1- INTRODUCTION: A Constitution consists of those fudamental rules which determine and distribute functions and powers amoun the

!arious or ans of the "o!ernment# as well as determine the relations of the o!ernin authroties with the people$ The Constitution of the U$%$ sets forth the nation&s fundamental laws and is the %upreme 'aw of the land$ (- %A'I)NT *)ATUR)% O* U$%$ CON%TITUTION: *ollowin are the %alient features of U$%$ Constitution$ +I,-RITT)N: American Constitution is in written form$ It is !er. brief Constitution# ori inall. consisted of preamble and se!en Article but now (/ amendments ha!e been made in it$ +II,)NACT)D: U$%$ Constitution is and enacted constitution i!en b. the con!ention in 0hiladephia and officiall. adopted on 1arch 2# 1345$ +III,%O6)RI"NT7 O* T8) 0)O0'): the preamble of the U$%$ Constitution laid emphasis on the so!erei nt. of the people$ It starts with the words$ 9-e the people of the United %tates9$ -hich clearl. indicated the so!eri nt. of the people$ +I6,%U0R)1AC7 O* CON%TITUTIONA' 'A-: The Constitution of U$%$ is the basic law of the countr. to :uote Constitution itself$ 9This Constitution and the laws of the United %tates which shall be made in pursuance there of $$$$$$$$$$$$ shall be the %upreme 'aw of the land$ +6,CON6)NTION%: Con!entions pla.ed an important role in the de!elopment of the Constitution and the. are also the basic featur of the U$%$ Constitution e$ $ the rowth of the cabinet of the American 0resident is the result of con!ention$ +6I,RI"ID: American Constitution is a ri id Constitution because re:uires a special procedure to amend it$ )!er. amendment# which can be mo!ed in two different wa.s# must be ratified b. the three-fourths of the state will be and elected one$ +6II,R)0U;'ICAN: The U$%$ Constitution uarantees to e!er. state a republican form of "o!ernment the head of e!er. state will be an elected one$

+6III,*)D)RA'I%1: The Constitution of U$%$ estabishes a federal form of "o!ernment$ A Constitutional di!ision of powers has been made between the centre and the federation units$ The Constitution enumerates the powers of the centre and lea!es the residue of powers to be e<ercised b. the federatin states$ +I=,0R)%ID)NTIA': The U$%$ Constitution pro!ides for the presidential form of "o!ernment$ The Constitution !ests e<ecuti!e powers to the president$ 8e is not responsible for his acts and policies to the le islature$ 8e is elected b. the prople for the rerm of four .ears$ +=,;ICA1)RA'I%1: Article I %ection 1 of the U$%$ Constitution made bicameral le islature$ In 8ouse of representati!es# represntation is on the basis of population and %enate# each state has e:ual representation# two %enators from each state$ +=I,%)CU'AR: America is a secular state$ It is stated that con ress shall ma>e no law respection the establishment of reli ion of proibitin the free e<ercise of reli ion$ +=II,;A'ANC)D "O6)RN1)NT: The Constitution "uarantees the balanced "o!ernment in the state$ The house of representati!e would reflect the attitudes of the popular or democati! elements and the senate would reflect the !iews of the aristocratic elements$ The two chambers would ser!e as a chec> on each other$ +=III,%)0ARATION O* 0O-)R%: The Constitution is based on the doctrine of separation of powers$ All the three branches of the "o!ernment !i? le islati!e# e<ecuti!e and @udiciar. ha!e been >ept separate from each other$ The personnel of each branch is chosed b. different procedure# the functions are also different and there is no interference in each department$ +=I6,C8)CA% AND ;A'ANC)%: In America# there is a s.stem of chec>s and balances# each branch has weapon with which to chec> the others$ The 0redident has a :ualified !eto o!er laws enacted b. con ress$ The con ress can chec> the 0resident b. impeachin him$ The president and the senate elect the @ud es of %upreme Court and Bud es has the power to interpret the laws$ +=6,BUDICIA' R)6I)-: The stud. of American Constitution is in lar e measure a stud. of @udicial decisions and

opinions$ The constitution does not specificall. rant the Courts the power to interpret the Constitution but it furnishes sufficient !erbal basis for the power$ The first assertion of the power a ainst and act of con ress was made in 14CD in Chief Bustice 1arshal&s famous opinion in case of 91arbur. !s 1adison9$ +=6I,IND)0)ND)NC) O* BUDICIAR7: The Constitution i!es @ud es a lar e measure of independence$ The founder fathers too> special precautions to isolate the @udiciar. from e<ecuti!e and le islati!e influence$ +=6II,DU) 0ROC)%% O* 'A-: Another feature of the American Constitution is the ri ht to due process of law$ The *ederal "o!ernment and the %tate "o!ernments are forbicden to depri!e an.one of life# libert. and propert. without due process of law$ It means that an. person suspected of !iolation the law must be dealt with accordin to the established rules and not arbitrar.$ It also demands that the Act of le islature and e<ecuti!e both at the centre and in the states must be reasonable$ +=6III,;I'' O* RI"8T%: The U$%$ Constitution "uarantees the prople a lar e number of fundamental ri ht$ These ri hts were not enumerated in the ori inal draft of the Constitution but b. subse:uent amendments these ri hts ha!e been secured$ The first ten amendments were made to incorporate the fundamental ri hts$ +=I=,DUA' CITIE)N%8I0: The U$%$ Constitution pro!ides for dual citi?enship for the people of United %tates$ An American is the citi?en of the U$%$A$ and also of the state wherein he or she is domiciled$ +==,%0OI'% %7%T)1: This %.stem is associated with the name of 0resident Andrew Bac>son$ Accordin to it# when the new president ta>es$ o!er the char e of administration# the entire administration of the pre!ious president is streamlined and he made fresh appointments without ta>in into account abilit.# e<perience etc$ +==I,R)0R)%)NTATI6) D)1OCRAC7: The American constitution establishes a representati!e democrac.$ All mattes of "o!ernment are left in the hands of chosen representati!es$ +==II,DI**)R)NT CON%TITUTION% *OR T8) *)D)RATION AND T8) %TAT)%: The %tates which @oined the American *ederation ha!e their own Constitutions# which were allowed to e<ist as before$ This wash helpful in a!oidin the bul> of the Constitution$

+==III,CON%TITUTIONA' 'I1ITATION: Another outstandin feature of the U$%$ Constitution is found in the number of limitations# which it contains$ There are man. thin s which neither the national nor the %tate "o!ernments ma. do such as framin bills of attainder or rantin titles of nobilit.$ +==I6,O1I%%ION%: The Constitution is distincti!e not onl. for what it contains but for what it moits# its silence on some points is elo:uent$ *or e<ample# the Constitution pro!ides that the house shall choose its own spea>er but does not sa. what his powers shall be this element made the Constitution fle<ible$ D- CONC'U%ION: To conclude# I can sa.# that the American Constitution is the oldest written Consitution in force in an. nation of the world$ It establishes the form of "o!ernment and defines the ri hts and liberties of the American 0eople$ It also lists the aim of "o!ernment and the methods of achie!in them$