How many constitutional laws are there?
Asked by: Alyson Cronin | Last update: February 8, 2026Score: 4.6/5 (8 votes)
There isn't a fixed number for "constitutional laws" as it refers to the entire body of rules derived from a constitution, but for the U.S. Constitution, it consists of a Preamble, 7 original Articles, and 27 Amendments, with the first 10 forming the Bill of Rights, creating many specific legal principles and clauses. While over 11,000 amendments have been proposed, only 27 have been ratified to date.
How many laws are there in the US Constitution?
Beginning with the words “We the People,” the U.S. Constitution is composed of the Preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights.
Are there 27 or 33 amendments?
Amendments Proposed by Congress. To date, Congress has submitted 33 amendment proposals to the states, 27 of which were ratified.
What are the 7 constitutional principles?
The constitutional principles of checks and balances, federalism, limited government, popular sovereignty, republicanism, and separation of powers. .
What are the 10 constitutional Rights called?
The first ten amendments to the Constitution are called the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights talks about individual rights. Over the years, more amendments were added. Now, the Constitution has 27 amendments.
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Did the founding fathers put God in the Constitution?
No, the U.S. Constitution does not explicitly mention God or a supreme being in its main text, a deliberate choice by the Founding Fathers to establish a secular government and protect religious freedom, though it does contain a date reference ("Year of our Lord") and the First Amendment prevents religious tests for office, reflecting a consensus on separation of church and state despite their personal faith.
Why is the Bill of Rights not in the Constitution?
James Madison and other supporters of the Constitution argued that a bill of rights wasn't necessary because - “the government can only exert the powers specified by the Constitution.” But they agreed to consider adding amendments when ratification was in danger in the key state of Massachusetts.
Can a president change the Constitution?
The Constitution does not give a president the power to violate the Constitution, create or change congressional statutes, or override U.S. Supreme Court decisions—no matter what the EOs say.
What are the six big ideas of the Constitution?
The Six Big Ideas are:
- limited government.
- republicanism.
- checks and balances.
- federalism.
- separation of powers.
- popular sovereignty.
What is the Article 4 Section 4?
Section 4 Republican Form of Government
The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.
What are the two rejected amendments?
The two rejected amendments from the original 1789 proposal, which became the Bill of Rights, were the Congressional Apportionment Amendment (setting a formula for House size) and the Congressional Pay Amendment (requiring intervening elections for pay raises). While the first remains unratified, the second eventually passed in 1992 as the 27th Amendment.
What is the 97th amendment all about?
India's 97th Constitutional Amendment (2011) granted constitutional status and protection to cooperative societies, aiming to ensure their democratic, autonomous, and professional functioning by adding Part IX-B and Article 43B, making the right to form cooperatives a fundamental right and promoting better governance, timely elections, and financial transparency.
What is the 125th amendment?
A "125th Amendment" isn't a single enacted law but refers to the Constitution (125th Amendment) Bill, 2019 in India, aiming to empower Autonomous Councils in Northeast states (Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram) by granting them greater financial/executive authority, creating Village/Municipal Councils, and reserving seats for women. It's distinct from U.S. legislative proposals like House Bill 125 (HR125) concerning emergency powers, or sentencing guideline changes like USSC Amendment 125, or specific sections within other laws like India's Representation of the People Act.
What is the most powerful law in the United States?
The Constitution. The Constitution is the supreme law of the land in the United States. Learn more about our founding document. The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme law of the United States.
Is the US Constitution a law, yes or no?
The U.S. Constitution is the nation's fundamental law.
Which is the no. 1 Constitution in the world?
The Indian constitution is the world's longest for a sovereign nation. At its enactment, it had 395 articles in 22 parts and 8 schedules. At about 145,000 words, it is the second-longest active constitution—after the Constitution of Alabama—in the world.
What happens if someone violates the Constitution?
This will typically be in the form of a lawsuit against the party that violated your constitutional rights. Generally, that would include the police officer who arrested you, though there are other players in your situation who could be liable.
What are the 5 principles of the Constitution?
The five core principles of the U.S. Constitution are Popular Sovereignty (people rule), Limited Government (government power is restricted), Separation of Powers (dividing government into three branches), Checks and Balances (each branch can limit others), and Federalism (power shared between national and state governments). These principles ensure government serves the people, prevents tyranny, and maintains balance in governance, with other important concepts like individual rights and rule of law also closely related.
Why is article 6 of the Constitution so important?
Often referred to as the supremacy clause, this article says that when state law is in conflict with federal law, federal law must prevail.
What are 5 things the President can't do?
The U.S. President cannot make laws, declare war, decide how federal money is spent, interpret laws, or appoint key officials like Cabinet members or Supreme Court Justices without Senate approval, highlighting constitutional limits on executive power through checks and balances with Congress.
Who can overrule the Constitution?
When the Supreme Court rules on a constitutional issue, that judgment is virtually final; its decisions can be altered only by the rarely used procedure of constitutional amendment or by a new ruling of the Court. However, when the Court interprets a statute, new legislative action can be taken.
What is the 42 and 44 amendment Act?
The 42nd Amendment (1976) significantly centralized power and restricted rights during India's Emergency, while the 44th Amendment (1978) was enacted to undo many of those changes, restore democratic safeguards, limit executive authority, and strengthen Fundamental Rights, like changing "internal disturbance" to "armed rebellion" for emergencies and making the President's advice binding only after one reconsideration.
What is the 10th amendment about?
Amendment Ten to the Constitution was ratified on December 15, 1791. It makes clear that any powers that are not specifically given to the federal government, nor withheld from the states, are reserved to those respective states, or to the people at large.
What is the 8th Amendment about?
Constitutional Amendments – Amendment 8 – “Freedom from excessive bail, fines, and cruel punishments.” Amendment Eight to the Constitution was ratified on December 15, 1791.
Who wrote the Bill of Rights?
Who Wrote the Bill of Rights. The first ten amendments to the Constitution make up the Bill of Rights. James Madison wrote the amendments as a solution to limit government power and protect individual liberties through the Constitution.