U.S. CONSTITUTION

“Knock knock.”

“Who’s there?” confederation - a partnership between groups legislative branch - Congress members who make the laws executive branchthe president and his cabinet judicial branchthe federal court system preamble - an introduction amendment - change or addition to the Constitution

“The American government. Please lend us money; we need to pay the president.” That is how the government used to collect money before the Constitution was written.

When America became a country in 1776, the government did not have a good plan for running it. They wrote up a document called the Articles of Confederation which set up a government for the brand new nation. A confederation is a partnership between groups. Under the Articles of Confederation the government did not have the power needed to run a country. For example, the government did not have the power to collect taxes from the people.

Instead of collecting taxes for the government to run the country, the government had to keep borrowing money from France and other countries.

In 1787, 55 delegates, people sent by each state, gathered in Philadelphia to make up a new government. It took them two months to write up a document called the Constitution. Two of the Constitution’s signers, George Washington and James Madison, later became presidents. President James Madison wrote much of the Constitution. He is called the “Father of the Constitution.” Once the states approved the Constitution it became the new government of the United States.

The Constitution created a Federal Government to govern all the states. Each state has their own smaller government as well. The Federal Government is made up of three separate parts called branches. Dividing the government into three branches ensures that no part of the government becomes too powerful. Each branch has its own building in Washington DC.

The first branch, the legislative branch, is Congress. Congress is located in the U.S. Capitol Building, and it makes laws for the country. The American people elect the members of Congress.

The second branch, the executive branch, consists of the president and his cabinet of 15 advisors. The president, who lives in the White House, enforces the laws and makes sure people follow the laws passed by Congress.

The third branch, the judicial branch, is the court system. It is located in the Supreme Court Building. The courts decide what the law means when there are questions.

The first section of the Constitution is called the Preamble. Preamble is a fancy word for introduction. The Preamble explains the need for the Constitution. The writers wanted laws that would help people be safe and free. They also wanted peace from foreign wars. The Constitution starts with the phrase “We the People.” This shows that the citizens of the United States created this plan to govern themselves.

The writers of the Constitution knew that amendments may be needed as the country develops. An amendment is a change or addition to the Constitution. The first ten amendments are called the Bill of Rights. Over the years, Congress added 17 more amendments to the Constitution. September 17 is known as Constitution Day. It is the birthday of the signing of the United States Constitution.