The Basics

The Constitution is the highest law in the United States. All other laws come from the Constitution. It says how the government works. It creates the Presidency. It creates the Congress. It creates the Supreme Court. Each state also has a constitution. The constitutions of the states are their highest law for that state — but the United States Constitution is higher.

The Constitution can be changed by adding to it. The Constitution is changed by an "amendment." Among the amendments is a list of the rights of the people. By listing these rights, they are made special. It is illegal for the government to violate those rights. As of 2016, there are 27 amendments. Not all of them involve rights, but many do.
The first ten amendments are special. They are called the Bill of Rights.

Father of the Constitution

James Madison is known as the Father of the Constitution because of his pivotal role in the document's drafting as well as its ratification. Madison also drafted the first 10 amendments -- the Bill of Rights. James Madison went on to become our 4th President. All the "Framers" (writers) of the Constitution worked from May 25th to September 17th, 1787 in Philadelphia to write the Constitution. It was completed and signed on September 17th, 1787.


Parts of the Constitution

The Constitution has several parts.

The opening is called the Preamble (introduction state purpose and aim).

Then come the 7 Articles.
An article is a separate and distinct part of a written contract, statute, or constitution, that is often divided into sections.

Article 1 of the Constitution
Article 1 gives Congress its powers and limits. Congress is the branch of the government who can make laws for the country. Article 1 also creates the Legislative branch of government. This is two sections of Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Article 2 of the Constitution
Article 2 of the Constitution makes the executive branch of the government. The Executive branch has the responsibility and authority for the administration on a daily basis. In the United States, the executive branch is made up of the President and executive officers.

Article 3 of the Constitution
Article 3 of the Constitution creates a judicial branch in the United States. The Judicial branch is the court system that interprets the law. In the United States, the judicial branch includes the Supreme Court and the lower courts which are made by Congress.

Article 4 of the Constitution
Article 4 of the Constitution talks about the states. Article 4 talks about what responsibilities and duties the states have along with what responsibilities the federal government has to each States.

Article 5 of the Constitution
Article 5 says that the only way the Constitution can be changed is by adding an amendment.

Article 6 of the Constitution
Article 6 says that any debts or engagements that the country had before adopting the Constitution are still valid. Article 6 also says that the Constitution is the highest law and that all officers and judges have to uphold the Constitution.

Article 7 of the Constitution
Article 7 of the U.S. Constitution is the final article of the Constitution. This article explains how many states need to ratify the Constitution.

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Here is a link to more details:
http://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/articles/article-i
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Where is the Constitution Today?

Since 1952, the Constitution has been on display in the National Archives Building in Washington, DC.
Currently, all four pages are displayed behind protective glass framed with titanium.
To preserve the parchment's quality, the cases contain argon gas and are kept at 67 degrees Fahrenheit with a relative humidity of 40 percent.


National Archive Building, Washington, DC - photo by David Samuel

What We Learned in This Lesson:

* The Constitution is the base for all laws of the United States.
* The Constitution can be changed by an Amendment.
* The Constitution was written by many people, but James Madison is considered the Father of the Constitution.
* The Constitution was finished September 17th, 1787.
* The Constitution has a preamble (introduction) and 7 articles outlining the rules of the United States.
* The Constitution is kept in the National Archive building in Washington, DC.