Features of US Constitution

1. Salient Features Of US Constitution
Introduction:
Withthe “Declarationof Independence”,publishedonJuly04, 1776, writtenbyThomasJefferson,
beginsthe independenthistoryof UnitedStatesof America.On July11, 1776, a committee underJohn
Dickensonwasappointedwhichdraftedthe Articlesof ConfederationwhichwereapprovedbyCongress
of states.However,interstate bickeringstartedoveranumberof issues.Tosolve the problemsand
disputes,amendmentsinArticlesof Confederationwasfeltandthusa conventionwasarrangedin
Philadelphiaforthe purpose inwhichdelegatesof 12 statesparticipated(RhodeIslanddidnot).After16
weeksof discussion,the newconstitutionof USA wasunanimouslysignedon17thSeptember1787 by
delegatesosstatespresentthere.The constitutionwasadopted/ratifiedon21st June 1788 (as nine
state (NewHampshire-ninthstate) conventionratified)andenforcedonMarch 07, 1789 (Rhode Island
laststate to ratifyit).JamesMadisonisconsideredasthe primaryauthorof US Constitution.
Salientfeaturesof USConstitution:
Althoughthere are manyinterestingfeaturesinitsconstitutionbutthe mostimportantare:
 Writtenconstitution
 Rigidconstitution
 Popularsovereignty
 Bicameral legislature
 Separationof powers
 Checksand balances
 Judicial Review
 Presidential system
 Federal system
 Systemof republic
 Systemof spoils
 Bill of Rights
 Dual Citizenship
1. WrittenConstitution:
Americanconstitutionisawrittenconstitution framedin1787 and enforcedin1789. It consistsof seven
articles;three of themrelatedtostructure andpowersof Legislative (Article1),Executive(Article 2) and
Judiciary(Article 3) andthe otherfourdedicatedtopositionof states(Article4),modesof amendments
(Article 5),supremacyof national power(Article 6) andratification(Article 7).Italsoholdsthat
constitutionisthe supreme lawof the land.Article one isthe longestandcannotbe amended.Like
otherconstitutions,italsoconsistsof preamble;asingle sentence thatintroducesanddefinespurpose
of the document.

2. 2. RigidConstitution:
It isone of the most rigidconstitutionsinthe worldwhichmeansthatforamendingit,aspecial and
difficultprocedure hastobe followed.Itconsistsof 2 steps;
2.1 Proposal for Amendment:
Eithertwo-third(67%) of boththe houses(Senate andHouse of Representatives)shall proposefor
amendmenttoconstitutionoronthe applicationof legislaturesof two-third(67%) statesshall call a
conventionforproposingamendment.
2.2 Ratification of Proposal:
The amendmentshall be ratifiedbythe legislaturesof three fourth(75%) of all statesor by the
conventionof three fourthof states.Itisbecause of thisrigiditythatAmericanconstitutionhas been
amendedonly27 timesinover200 years.
3. Popular Sovereignty:
In U.S, the people rule i.e.theyhave delegatedtheirpowerstothe governmentandthe government
owesitsauthoritytothe will of the people.The principle of popularsovereigntyis statedinthe
Preamble of constitutionas“we the people……..doordainandestablishthisconstitutionforUnited
Statesof America".
4. Bicameral Legislature:
The constitutionof USA providesforbicameral legislature i.e.twohousesinthe centre. Accordingto
Article 1,“All legislative powersare vestedinCongress.”Congressconsistsof twohousesi.e.Lower
House or House of Representativesandthe UpperHouse or Senate.
4.1 House of Reprentatives:
The House of Representativeshas435 memberswhoare electedbythe peoplethroughadultfranchise
methodfora periodof two yearson populationbasisi.e.state withlargerpopulationgetsmore seatsin
thishouse like Californiahas53 members.
4.2 Senate:
The membersof Senate are electedbythe state legislatures.Eachstate has twosenatorsmeaningthat
each state has twovotesinsenate.These senatorsare electedforaperiodof six yearson paritybasis.
The total numberof senatorsis100 as the total statesare 50.
5. Separation of Powers:

3. The doctrine of separationof powersdividespowerbetweenthe three pillars/institutionsof
governmenttopreventinterferenceof one institutioninthe affairsof another.The powersare divided
amongCongress,Presidentandthe Judiciary.
Congresshasthe powerto make lawswhichoutline general policiesandsetcertainstandards.President
can enforce,executeandadministerlaw.He isassistedbyhiscabinetbutissolelyresponsible forall
actionsof Executive branch.Judicial Powersare exercisedbythe Supreme Courtwhichinterpretslaws
and decidedcasesandcontroversiesinconformitywiththe law andbythe methodsprescribedbylaw.
6. Checks & Balances:
The systemof Checksand Balanceslaiddownbythe separationof powerspreventsmisuse of powers.
The powersare providedinsucha waythat it providesacheckuponotherinstitutions.
Examples:
a) Presidentcanvetoabill passedbythe Congress.The congresscan passlegislationoverpresident’s
vetoby twothirdmajority.
b) Presidenthasthe powertoappointjudgesof the Supreme Courtsubjecttoapproval of the Senate.
c) The constitutionhasvestedthe powersof “Judicial Review”inSupremeCourt.Supreme Courtcan
approve,rejectorreviewanyactiontakenbythe Presidentorlawsmade bythe Congressasit didin
Marbury vVsMadisonCase.
All thiscreatesa systemwhichmakescompromisesnecessarywhichisasignof healthydemocracy.It
preventsthe rise of dictatorsaswell.
7. Federal System:
The U.S constitutionprovidesforafederal systemof governmentwhichmeansthatpowersare divided
amongcentre/federal governmentandthe states.AccordingtoArticle 1, the federal governmenthas
jurisdictionover18 mattersand residuarypowersare vestedinstates.Statesare autonomousbodies
and centre cannotmeddle intheiraffairs.Incase of conflict,Supreme Courtdecidesorsettlesthe
dispute.
8. Presidential System:
The constitutionprovidesforapresidentialformof government.Article2providesthe powers,election
and theirmattersrelatedtopresident.Presidentiselectedforaterm of 4 yearsand isnot answerable
to Congress but cannot dissolve Congress. He has a cabinet to assist himin running his executive powers.
9. Republicanism:

4. The constitutioncallsfora republicansystemwithPresidentaselectedheadof the state.The
constitutionderivesitsauthorityfromthe people andissupreme law of the land.Neithercentre nor
statescan override it.
10. Bill of Rights:
The firstten amendmentstothe constitutionare called“Bill of Rights”.The BORprovidesforthe rights
of a person’sproperty,liberty,freedomof speech,press,religionandassembly.
11. Dual Citizenship:
The constitutionprovidesfordual citizenshipi.ecitizenof UnitedStatesandthe state where one is
domiciled.BritainandPakistanprovidesforsinglecitizenship.
12. Systemof Spoils:
Whena presidentiselected,he doesappointmentof publicoffices.If inelections,Presidentelectedisof
the oppositionparty,he dismissesthe publicoffice bearers andmakesfreshappointments.Underthis
system,acivil servantappointedbyone presidentonpolitical considerationcannotretainhisoffice
whenan oppositionPresidentsecuresvictoryinpolls.