Constitution Overview

What is the Constitution? And why is the Constitution important?

The U.S. Constitution states basic principles which guide our country's government and laws. The Constitution when written in 1787, was the guiding plan for how we should create our government. The Constitution also guarantees the rights and liberties of the American people, such as freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

Today, the Constitution remains the most important guide to all parts of government. The Constitution, is often called the "highest law of the land." This means that no state, no branch of government, no person, no elected official--not even the president or Congress--can make a law or enforce a condition that goes against the Constitution. The Constitution continues to protect the rights and freedoms of American citizens.

The Constitution is made up of 3 parts, the preamble, the articles, and the amendments. When the delegates signed the Constitution on September 17, 1787, the Constitution contained the preamble and 7 articles. In 1791, the first 10 amendments, the Bill of Rights, were added. Since 1791, 17 other amendments have been added to the Constitution.

The Constitution sets up a federal system of government which means power is shared between the national government and state governments. Articles I, II, and III separate the power of the national government into 3 branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. Other articles tell how to change and approve the Constitution and how states will work with each other and the national government.

The Constitution does not go into lots of detail. The Constitution tells the legislative branch (Congress) to make the laws, tells the executive branch (the president) to carry out the laws made by Congress, and tells the the judicial branch (the Supreme Court and other federal courts) to settle any arguments or disagreements that arise from the Constitution.

So what do you need to “know” for the Constitution Test?

Step 1: Create a document titled Constitution Test Study Guide - we will add review questions for different sections one at a time all in the same document.

Check with Mr. Hull before moving onto a new section

Step 2: Complete the following:

  1. Finish the directions on the link: Study Guide for Constitutional Convention (This was paired with the Mock Constitutional Convention which we completed before)
  2. Finish the directions on the link: Study Guide for Constitution: The 3 Branches
  3. Answer the questions on the link: Constitution: What else should I know?
  4. Answer the questions on the link: Bill of Rights and then follow the directions for the link: Amendments
  5. Review the link: Constitution Key Vocabulary - these are the key words that will be on the Constitution Test, we have already completed these as Daily Problems during the unit.

#6 Bonus Constitutional Take Home Essay Graphic Organizer

Need help studying? Use the flash cards below.

Quizlet