A constitution, from the Latin term constitutio, is a written document that establishes government institutions and defines the scope of governmental power. A constitutional document may also lay down specific civil liberties and responsibilities. The United States Constitution has been in force for more than two centuries because its framers successfully separated and balanced governmental powers to safeguard the interests of majority rule and minority rights, of liberty and equality, and of the federal and state governments. It has been amended 27 times, and the first ten of those amendments form our Bill of Rights.
Article I vests the legislative power of the United States in a bicameral Congress, with the House of Representatives representing districts based on population and the Senate representing equal numbers of states. The bicameral system is an example of the compromises the Constitution’s framers made.
The Constitution also establishes the presidency and sets forth a number of rules for electing the President, including requirements for eligibility (such as being a natural-born citizen at least 35 years old) and term length. It also lays down a procedure for impeaching the President and other federal officers.
In addition, the Constitution establishes the Supreme Court and its jurisdiction, ensuring that there is an independent judiciary. The Supreme Court’s decisions interpret the Constitution and apply it to contemporary problems in a way that its framers could not have foreseen. When reading a Supreme Court opinion, you will often see that the Justices begin with a quotation from the Constitution, then provide an in-depth analysis of the Court’s precedents before reaching their decision.
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