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| | U.S. Senate: Reference Home > Constitution of the United States |
 | | Written in 1787, ratified in 1788, and in operation since 1789, the United States Constitution is the world’s longest surviving written charter of government. |
 | | We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. |
 | | The Preamble explains the purposes of the Constitution, and defines the powers of the new government as originating from the people of the United States. |
| www.senate.gov /civics/constitution_item/constitution.htm (3655 words) |
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