THE US CONSTITUTION The constitution is the fundamental document of a country.

In the case of the United States of America, the Constitution comes as a natural extension of the Declaration of Independence. Any state needs a law on which to function properly. This law must be accepted and respected by all members of that state. The Constitution was adopted by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, 1787. The first ten amendments are known as the Bill of Rights, but on this subject, later on. The Constitution is divided into several parts: articles, amendments. But why is it important? It sets the basis on which a state should function, it states the rights and obligations of its citizens and addresses other important issues in a society, such as the separation of powers in a State. The preamble of the Constitution starts with We, the People of the United States, stating clear from the start that this document is for the people, by the people. It appeared as a necessity, because the rapidly expanding colonies and territories needed to be kept in touch with and under rule by a central body. Every colony sent representatives to Philadelphia in the spring of 1787, and G. Washington was chosen to preside over the assembly. Alexander Hamilton ( from N.Y.) and James Madison ( of Virginia ) were two important figures that stood out when debating the Constitution. In the Preamble, the purpose of the Constitution is laid out: to insure domestic tranquility, defend the people, secure liberty. To do so, the peoples and Governments powers had to be limited. This actually represents the separation of powers in the State. The CONGRESS is the main ruling body in the US ( keep this in mind, you! )and consists of a SENATE and HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES is voted directly by the people. Passes federal legislation that has effect over the whole country, but its bills must be passed by the Senate too. Every state is entitled to at least a representative, the more populated states having more representatives. The number of representatives cant be larger than 435. SENATE voted indirectly by the people. composed of two senators from each State, chosen by State legislatures. Each senator serves a 6-year ( Muthu FTW ) term. PRESIDENT voted by electors of the Electoral College. The electoral college is voted by the people JUDICIARY members of the Supreme Court are appointed by the president. The Supreme Court has ultimate jurisdiction over all other federal courts and etc. Za big bosses of za LAW. SEPARATION OF POWERS in order to maintain a balanced ruling body, the powers of a State must be divided, in order to ensure correctness, fairness, other nessness, in short: order in a country. The powers are divided as follow: the legislative power goes to Congress ( Senate+House of Representatives), the executive power belongs to the President, and finally the judiciary Supreme Court+other courts of law. There are certain mechanisms that prevent one power to take control of another, or to take the attributions of another. The Congress, as stated in Art.1 section 8 of the constitution, shall make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into exectuion the

foregoing powers ( parca o aud pe Irimiea repetand fraza asta de vreo 5 ori, in 6-7 dialecte si accente). This clause exists to ensure that the powers never come in conflict and to prevent the overtaking of one power by another. Now, speaking of powers, there are some powers that belong to Congress, other smaller powers that are common between states and congress and finally, powers of the states: Delegated powers ( yeah, Congress! ) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Declare war! Make treaties and conduct foreign relations Coin $$$* ! (*- money ) Regulate commerce between states and foreign nations Raise armies Create inferior courts to the Supreme Court. ( just like little baby courts ) Make laws necessary and proper to carry out the above powers

Concurrent powers ( yeah, shared! ) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Taxes! Health! Safety! Roads! Commerce! Borrowing money!

Reserved powers (yeah, states!) 1. 2. 3. 4. Draw electoral district lines Intrastate commerce Police powers, safety, public welfare, health issues Ratify amendments to the constitution

The constitution has 7 main articles and another 27 amendments. The articles deal with: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. The legislative branch all stated above. Executive branch some of stated above + civilian power over military, state of the union Judicial Branch judicial powers, trial by jury The states relations between states, citizens, republican government Amendment outlines the procedures for amending the Constitution Federal and state relationship federal law > state law. nuff said. Ratification of the Constitution.

The end.