Many nations have written constitutions that are designed to control the distribution of power between government and citizens. Constitutions are often a set of principles, not a detailed plan for governing, and they can be amended to reflect changes in society. The United States Constitution has been in force for over two centuries, and its seven articles and 27 amendments have established a legal framework that continues to guide the federal government.
Constitution designers drew from English common law and Enlightenment liberalism, including the writings of philosophers John Locke and Montesquieu. They created a political structure that is sometimes described as a federation or confederation, with shared power between the states and a central government with limited powers over specific subjects. It also includes what are known as “checks and balances” that ensure no one source of power becomes too absolute.
Article I establishes Congress as the legislative branch, and requires that it be bicameral, with a House of Representatives and a Senate. The number of representatives is based on population, with larger and more urban areas having more than smaller and less urban ones. It also establishes how senators are chosen and the number of votes that each state will have in choosing a President. It provides that Presidents and other federal officers can be removed from office by impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.
Other sections of the Constitution regulate the census, establish that no religious test can be required for holding a public office, and require Congress to make laws on a variety of other topics, such as raising revenue, declaring war, and regulating the terms of treaties. It also requires that the “full faith and credit” clause be followed, meaning that states must recognize the public acts, records, and court proceedings of other states.
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