Constitution Day September 16 - 17, 2005 The United States Constitution

Constitution DayConstitution Day

September 16 - 17, September 16 - 17, 20052005

The United States ConstitutionThe United States Constitution

The Constitution of the The Constitution of the United States of AmericaUnited States of America

Signed:Signed:at the Constitutional Conventionat the Constitutional Convention

in Philadelphia, Pennsylvaniain Philadelphia, Pennsylvaniaby 39 of the 55 founding fathersby 39 of the 55 founding fathers

on September 17, 1787on September 17, 1787


Preamble:Preamble:


We the We the PeoplePeople

of the United of the United States,States,


in order to form in order to form a more perfect union,a more perfect union,


establish justiceestablish justice


ensure ensure domestic tranquility,domestic tranquility,


provide provide for the common defense, for the common defense,


promote promote the general welfare, the general welfare,


and secure and secure the blessings of libertythe blessings of liberty


to ourselves to ourselves and our posterity,and our posterity,


do ordain do ordain and establishand establish


this Constitution this Constitution for the United States for the United States

of America.of America.


Article 1Article 1

establishes theestablishes the LEGISLATIVE LEGISLATIVE BRANCHBRANCH of government, of government, CongressCongress, , which includes the which includes the House of House of RepresentativesRepresentatives and the and the SenateSenate..


Article 2:Article 2:

creates the creates the EXECUTIVE BRANCHEXECUTIVE BRANCH of of the government, comprising the the government, comprising the PresidentPresident and other and other executive officersexecutive officers..



establishes theestablishes the JUDICIAL JUDICIAL BRANCHBRANCH of the federal (national) of the federal (national) government.government.



provides for the responsibilities provides for the responsibilities states have to each other, and states have to each other, and the responsibilities the federal the responsibilities the federal government has to the states. government has to the states.



describes the amendment process describes the amendment process whereby the Constitution may be whereby the Constitution may be altered. altered.



establishes the establishes the United States United States ConstitutionConstitution and the laws and and the laws and treaties of the United States made treaties of the United States made in accordance with it as the in accordance with it as the supreme law of the land, and supreme law of the land, and fulfills other purposes.fulfills other purposes.



describes the process by which the entire describes the process by which the entire document is to be ratified and take document is to be ratified and take effect. effect.


Source: The National Archives ExperienceSource: The National Archives Experiencehttp://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/constitution.htmlhttp://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/constitution.html

Documents

Constitution Day September 16 - 17, 2005 The United States Constitution