Facts in a Flash
About the U.S. Constitution
The U.S. Constitution, which was written in 1787 and ratified in 1789, is the oldest national Constitution still in use. In the United States it is the highest law of the land and it provides the framework for the government. The Constitution establishes the structure and powers of the government as well as individual rights. The United States is considered a constitutional government because it requires everyone, regardless of position or office, to abide by the law.
Preamble
This introduction describes the purpose of the document and the government.
Articles
There are seven articles. They
establish the structure and function
of government. Article III establishes
the judicial branch. The articles also
spell out how the Constitution can be
changed.
Amendments
These are changes to the Constitution.
There are 27 Amendments. The
first 10 are the Bill of Rights.