How to Understand the U.S. Constitution

The Constitution is the fundamental law of the United States. Framed in 1787, it created the three branches of government and formed the republican form of government we enjoy.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Revolutionary War History Books
• Copies Of The Constitution
• Dictionaries
• History Books
• Legal Advice
• American Flags

1. Read the document.
2. Use whatever reference materials you need to clarify and interpret - dictionary, study guides or history texts.
3. Break it up into sections for analysis.
4. Focus first on the Preamble to understand the document's overall purpose: justice, defense, welfare, and other elements of a "more perfect Union."
5. Note that all sections within Article I describe the powers, process and formation of the Senate and the House separately, as well as that of the Congress as a whole.
6. Read and analyze Article II, which outlines and details the Executive Branch - or Presidential section - of the Federal government.
7. Compare Articles I and II to III, which describes and explains the third or the Judicial branch of the U.S. government.
8. Read Article IV, outlining State powers and responsibilities.
9. Examine Article V, which describes the process by which the Constitution can be amended.
10. Interpret Article VI, which adopts principles about honoring past national debt and obligations and declares that, because the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, judges and elected officials are required to support it.
11. Read and analyze Article VII, describing the document's ratification.
12. Understand the Bill of Rights - that is, the first ten amended articles, covering a wide multitude of rights including legal, judicial and other liberties (See Related eHows).

Tips & Warnings

• For a deeper understanding, read history books that describe the circumstances under which the Constitution was written.
• The Constitution is a "living document" - its meaning changes by means of amendments and by the courts' evolving interpretation of its words and nuances. To keep up, you can read political and legal journals and hornbooks.
• Documents that describe intangibles such as rights, laws and obligations call for very careful reading and interpretation.