Constitutional Introduction

This is just the first of a series that will cover the Constitution and it's framers!!!

CONSTITUTION INTRODUCTION
 
In a Nutshell
The Constitution of the United States is the highest law in the land, a written statement of the core principles of the American government. It lays out the structure of the federal government, clarifies the relationship between that government and the states, explains which powers the government does (and does not!) have, and guarantees certain rights and freedoms to the people.

The Constitution is, in short, the blueprint for America's democracy. It is, in many ways, the blueprint for America itself.
WHY SHOULD I CARE?
Four handwritten pages. 

That's all they produced, after 116 days of hard work. That's right, it took 55 men—55 of America's most intelligent, powerful, and influential men—an entire summer to put together a document about as long as most freshman English papers. 

Not too impressive, you might think. ​

But you'd be wrong. Because those four handwritten pages contained the Constitution of the United States. For more than 220 years now, those four handwritten pages have organized our government, protected our freedoms, perhaps even defined us as a people.

Today the handwriting has faded badly, and the parchment itself is in danger of disintegrating into dust. But the ideas contained in that centuries-old document—the core ideas of American democracy—are as vital today as they were the day they were written down during that hot Philadelphia summer of 1787 The Constitution remains a living document—exactly as its authors intended it to be. 

But it can only stay alive as long as We the People continue to take it seriously—as long as We the People understand its principles and force our own leaders to follow them. The Constitution belongs to all of us.
 
From the Preamble to the 27th Amendment, we break it all down for you.
US Constitution Table of Contents

• Preamble
• Article 1 - The Legislative Branch
  • Section 1 - The Legislature
  • Section 2 - The House
  • Section 3 - The Senate
  • Section 4 - Elections, Meetings
  • Section 5 - Membership, Rules, Journals, Adjournment
  • Section 6 - Compensation
  • Section 7 - Revenue Bills, Legislative Process, Presidential Veto
  • Section 8 - Powers of Congress
  • Section 9 - Limits on Congress
  • Section 10 - Powers Prohibited of States
• Article 2 - The Executive Branch
  • Section 1 - The President
  • Section 2 - Civilian Power Over Military, Cabinet, Pardon Power, Appointments
  • Section 3 - State of the Union, Convening Congress
  • Section 4 - Disqualification
• Article 3 - The Judicial Branch
  • Section 1 - Judicial Powers
  • Section 2 - Trial by Jury, Original Jurisdiction, Jury Trials
  • Section 3 - Treason
• Article 4 - The States
  • Section 1 - Each State to Honor all Others
  • Section 2 - State Citizens, Extradition
  • Section 3 - New States
  • Section 4 - Republican Government
• Article 5 - Amendment
• Article 6 - Debts, Supremacy, Oaths
• Article 7 - Ratification

Amendments

• • Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression
  • Amendment 2 - Right to Bear Arms
  • Amendment 3 - Quartering of Soldiers
  • Amendment 4 - Search and Seizure
  • Amendment 5 - Trial and Punishment, Compensation for Takings
  • Amendment 6 - Right to Speedy Trial, Confrontation of Witnesses
  • Amendment 7 - Trial by Jury in Civil Cases
  • Amendment 8 - Cruel and Unusual Punishment
  • Amendment 9 - Construction of Constitution
  • Amendment 10 - Powers of the States and People
  • Amendment 11 - Judicial Limits
  • Amendment 12 - Choosing the President, Vice President
  • Amendment 13 - Slavery Abolished
  • Amendment 14 - Citizenship Rights
  • Amendment 15 - Race No Bar to Vote
  • Amendment 16 - Status of Income Tax Clarified
  • Amendment 17 - Senators Elected by Popular Vote
  • Amendment 18 - Liquor Abolished
  • Amendment 19 - Women's Suffrage
  • Amendment 20 - Presidential, Congressional Terms
  • Amendment 21 - Amendment 18 Repealed
  • Amendment 22 - Presidential Term Limits
  • Amendment 23 - Presidential Vote for District of Columbia
  • Amendment 24 - Poll Taxes Barred
  • Amendment 25 - Presidential Disability and Succession
  • Amendment 26 - Voting Age Set to 18 Years
  • Amendment 27 - Limiting Changes to Congressional Pay