A report on Constitution of the United States and Constitution
It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution.
- Constitution of the United StatesThe Constitution of San Marino might be the world's oldest active written constitution, since some of its core documents have been in operation since 1600, while the Constitution of the United States is the oldest active codified constitution.
- Constitution11 related topics with Alpha
Separation of powers
3 linksSeparation of powers refers to the division of a state's government into branches, each with separate, independent powers and responsibilities, so that the powers of one branch are not in conflict with those of the other branches.
Separation of powers refers to the division of a state's government into branches, each with separate, independent powers and responsibilities, so that the powers of one branch are not in conflict with those of the other branches.
Under this influence it was implemented in 1787 in the Constitution of the United States.
Constitutions with a high degree of separation of powers are found worldwide.
Supermajority
3 linksRequirement for a proposal to gain a specified level of support which is greater than the threshold of more than one-half used for a simple majority.
Requirement for a proposal to gain a specified level of support which is greater than the threshold of more than one-half used for a simple majority.
Changes to constitutions, especially those with entrenched clauses, commonly require supermajority support in a legislature.
The Constitution of the United States requires supermajorities in order for certain significant actions to occur.
Montesquieu
2 linksFrench judge, man of letters, historian, and political philosopher.
French judge, man of letters, historian, and political philosopher.
![Montesquieu's 1748 [[:File:Montesquieu, De l'Esprit des loix (1st ed, 1748, vol 1).pdf|De l'Esprit des loix]]](https://hyperleap.com/images/9eeed65c0b345c2affcdcddae06e3c9f/200-5266d2171f7c23fe984662c421bc2023.jpg)
He is the principal source of the theory of separation of powers, which is implemented in many constitutions throughout the world.
His anonymously published The Spirit of Law (1748), which was received well in both Great Britain and the American colonies, influenced the Founding Fathers of the United States in drafting the U.S. Constitution.
The Spirit of Law
2 linksTreatise on political theory, as well as a pioneering work in comparative law, published in 1748 by Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu.
Treatise on political theory, as well as a pioneering work in comparative law, published in 1748 by Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu.
Montesquieu's treatise, already widely disseminated, had an enormous influence on the work of many others, most notably: Catherine the Great, who produced Nakaz (Instruction); the Founding Fathers of the United States Constitution; and Alexis de Tocqueville, who applied Montesquieu's methods to a study of American society, in Democracy in America.
He pleads for a constitutional system of government with separation of powers, the preservation of legality and civil liberties, and the end of slavery.
Democracy
2 linksForm of government in which the people have the authority to deliberate and decide legislation ("direct democracy"), or to choose governing officials to do so ("representative democracy").
Form of government in which the people have the authority to deliberate and decide legislation ("direct democracy"), or to choose governing officials to do so ("representative democracy").
In the common variant of liberal democracy, the powers of the majority are exercised within the framework of a representative democracy, but the constitution limits the majority and protects the minority—usually through the enjoyment by all of certain individual rights, e.g. freedom of speech or freedom of association.
The American Revolution led to the adoption of the United States Constitution in 1787, the oldest surviving, still active, governmental codified constitution.
Entrenched clause
2 linksAn entrenched clause or entrenchment clause of a basic law or constitution is a provision that makes certain amendments either more difficult or impossible to pass, making such amendments invalid.
Article V of the United States Constitution temporarily shielded certain clauses in Article I from being amended.
Constitutional amendment
1 linksA constitutional amendment is a modification of the constitution of a polity, organization or other type of entity.
The use of appended articles of amendment is most famous as a feature of the United States Constitution, but it is also the method of amendment in a number of other jurisdictions, such as Venezuela.
Articles of Confederation
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The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union was an agreement among the 13 original states of the United States of America that served as its first frame of government.
On March 4, 1789, the government under the Articles was replaced with the federal government under the Constitution.
Suffrage
1 linksRight to vote in public, political elections and referendums .
Right to vote in public, political elections and referendums .
1809 – New constitution adopted and separation of powers outlined in the Instrument of Government.
The Constitution did not originally define who was eligible to vote, allowing each state to decide this status.
Constituent assembly
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A constituent assembly (also known as a constitutional convention, constitutional congress, or constitutional assembly) is a body assembled for the purpose of drafting or revising a constitution.
The U.S. Constitutional Convention drafted the still-current United States Constitution in 1787.