Constitution
Definition
The Constitution is the supreme law of the United States, outlining the structure of the federal government and defining the rights and freedoms of American citizens.
Analogy
Think of the Constitution as a game rulebook for America. Just like how a rulebook outlines how to play a game, what moves are allowed, and what penalties exist for breaking rules, the Constitution sets out how our government operates, what it can and cannot do, and protects us when those rules are broken.
Related terms
Bill of Rights: This is the first ten amendments to the US Constitution that outline specific protections for individual liberties such as freedom of speech, religion, and press.
Federalism: This is a system where power is divided between national (federal) government and state governments. It's like dividing responsibilities between parents (national government) and children (state governments).
Separation of Powers: This principle divides governmental powers into three branches - legislative (makes laws), executive (enforces laws), and judicial (interprets laws). It's like splitting chores among siblings so no one person has all control or responsibility.
"Constitution" appears in:
Study guides (4)
Practice Questions (15)
To convince anti-federalists to ratify the constitution, which would emerge after the American Revolution?
One way the Constitution was an improvement from the Articles of Confederation was that
What was the significance of the Bill of Rights in the ratification of the Constitution?
What changes to the Constitution did the Hartford Convention recommend?
What guiding principle underlies both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution?
Which element of the US political structure has maintained its continuity from the signing of the Constitution till today?
How did economic problems under The Articles contribute to its eventual replacement by the Constitution?
What document was written to persuade states to ratify the Constitution?
Which group would typically argue that the Constitution lacked sufficient checks on governmental power during the debates over ratification?
Why did the Federalists agree to add a Bill of Rights to the Constitution after it was ratified?
Which founding father was responsible for writing much of The Federalist Papers to support ratification of the Constitution?
Which document outlined the structure of the United States Government before the Constitution was adopted?
What might have been the potential outcome had the Articles of Confederation not been replaced by the Constitution?
Who played a key role in drafting The Constitution but opposed to The Federalist Party during Presidency Of George Washington?
Which trend held consistently across different compromises on slavery including those made in the Constitution, Missouri, and finally through to The Compromise of 1850?
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