SOCIAL STU

Apuntes

SOCIAL STUDIES I Prof. Lic. María Noel Legaspi THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA POLITICAL SYSTEM The American Constitution The Constitution was drafted by a convention in 1787, ratified by the required two thirds of the states in 1788 and put into effect in 1789. It is based on the doctrine of the separation of powers (between the executive, the legislative and the judiciary). Article V allowed for amendments to be made to the Constitution (once passed by a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress and ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the states). The Constitution may also be amended by a special national convention called for the purpose. The Constitution finally ratified by the original thirteen states in 1791 already contained ten amendments, known as the “Bill of Rights” (the freedoms of religion, speech, the press; the right to assemble, to petition the government, etc) to protect citizens against possible tyranny by the federal government. billofrightsinstitute.org/founding-documents/bill-of-rights/ Twenty-seven additional amendments were passed adopted between 1795 and 1992, abolishing slavery, providing for an income tax, providing for universal suffrage fo...