United States Department of Defense

U.S. Constitution Course

The Course > Page 2

Imagery:

U.S. Map, Capitol Building, the Constitution, U.S. Flag

Narration:

The United States Constitution represents the supreme law of the United States of America.

On-Screen Text:

Declaration of Independence – We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

The form of government outlined in the U.S. Constitution embodies and is designed to implement the ideas and objectives of the Declaration of Independence.

Want to Know More:

The Constitution of the United States represents the supreme law of the United States of America.  It is the oldest codified written national constitution still in force.

It was completed on September 17, 1787, upon its adoption by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  The Constitution was later ratified by special conventions called for that purpose in each of the then-existing thirteen American states.

The Constitution created a more unified government instead of a semi-independent group of states operating under the Articles of Confederation. Taking effect in 1789, the new U.S. Constitution has served as a model for constitutions of several other nations.