The American Constitution Essay -- United States Constitution

The American spirit The basis of all law in the United States is the shaping. This Constitution is a document written byoutcasts of England. The Constitution of the United States sets forth the nations fundamental laws. Itestablishes the form of the national government and defines the rights and liberties of the Americanpeople. It also lists the aims of the government and the methods of achieving them. The Constitution was written to organize a strong national government for the American submits.Previously, the nations leaders had established a national government under the Articles ofConfederation. But the Articles grant independence to each state. They lacked the authority to makethe states work together to solve national problems. After the states won independence in the Revolutionary War (1775-1783), they go about the problems ofpeacetime government. The states had to enforce law and order, collect taxes, pay a large public debt,and regulate trade among themselves. They also had to deal with Indian tribes and negotiate with othergovernments. track statesmen, such as George Washington and Alexander Hamilton, began todiscuss the creation of a strong national government under a new constitution.The United States is a republic that operates under a federalist system. The national government hadspecific enumerated powers, and the fifty states retain substantial endowment over their citizens and theirresidents. Both the national government and the state government are divided into three differentbranches, executive, legislative, and judicial. Written constitutions, both federal and state, form a systemof separated powers. Amendment, in legislation, is a stir in a law, or in a bill before it becomes a law. Bills often haveamendments attached before a legislature votes on them. Amendments to the Constitution of the United States whitethorn be proposed in two ways (1) If two-thirds of both houses approve, Congress may propose an amendment. The amendmentbecom es a law when canonic either by legislatures or by conventions in three-fourths of the states. (2) If the legislatures of two-thirds of the states ask for an amendment, Congress must call a conventionto propose it. The amendment becomes a law when ratified either by the legisl... ... juries in some statesmay have as few as 6 members. The jury or judge hears the evidence for and against the suspect andthen reaches a verdict. If the individual is found guilty, the judge pronounces sentence. If the defendant isfound not guilty, he or she is released. In most cases, the judge determines the sentence for a defendant convicted of a crime. The judgeimposes punishment that he or she feels will best serve both the offender and society. Laws may providea upper limit and a minimum sentence according to the crime involved. In some cases, therecommendation of the jury determines the sentence that may be given to the offender. The judge may put a convicted offender on probation to protect the individual from the harmful effects ofbeing imprisoned with experienced criminals. A lawbreaker who is on probation system free but mustfollow certain rules. A probation officer assigned by the court supervises the individuals conduct. Aprobationer who violates any of the rules of his or her probation may be sent to prison. Some judgesrequire offenders to repay their victims, either with money or by working for them without pay.