A constitution is a set of laws and principles that define the nature and extent of government. It sets the broad parameters for institutions of a state, such as the executive branch, legislature and judiciary, and establishes the rights of individual citizens. Constitutions can be codified or uncodified, with most states in the world having codified constitutions.
A state’s constitution can be a written document or not, and may be limited in scope to certain matters or include all areas of public life. In the United States, the Constitution is the supreme law of the land. It grants Congress the power to declare war, levy taxes, regulate interstate commerce and make all laws necessary for carrying out these powers. The Constitution also allows the president to veto specific legislative acts, but these can be overturned by two-thirds of both houses. Congress also has the authority to appoint key executive and judicial officers, but these appointments must be approved by the Senate.
The Constitution was drafted by a group of statesmen called the Founding Fathers, who met in Philadelphia at the Constitutional Convention from May 25 to September 17, 1787. They were influenced by Magna Carta, the English common law tradition and the Enlightenment liberalism of philosophers like John Locke and Montesquieu. The Framers’ goal was to correct the failure of the national government under the Articles of Confederation, which had failed to perform many vital functions and left much of the responsibility for governing to the states. The Constitution embodies the philosophy of separation of powers and balance of governmental authority to protect the rights of citizens and safeguard liberty and equality.