The Preamble to the United States Constitution states that “We the people of the United States…do ordain and establish this Constitution.“这意味着我们……你和我,以及超过3.32亿其他美国人. The Constitution entrusts the ultimate power of government to the people through the electoral process and a structure of government based on popular sovereignty, 共和主义, 有限政府, 联邦制, 权力分立, 权力制衡和个人自由.
在四页中只包含了4,400个单词, the Constitution is the oldest written constitution as well as the shortest written constitution in the world. It has been amended only twenty-seven times since being ratified in 1788 and has influenced the constitutions of more than 150 other nations.
宪法第六条宣布“宪法”, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, 或将被制造, 在美国的权威之下, 将成为国家的最高法律.”
可悲的是, 可悲的是,大多数美国人对宪法一无所知, 然而,它是“国家的最高法律”,“我们人民”是至高无上的. 一个可行的民治政府怎么可能, 人民的, 对人民来说,如果人民不知道政府是如何运作的,那就无法维持下去?
Using questions from the simple civics test required of all immigrants seeking United States citizenship, 伍德罗·威尔逊基金会调查了近50人,50个州的1万名美国人. 只有佛蒙特州的大多数受访者能够通过这项测试. Eighty percent of seniors at our most elite institutions of higher education cannot pass a basic high school history test.
9月17日, 1787, a convention of fifty-five delegates representing twelve of the original thirteen states adjourned after drafting a new Constitution for the United States. 1788年6月21日,新罕布夏州批准该法案后,该法案成为“国家最高法律”. 9月17日现在被定为宪法日. 9月17日所在的那一周被称为宪法周.
在理解宪法的同时, the government it created and the rights and responsibilities of citizens should be a continuing effort, 宪法的一周 provides a perfect opportunity to focus our local and national attention on these important topics and refresh our knowledge about and commitment to government by "we the people."