Aura Lewis - We The People: The United States Constitution Explored and Explained

The original Constitution of the United States was handwritten in ink on parchment over 200 years ago and today it sits in a protective glass box in a museum. Being a very old legal document, its not an easy read. Its full of fancy language, old-fashioned terms, and some of the loooooongest sentences you will ever see. You wont find the full text of the Constitution in this book, simply because there isnt enough room in these pages to include it all! However, we encourage (dare) you to look it up online and read it. Better yetgo and visit it in Washington, D.C. if you can.

The Constitution outlines the basic fundamental laws and principles of our government. People in law and politics still reference (and debate) its contents every day. Theyre supposed to, because it was written with the intention that it should be reinterpreted and revised over time as our society evolves.

The Constitution was supposedly written for ALL people who live in the U.S. However, because it was written by a small number of white men with power, we have to read it critically. We believe that if the Constitution is truly for all of us, it should be freed from its glass box and made accessible to everyone!

This book is an exploration of the Constitution. We hope it will help you understand what its all about, and give you an overview of the practical details and an understanding of the greater philosophy that the U.S. government was built on. We have divided it into the different sections that appear in the original document. You will find some of the actual text from each article and amendment of the Constitution, plus stories and facts about each one.

Today is a major time of change in our country. We want more people to take action around the things they believe in. You can do this through community involvement, politics, activism, and so much more. We believe in the power of anger and optimism. Resistance and action. Critique, celebration, and raised expectations. Most of all, we believe that having a deeper understanding of our Constitution can inspire change. Anyone can understand how the government works, and every single person has the power to get involved and make a difference.

WITH LOVE FOR OUR COUNTRY AND A COMMITMENT TO CHANGE,

The first section of this book is about the original seven articles (which are like short chapters) of the Constitution. It also looks at the Preamble , which is the opening statement of the original Constitution.

A: House of Representatives

B: The Capitol Building

C: Senate

RULES, NOT RULE

When the original seven articles of the Constitution were written in 1787, there were just 13 states. Government leaders wanted to make a system of rules so the states could all operate better as a team. They remembered what it was like under British rule, and they didnt want an all-powerful king or queen ever again. They were determined to create something really differenta new way to govern without one person or group getting too much power. They had already begun, and it was time to make it official.

The first seven articles of the Constitution include a detailed plan for the democracy that we still have today. This plan maps out who makes the laws, who approves the laws, what happens when theres a disagreement, whos in charge of what, how they get their positions, and so much more.

CONSTITUTION FAST FACTS

It was written in secret at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 , with guards at the door. In 1788 it was ratified (formally agreed to) by the necessary states.

It was written in the same Pennsylvania State House where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776 .

In total, people, from states, signed the Constitution (see ).

The Constitution is a legal document . It takes the ideals of the Declaration of Independence (such as freedom and equality) and transforms them into legal principles.

In the following pages, youll read about Congress and its two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Here, the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. houses the offices of Congress, with the Senate on one side and the House of Representatives on the other.

THE THREE BRANCHES of GOVERNMENT

The Constitution outlines the structure of the U.S. government right at the beginning, in the first three articles. Before we dive into the details, heres an overview of that structure.

The White House is where the president lives and works.

THE THREE BRANCHES

The government has three branches: legislative (Congress), executive (the president), and judicial (the courts). Each has power over the other two, so that no one branch can overpower the others. This system can seem inefficient sometimes, but it guarantees a balance so that no one small group of people will have all the power.

BALANCES? CHECK!

The three branches need to discuss, debate, and sometimes argue with each other in order to make decisions about laws, war, policy, and everything else. Debate is good! It means that different sides of important issues are considered, and that no one person decides for everyone. This is called a checks and balances system, and is a key to a democracy that works.

PRESIDENT

(THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH)

This branch is made up of:

the president

the vice president