Constitution of the United States of America

The Constitution of the United States of America, which was signed and ratified in 1787, lays out the entire framework of our national government and fundamental laws. Keeping in mind the types of natural rights discussed by Locke and Rousseau, pay attention to how the Constitution lays out fundamental rights and liberties of American citizens. Notice how the government was divided into three separate branches (Legislative, Judicial, and Executive) and how power was allocated to each part. Think about how previous authors that we read constructed hypothetical ideas of how a state or country should be run whereas this document lays out detailed regulations that we continue to follow today.

While you read, ask yourself how the laws set in place in the Constitution endured over 200 years and why we still practice them now.