Final answer:
The U.S. Constitution, resting on the authority of 'We the People,' sets the structure of government and aims to protect the collective and individual rights of citizens. It includes the Bill of Rights and has been amended multiple times to adapt to changing needs and ideals, with pivotal amendments like the Thirteenth and Nineteenth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the foundation of the federal government and outlines the structure, powers, and responsibilities of the government. According to the Preamble, on the authority of "We the People," the Constitution aims to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty. To achieve these goals, a system of governmental institutions, including a bicameral legislature known as Congress, composed of the Senate and House of Representatives, is established. This division into two houses is intended to balance representation between the states and the people, with the Senate giving equal representation to states and the House representing the population.
Amendments and the Bill of Rights
The Constitution can be formally amended through the processes outlined in Article V. The document has been amended 27 times, with the first ten amendments known as the Bill of Rights, which were ratified to protect individual liberties. Critical amendments include the Thirteenth, which abolished slavery; the Fourteenth, which provided citizenship and equal protection under the law; the Fifteenth, which prohibited race-based voting restrictions; and the Nineteenth, which granted women the right to vote.