Welcome to the Department of
Defense Constitution Day
Knowing what is in the U.S. Constitution and why
the Constitution is relevant to us today is
fundamental to our being able to defend it. As federal
civil servants supporting the Department of Defense,
we have a special obligation to understand and
appreciate the U.S. Constitution and the role we each
play in providing 'for the common defense'.
Our Constitution is a remarkable document. It’s short, it’s
only a few paragraphs long, but it has withstood the test of
time. Compare that to the recent effort of the European
Union to develop a charter and the difficulty they had.
Amendments to their charter were circulated to the member
nations. It was over 400 pages of text. It was so unwieldy and
difficult for citizens there to read and understand. They
ended up not approving the modifications. On the contrary,
our Constitution is one that everyone can read and
understand. It is as important today as when it was first
published. And we have to make sure that all Americans-young and old, naturalized or born here, that all of us know
the content and the history of our great Constitution. We
may not know some of the vernacular or the words, but the
concepts are still applicable to our daily lives as American
citizens.
“Our U.S. Constitution is not only enduring, but
also evolving over time, and very much alive in
the 21st Century. It expresses the core values of
our republic and guides our use of national
power in the application of democratic
principles, while remaining adaptable as
appropriate to enable every citizen to “secure
the blessings of liberty” in our changing world.
Clearly, our Constitution remains relevant to
the governance of the United States of America
in the modern world.”
-Dr. S.C. Chu
Does the Constitution apply to today's issues?
How does the Constitution affect the way we live and work?
The U.S. Constitution serves as the blueprint for the Federal
Government and is the supreme law of the land.
Supreme Law of the Land Article VI
…This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance
thereof, and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United
States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound
thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding…
Federal / State Relationship Article IV
…The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of
Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion, and on Application of the
Legislature, or the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against Domestic
Violence…
Does the Constitution apply to today's issues?
How does the Constitution affect the way we live and work?
Reserves Power Article X
…The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the
States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
Can Be Amended Article V
…The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose
Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the
several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either case, shall
be valid to all Intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the
Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof,
as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress…
Does the Constitution apply to today's issues?
How does the Constitution affect the way we live and work?
The Constitution recognizes and specifies three branches of
ggovernment, the Legislative Branch, the Executive Branch and the
Judicial Branch.
The idea of separation of powers is most frequently associated with the writings of John Locke
and Baron de Montesquieu.
Writing in the 17th Century, John Locke stated that the functions of government should be
divided. He identified three powers of government; legislative, executive and federative
(foreign relations).
Writing shortly before the American Revolution, French political thinker, Baron de
Montesquieu, believed that “government should be set up so that no man need be afraid of
another”.
These ideas inspired the system of branches of government, with checks and balances,
established in our constitution.
There are checks and balances to provide separation between the
Federal and State Government and the Legislative Branch, Executive
Branch and the Judicial Branch of Government.
Does the Constitution apply to today's issues?
How does the Constitution affect the way we live and work?
The Constitution is a document still in the making.
1776
Declaration of
Independence
1776
Declaration of
Independence
1783
Treaty of
Paris
1787
Constitutional
Convention
1788
Constitution
Ratified
1791
Bill of Rights
Added
1795 – 1992
Amendments
Added
Key Amendments have broadened the definition of citizenship
And protected important rights.
1787
1791
1868
1870
1913
1920
1961 1964
1971
Constitution
Signed
Bill of
Rights
XIV
XV
XVII
XIX
XXIII XXIV
XXVI
Does the Constitution apply to today's issues?
How does the Constitution affect the way we live and work?
The First Amendment
The First Amendment guarantees the freedom of religion, the freedom
of speech, the freedom of the press, the freedom to assemble and the
freedom to petition the government.
The 14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment requires the states to provide equal protection
under the law to all persons
Does the Constitution apply to today's issues?
How does the Constitution affect the way we live and work?
The U.S. Constitution is a social contract between
the governed (people) and the government.
Social contract theory is a framework for analyzing individuals and
their governments, which is described in the writings of philosophers
John Locke, Thomas Hobbes and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. It
describes government as a social contract between individuals and the
state, in which individuals give up their absolute freedoms in exchange
for collective benefits
James Madison Papers
includes 12,000 letters, notes, legislation, and other
documents from the man considered the Father of the
Constitution. These documents (1723-1836), including an
autobiography, help illuminate Madison’s pivotal role in the
Constitutional Convention as well as his nine years in the
House of Representatives, his tenure as Secretary of State,
and his two terms as our fourth President.
Interesting Fact
As a Virginia delegate to the Continental Congress, while
secretary of state, and in his personal correspondence with
Thomas Jefferson, James Madison feared constantly that
unauthorized people would seek to read his private and
public correspondence. To deter such intrusions, he resorted
to a variety of codes and ciphers.
The Bill of Rights
On September 25, 1789, the First Federal Congress of the United
States proposed to the state legislatures twelve amendments to the
Constitution. The first two, concerning the number of constituents for
each Representative and the compensation of Congressmen, were not
ratified.* Articles three through twelve, known as the Bill of Rights
became the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution and
contained guarantees of essential rights and liberties omitted in the
crafting of the original document. The Bill of Rights is the section of
the Constitution that clearly defines certain rights possessed by citizens
of the United States
ess off America.
On June 8, 1789, James Madison introduced his proposed
amendments to the Constitution, which would eventually become
known as the Bill of Rights. Additional debate related to these proposed
amendments can be located in this collection by searching on the
words "amendments constitution" in the First Congress.
Does the Constitution apply to today's issues?
How does the Constitution affect the way we live and work?
The U.S. Constitution is a social contract between the governed and the government.
It serves as the blueprint for the Federal Government and is the supreme law of the land.
Supreme Law of the Land Article VI
…This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance
thereof, and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United
States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound
thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding…
Federal / State Relationship Article IV
…The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of
Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion, and on Application of the
gainsst Domestic
Legislature, or the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against
Violence…
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