Importance
Why is the U.S. Constitution important?
Goal:
Goal:
As you have learned, the U.S. Constitution protects people's freedoms and establishes the foundation for the nation's government. It gives government the powers it needs to be strong enough to keep everyone safe and free. However, it also includes a system of checks and balances so no branch of government becomes too powerful.
This critical document allows you and every American to live the life you want to live.
You can see the original U.S. Constitution, along with the Declaration of Independence, in Washington, D.C., at the National Archives.
The U.S. Constitution is the oldest written constitution still in use in the world today. (It is also the shortest.)
The U.S. Constitution was written behind locked doors that were heavily guarded.
The first national Thanksgiving Day on November 26, 1789, was created by George Washington as a day to give thanks for the Constitution.
More than 11,000 amendments have been introduced to Congress, but only 27 have made it through the whole process to become an amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
