The U.S. Constitution set up three different branches, or parts, of the government. Each of these branches is focused on a different area. The legislative branch is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and it makes laws for the country. The executive branch, headed by the president, decides how to carry out those laws. And the judicial branch, made up of the U.S. Supreme Court, rules on whether or not the other two branches are doing their jobs legally and correctly. These three branches are supposed to be equal in power, to make sure that everyone's rights are protected, and so that no one branch ever takes over the government. This is called "checks and balances."

The writers of the Constitution built in a system that made sure that the document could change over time. These changes are called "amendments." The first ten amendments, called the "Bill of Rights," are the best known -- they guarantee the freedoms that every U.S. citizen is supposed to enjoy. There have been twenty-six total amendments to the Constitution. The Constitution has been amended to end slavery, to give women the right to vote, and other reasons. Lawmakers generally do not want to amend the Constitution unless it is for a very important reason. Why do you think this is so?

Because it guarantees basic rights and limits government power, the Constitution has been an inspiration for other countries all over the world. Can you think of ways the Constitution protects you in your everyday life?