U.S. Constitution: The Cornerstone of American Progress

The Constitution is the greatest document in American history. It has pushed for progressiveness and equality. The Constitution is basically the supreme law of the United States. The Constitution was written to organize a strong national government for the American states. Before the Constitution, the nation's leaders had established a national government under the Articles of Confederation. The Articles gave independence to each state; the states lacked authority, the ability to work together, and to solve national problems. The U.S. Constitution established America's national government and fundamental laws, and guaranteed certain basic rights for its citizens using five big ideas and this shaped today's America.
This Constitution is a document written by "outcasts" of England. It was signed on September 17, 1787, by delegates to the Constitutional Convention in

Philadelphia, presided over by George Washington. Before the Constitution, the first governing document was the Articles of Confederation. Which made the national government very weak and it also made states function as independent countries. At the 1787 convention, delegates said that they needed a stronger government with three branches. Those three branches were the executive, legislative, and judicial; there was also a checks and balances system that made all of the branches equal. Also, in 1791 the Bill of Rights, which at the time only had ten amendments, came into play and they became a part of the Constitution. Now, the Bill of Rights has twenty-seven amendments. The Articles of Confederation gave Congress the power to govern foreign affairs, start war and regulate currency; however, in reality these powers were limited because Congress had no authority to impose its requests to the states for money or troops. In 1783 the US won its independence back from Great Britain; soon after it became noticeable that the US needed a stronger federal government to remain steady. There were five main people that finished the final writings of the Constitution. George Washington was the first to sign it and out of the fifty-five delegates only thirty-nine of them signed. Some of them left Philadelphia early and that is why they didn’t sign it; but, there was three people who just refused to sign the document. Since the Constitution was created, America has spread across an entire continent and the population and economy has developed greatly.
The Constitutions first three words are “We the people”, which shows that the United States government is more about the citizens now than when the Articles of Confederation were in existence. The national government consists of the executive, legislature, and judicial branches. Each branch is not more powerful than the other; the branches are co-equal. Congress can pass laws, but the President is able to veto them; a person can be prosecuted for criminal violations, but they must be tried by the courts; the President appoints federal judges, but their appointments must be confirmed by the Senate.
There were five big ideas that exemplified certain basic rights for citizens.

The first idea is Limited Government: The idea that there are things government is restricted, by law, from doing. An example of limited government in the Constitution is in article two, section four and it states “The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.” The President, Vice President, and all civil Officers are not given a privilege just because they are important to the government. Limited government is important because it preserves individual liberties and protects certain rights and freedoms. It also protects private property and allows citizens to have more control over their own lives. So with limited government people are allowed to make their own decisions instead of being controlled completely by the government. Without limited governing the Bill of Rights wouldn’t even matter because the government would be in control and we wouldn’t have any

power.
The second big idea is Checks and Balances: The idea that each branch of government should limit the power of the other two branches. This idea was in article three section one of the Constitution and it states “Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.” After the President vetoes a bill, it is sent back to Congress and the bill needs to be passed by both houses by a two-thirds majority in order to override the veto. With the checks and Balances system, all branches are equal to others, and this keeps things at bay. If Checks and Balances were not in existence, one branch of government may try to take over or become more powerful than the others causing a problem in our national government. Not only may an overruling branch cause an uproar in our national government, but it may cause problems with the people.
The third idea is Federalism: The idea that power is shared between the federal and state government. In article one section ten it states that “No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.” States can’t make their own money, or declare war, or tax goods from other states. Federalism is important because without it, the federal government would become wealthy with power and the states would suffer. Federalism allows the government to consolidate a belief within the states without the states’ ability to control itself to diminish.