2f2";>* to improve upon the loose union created <br>* by the Articles of Confederation<br> * = statement of the importance of "union"</div> establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, <u>'''promote the general Welfare</u>''', <div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"; div style="background-color:#f2f2f2";> * called the "general welfare clause"<br>* = statement of purpose in the Preamble<br> * that the Constitution is to benefit the general welfare of the nation<br>* = an enumerated power of Congress that is expressed in Article I, Section 8<br>* this clause does not enumerate (explicitly state) what is meant by the "general welfare,"<br>** so this clause has become for Congress a very expansive, or broad expression of the powers of Congress (i.e., an implied power)</div> and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
'''{{#tip-text: We the People of the United States|
* = declaration of self-government
* the statement is important for the assertion that the ultimate authority of the nation belongs to the people and not the states or the new government itself}}''', '''{{#tip-text: in Order to form a more perfect Union|
* to improve upon the loose union created
* by the Articles of Confederation
* = statement of the importance of "union"}}''', establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, '''{{#tip-text: promote the general Welfare|
* known as the "general welfare clause
* = statement of purpose in the Preamble
* that the Constitution is to benefit the general welfare of the nation
** as part of the preamble, the "general welfare" is a purpose and not an expressed or enumerated power,
** which is listed in Article I, Section 8}}''' and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.


== Article I [legislative branch] ==  
== Article I [legislative branch] ==