American government

The Constitution of the United States is the central instrument of American Government, the oldest still in force in the world, sets the basic form of government: three separate branches, each one having powers (“checks and balances”) over the others. It specifies the powers and duties of each federal branch of government, with all other powers and duties belonging to the states. The Constitution has been repeatedly amended to meet the changing needs of the nation, but it is still the “supreme law of the land”.

The Constitution owes its staying power to its simplicity and flexibility. Originally designed to govern 4 million people in 13 very different colonies along the Atlantic coast, it was so soundly conceived that, with only 26 amendments, it now serves the needs of more than 240 million people in 50 even more diverse states that stretch from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.

All governments and governmental groups, federal, state and local, must operate within its guidelines. The ultimate power under the Constitution is not given to the President (the executive branch), or to the Congress (the legislative branch), or to the Supreme Court (the judicial branch). It belongs to the people.

They stated in the first ten Constitutional Amendments, known together as the Bill of Rights, what they considered to be the fundamental rights of any American. Among these rights are the freedom of religion, speech, and the press, the right of peaceful assembly, and the right to petition the government to correct wrongs.

The great pride Americans have in their Constitution, their almost religious respect for it, comes from the knowledge that these ideals, freedoms, and rights were not given to them by a small ruling class. They are unalienable rights of every American, which had been fought for and won. They cannot be taken away by any government, court, official, or law.

Questions:

1. What is the main document of the US? Explain why?

2. What main ideas written in the Constitution the US government is based on?

3. What are the main characteristic features of the Constitution?

Дата добавления: 2015-07-20