A BRIEF INTRODUCTION
The documents establishing and defining the United States of America are more than just some fancy words and signatures on paper. They are the legal framework for our federal government and our contract as citizens between us and our government.
The Declaration of Independence, signed on July 4, 1776, stated the intention of the original thirteen British colonies to separate themselves from our mother country, explained our founders' reasons for such a drastic action to the world, and declared the establishment of a nation of our own on this continent.
The Constitution of the United States of America, created in 1787, is the original basis for our new nation and our federal government. It specifically defines how our government is supposed to operate, the functions and duties of the various branches of that government, and describes the relationships of the states and citizens to our federal government.
The Bill of Rights, ratified by the states in 1791, are the first ten amendments to our Constitution that were passed by our first Congress to more specifically define the states and citizens rights under our federal government. They apply additional and specific protections from unwarranted government intrusions that might undermine the states rights or our rights and liberties as citizens.
The Eleventh through Twenty-seventh Amendments are updates, changes and new laws that later Congresses determined were necessary to reflect the changing needs of our country over time and expand citizens rights.
The Twenty-eighty Amendment proposed by ACT NOW! will correct an original fault in the Constitution by establishing term limits for elected representatives to Congress.
