Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Eighteen-year-old Juliette Turner, author of Our Presidents Rock! (2014) and That’s Not Hay in My Hair (2016), is a college freshman and the National Youth Director of Constituting America. When she isn’t writing or on the speaking circuit, she can be found with her mother, actress Janine Turner, on their ranch caring for their four dogs, two cats, herd of longhorns, and four Angus cattle.

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Our Constitution Rocks

Zonderkidz

Contents

Acknowledgments................................................................7Foreword—The American Tree, by Janine Turner.............................8Introduction...................................................................10How to Read This Book..........................................................13Prologue—The Articles of Confederation...................................19The Preamble to the U.S. Constitution..........................................24Article I—Setting up the Congress........................................114Article II—Hailing the Chief.............................................149Article III—Here Comes the Judge! The Judicial Power.....................162Article IV—Acting Neighborly.............................................172Article V—Changing the Constitution......................................175Article VI—Law of the Land...............................................178Article VII—Making It Official...........................................181The Amendments.................................................................221Pop Quiz! Questions for Discussion.............................................222

Chapter One

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

The Bottom Line

This short paragraph sums up what the Constitution—and the government it created—is meant to accomplish. It is not law! It is simply an introduction.

What Were They Thinking?

Gouverneur Morris wrote this small yet brilliantly composed paragraph to clarify what the Constitution was intended to accomplish.

Why Should I Care?

The Preamble sums up who we are and what we stand for as a country.

Breakin' It Down

We the People of the United States: At this time, the use of the words "We the People" was revolutionary and had never been heard before. The Articles of Confederation had been an agreement among the states, but according to this new phrase, the Constitution had everything to do with the people.

To form a more perfect Union: The goal of the Constitution is to unify the states in areas such as commerce, national security, and currency, so that the nation can prosper and be safe.

Establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense: This phrase is an example of the government's job and what it was intended to do.

Promote the general welfare: The government is to promote, not provide, the conditions for a life of freedom. The Anti-Federalists, or those against the Constitution, thought this phrase would grant the government too much power. It turns out, the Anti-Federalists were somewhat correct. Today, this phrase is used to fund certain projects that might benefit members of Congress or some "favorite" constituents rather than the people as a whole.

Secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity: The Constitution was written to limit our government's power so that the liberties of the people will always be protected.

How Can I Make a Difference?

Memorize the Preamble and its true meaning and then share it with your friends.

What Has It Done For Me Lately?

The Preamble reminds us daily of our patriotic duty as a country to uphold our Constitution! Learn more about it at the Constitution Center online, at www.constitutioncenter.org.

LIBERTY Language

Constitution: The basic principles and laws of a nation, state, or social group that determine the powers and duties of the government and guarantee certain rights to the people in it.

Preamble: An introductory statement.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. —Declaration of Independence —Thomas Jefferson

Debate

Read the actual words spoken by our Framers

ALEXANDER HAMILTON

Two sovereignties cannot co-exist within the same limits. Giving powers to Congress must eventuate in a bad government or in no government.

PATRICK HENRY

I have the highest veneration of those gentlemen—but sir, give me leave to demand, what right had they to say, "We, the People"? My political curiosity, exclusive of my anxious solicitude for the public welfare, leads me to ask who authorized them to speak the language of, "We, the People," instead of "We, the States"? States are the characteristics, and the soul of the confederation. If the states be not the agents of this compact, it must be one of great consolidated national government of the people of all the states.

OLIVER ELLSWORTH

The thirteen states are thirteen Sovereign bodies. Back then, each state thought of itself as its own country.

SETTING UP THE CONGRESS ARTICLE I Section 1

All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

ARTICLE

Action

Congress, under the Articles of Confederation, was a unicameral legislature, with only one branch of congress. It wasn't very democratic because congressmen were appointed by state legislatures, and only white men with property could vote for the state legislatures. Plus the Articles of Confederation didn't establish any national executive or judiciary branch. Without a proper national government, states started arguing between themselves, which resulted in the calling of the Constitutional Convention.

The Bottom Line

Article I Section 1 describes how the legislative branch is broken down into two separate branches—a bicameral legislature made up of the House and Senate.

What Were They Thinking?

Our Founding Fathers knew that the current government under the Articles of Confederation needed to be changed. James Madison wanted to form a new structure of government that would have three different branches, who would constantly be checking each other. One of these branches would be a bicameral legislature with the House and Senate.

Why Should I Care?

The Congress and Congressional officials represent you in Washington, D.C. Have you ever heard someone tell you to "contact your representative in Washington"? Well, thanks to our Founding Fathers and Article I, Section 1, we have people in Washington, D.C. who are, or are supposed to be, listening to our needs.

Breakin' It Down

This is how the plan for our legislative branch came about. While waiting for the other delegates to arrive at the Convention, James Madison etched out the Virginia Plan, where he wrote about his plan for the government.

He felt that the Articles of Confederation needed to be trashed and that the thirteen separated states needed to be merged into one united country. He also planned for there to be a bicameral legislature, but the number of delegates per state would be based on the state's financial...