About the Constitution

The Constitution of the United States is the cornerstone of our American government. In 4,543 words this document describes the structure of the government and the rights of the American people. No law may be passed that contradicts its principles and no person, or the government, is exempt from following it. This is why it is commonly called the "supreme law of the land".

The purpose of the government is found in the Preamble. For the government to be successful, the Founding Fathers established three main principles on which our Government is based:

• Inherent rights -- rights that anyone living in America has
• Self government -- government by the people
• Separation of powers -- branches with different powers

Through time this document has worked, it has only been amended 27 times. The document is known as a "living document" because it can be amended. The Constitution is a document strong enough for safety and at the same time it is flexible enough to allow for freedom.

The Constitution is organized into three parts:

• Preamble - describes the purpose of the document and government
• Articles - establish how the government is structured and how the Constitution can be changed. There are seven articles.
• Amendments - changes to the Constitution; the first ten are called the Bill of Rights

A service of the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office.

Last updated: January 30, 2007
Page Name: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/6-8/documents/constitution/about.html