What is the Constitution. (the USA)

The Constitution is the basic and supreme law of the United States. It prescribes* the structure of the U.S. Government, provides the legal foundation on which all its actions must rest, and enumerates and guarantees the rights due all citizens*.

The Constitution is a document prepared by a convention of delegates from 12ofthe 13 States that met in Philadelphia in 1787. The original charter, which replaced the Articles of Confederation and which became operative* in 1789, established the United States as a federal union of States, a representative democracy within a republic. The framers provided a Government of three independent branches. The first is the legislature, which comprises a two-house or bicameral Congress consisting of a Senate, whose members are apportioned equally* among the States, and a House of Representatives, whose members are apportioned among the States according to* population. The second, the executive branch, includes the President and Vice President and all subordinate* officials of the executive departments and executive agencies. The third branch, the judiciary, consists of the Supreme Court and various subordinate Federal courts created by public law.

The 27 amendments approved since 1791 are also considered an integral part* of the Constitution. These include amendments 1 through 10, known collectively as the Bill of Rights, and amendments 11 through 27, which address a wide range of subjects*. At the present time, there are four amendments without ratification. These deal with child labor, titles of nobility from foreign powers, and certain States rights. Two recently proposed amendments, have been approved by Congress; i.e. equal rights for women and men and voting representation for the District of Columbia in the Senate and House.

Notes

prescribe - предписывать

the rights due all citizen — права, принадлежащие всем гражданам

became operative - начали действовать, вошли в силу

are apportinated equally — равно распределены

according to - согласно, соответственно

subordinate — подчиненные

integral part - неотделимая часть

wide range of subjects — широкий круг вопросов