Constitution

• US constitution written by Founding Fathers in 1787
• US constitution is codified - single document
• Key features of US constitution:

  • separation of powers
  • constitutional division of powers between state + federal governments
  • key powers -> executive, legislative + judiciary
• US constitution consists of 7 main parts ‘articles‘ + 27 amendments
• Article 2 - creates executive branch, led by the president, outlines powers + responsibilities of office
• Article 1 - established legislature branch, with a bicameral Congress consisting of the Senate + House of Representatives
• Article 3 - lays out foundation for judicial branch, creating Supreme Court + allowing Congress to establish lower federal courts.
• First 10 amendments = Bill of Rights
• 1st Amendment - guarantee freedom regarding religion, expressions, assembly + right to petition
• 2nd Amendment - right to keep + bear arms
• 19th Amendment - women’s suffrage - right of women to vote
• Federalism - half-federal + half-national setup, states + national government share authorities
• 10th Amendment - balance of powers between the federal government + the states.
• Bipartisanship - where opposing politics parties find common ground through compromise