The Constitution of the United States contains a preamble and seven articles that describe the way the government is structured and how it operates. The first three articles establish the three branches of government and their powers: Legislative (Congress), Executive (office of the President), and Judicial (Federal court system). A system of checks and balances prevents any one of these separate powers from becoming dominant. Articles four through seven describe the relationship of the states to the Federal Government, establish the Constitution as the supreme law of the land, and define the amendment and ratification processes.
The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights are on permanent display in the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
Read the U.S. Constitution and Amendments here.
Just as the U.S. Constitution establishes the structure of our government and how it operates, the California State Constitution describes the structure and operation of California's government. Read the California State Constitution here.