1. What is the supreme law of the land?
++ the Constitution
The Founding Fathers of the United States wrote
the Constitution in 1787. The Constitution is the
“supreme law of the land.” The U.S. Constitution has
lasted longer than any other country’s constitution.
It establishes the basic principles of the United States
government. The Constitution establishes a system
of government called “representative democracy.”
In a representative democracy, citizens choose
representatives to make the laws. U.S. citizens also
choose a president to lead the executive branch of
government. The Constitution lists fundamental rights
for all citizens and other people living in the United
States. Laws made in the United States must follow the
Constitution.
2. What does the Constitution do?
++ sets up the government
++ defines the government
++ protects basic rights of Americans
The Constitution of the United States divides
government power between the national government
and state governments. The name for this division
of power is “federalism.” Federalism is an important
idea in the Constitution. We call the Founding Fathers
who wrote the Constitution the “Framers” of the
Constitution. The Framers wanted to limit the powers
of the government, so they separated the powers into
three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.
The Constitution explains the power of each branch.
The Constitution also includes changes and additions,
called “amendments.” The first 10 amendments
are called the “Bill of Rights.” The Bill of Rights
established the individual rights and liberties of all
Americans.
3. The idea of self-government is in the first three
words of the Constitution. What are these
words?
++ We the People
The Constitution says:
“