"The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America."
Learn about the federal government's constitutional basis as well as its structure and powers.
The U.S. Constitution: Understanding the foundational document of the federal government is crucial when learning about Constitutional Basis. This includes a deep understanding of the articles and amendments, as well as the principles of federalism and separation of powers.
The Bill of Rights: The first ten amendments to the Constitution protect individual liberties and rights, including freedom of speech, religion, and press.
Supreme Court Cases: Familiarity with landmark Supreme Court cases, such as Marbury v. Madison, McCulloch v. Maryland, and Gibbons v. Ogden, is vital in understanding the interpretation and application of the Constitution.
Executive Branch: The president and their powers, as well as the various executive departments and agencies that make up the federal administration.
Legislative Branch: The powers of Congress and its role in creating and enacting laws.
Judicial Branch: The role of the federal court system in interpreting and enforcing the Constitution and laws.
Federalism: The division of powers between the federal government and the states, including the powers reserved to the states in the Tenth Amendment.
Separation of Powers: The division of powers among the three branches of government to ensure checks and balances and prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.
Due Process: The concept that individuals have a right to fair treatment and legal proceedings before being deprived of life, liberty, or property.
Equal Protection: The principle that all citizens are entitled to equal treatment under the law, regardless of race, gender, or other factors.
Constitutional Amendments: An overview of the various amendments that have been added to the Constitution and their impact on the federal administration.
Federal Agencies and Departments: Understanding the structure and functions of federal agencies and departments, such as the Department of Justice, Environmental Protection Agency, and Department of Defense.
Federal Funding and Budgeting: The process by which the federal government allocates funds and resources to various programs and agencies.
Congressional Oversight: The role of Congress in overseeing the activities of the federal administration and holding it accountable for its actions.
Administrative Law: The laws and regulations that govern the activities of federal agencies and departments, including the procedures for rulemaking and enforcement.
Enumerated powers: The Constitution grants specific powers to the Federal government.
Implied powers: The Federal government derives powers to carry out its functions that are not specifically granted by the Constitution.
Reserved powers: The Constitution reserves certain powers to the states.
Concurrent powers: Both the Federal government and the states have powers over certain areas.
Supremacy Clause: The Constitution establishes that Federal law overrides state law in case of conflict.
Commerce Clause: The Constitution grants Congress the authority to regulate commerce between states, with foreign countries, and with Indian tribes.
Necessary and Proper Clause: This clause gives Congress the power to enact laws necessary for carrying out its enumerated powers.
Tenth Amendment: The Constitution reserves powers not delegated to the Federal government to the states or to the people.
Due Process: This clause ensures that any legal proceeding is fair and reasonable.
Equal protection: This clause requires that the law be enforced equally to all individuals.
"The Constitution's first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, whereby the federal government is divided into three branches: the legislative, consisting of the bicameral Congress (Article I); the executive, consisting of the president and subordinate officers (Article II); and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts (Article III)."
"Originally comprising seven articles..."
"Article IV, Article V, and Article VI embody concepts of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments, the states in relationship to the federal government, and the shared process of constitutional amendment."
"The drafting of the Constitution, often referred to as its framing, was completed at the Constitutional Convention, which assembled at Independence Hall in Philadelphia between May 25 and September 17, 1787."
"Delegates to the convention were chosen by the state legislatures of 12 of the 13 original states; Rhode Island refused to send delegates."
"The convention's initial mandate was limited to amending the Articles of Confederation, which had proven highly ineffective in meeting the young nation's needs."
"The first proposal discussed, introduced by delegates from Virginia, called for a bicameral (two-house) Congress that was to be elected on a proportional basis based on state population, an elected chief executive, and an appointed judicial branch."
"An alternative to the Virginia Plan, known as the New Jersey Plan, also called for an elected executive but retained the legislative structure created by the Articles, a unicameral Congress where all states had one vote."
"The issue of proportional representation was of similar concern to less populous states, which under the Articles had the same power as larger states. To satisfy interests in the South, particularly in Georgia and South Carolina, the delegates agreed to protect the slave trade...Finally, the delegates adopted the Connecticut Compromise, which proposed a Congress with proportional representation in the lower house and equal representation in the upper house (the Senate) giving each state two senators."
"Since the Constitution was ratified in 1789, it has been amended 27 times."
"The first ten amendments, known collectively as the Bill of Rights, offer specific protections of individual liberty and justice and place restrictions on the powers of government within the U.S. states."
"The majority of the 17 later amendments expand individual civil rights protections."
"Amendments to the United States Constitution, unlike ones made to many constitutions worldwide, are appended to the document."
"The original U.S. Constitution was handwritten on five pages of parchment by Jacob Shallus."
"It is interpreted, supplemented, and implemented by a large body of federal constitutional law and has influenced the constitutions of other nations."