U.S. Government Overview

The Declaration of Independence, written in 1776, explains why the American colonies decided to break away from British rule. This document starts by saying that all people are born with natural rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It argues that governments exist to protect these rights, and they only have power because the people allow them to. 

If a government becomes harmful or abusive, the people have a right to change or remove it.

The Constitution, written in 1787, is the foundation of the U.S. government. It explains how the government is structured and what power it has. 

The constitution outlines three branches of government: 

• Judicial (courts) -- Interprets laws

• legislative (Congress) -- Makes laws

• Executive (president) -- enforces laws.

This system is designed to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. Each branch has checks and balances to limit the others. It also divides power between the federal government and the states, which is known as federalism. Some powers belong to the national government, some to states, and some are shared. 

The Bill of Rights, added in 1791, is the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. Its main purpose is to protect individual freedoms and limit government power. These amendments guarantee basic rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press (1st Amendment). 

They also protect people in legal situations, including the right to remain silent, the right to a fair trial, and protection from unreasonable searches (4th, 5th, and 6th Amendments). 

Other amendments ensure that punishments are not excessive (8th amendment) and clarify that people have rights beyond those specifically listed. The 10th Amendment reinforces that powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or the people.