TheUnitedStatesSealistheofficialsealoftheU.S.government.Th
edominantfigureistheAmericanEagleshownwithitswingsspre
ad.TheeaglecarriesinitsbeakascrollonwhichappearstheL
atinmottoEpluribusunum(“Frommany,one”).Epluribusunumis
theUnitedStatesmotto,appearingonthenation''scoinsandpap
ermoney,andonmanyofitspublicmonuments.
THEMAKINGOFTHEAMERICANCONSTITUTIONTheAmericanCons
titutionalConferenceCONSITUTION(1789)timelesswords&livi
ngprinciplesConstitutionalConvention(May,1787)Co
ntinentalCongress(1774~89)ArticlesofConfederation(1777)Col
onistintheNewWorld(Self-governing)ReligiousReform
MayflowerCompact(1620)MagnaCarta(1215)BillofRights(1791
)Amendment21st(1933)(repealofProhibitionofalcoholicbever
age)Amendment26th(1971)(allcitizensof18yearsorolderha
verighttovote)Amendment27th(1992)(nolawshalltakeeffect
onthecompensationofhouseserviceorcompensationofservic
eneedafreshelection)RootofConstitutionCommonlaw(judge
-madelaw)LawstatutesBRITISHHERITAGEVirginia(1607)(pri
mitiveformofconfederation)NewEngland(Puritan/May-flower
Compact)Maryland(Catholic/freedomofworship)Pennsylvania
(Quaker/churchrelationwithgovernment)COLONIALHERITAGE(s
piritsofindustrialself-relianceforlatereconomicdevelopmen
t)INTELLECTUALSHERITAGEreligiousreformation(awayfromMid-Ag
echurchrulessoastobreakthetiewiththesecondaryGod--
thechurch)ideologicalintroductionofintellectuals(philosophe
rs+politicians)ThomasHobbes(1588~1679)JohnLocke(1632~17
04)CharlesdeMoutesquieu(1689~1755)Jean-JacqueRousseau
(1712~1778)Setthepowerofgoverningthe
countryby3branchesLEGISLATIVE(congress)Senateheaded
byVice-PresidentHouseofRepresentativesEXECUTIVEPresident
appointschiefjusticewithconsent/adviceofSenateJUDICIALCh
iefJusticeSupremeCourt5principlesattheheartofthatlivi
ngConstitutionRuleoflawRepublicanismSeparationofpowersC
heck&balanceNationalSupremacy(ArticleVI)THEMAKINGO
FTHEAMERECANCONSTITUTIONThephrasederivesfromtheline“An
dthisbeourmotto,''InGodisourtrust,''“inthebattlesongt
hatlaterbecametheU.S.nationalanthem,“TheStar-SpangledBan
ner.”ThephrasefirstappearedonU.S.coinsin1864andbecame
obligatoryonallU.S.currencyin1955.In1956itwasmadethenationalmottobyactofCongress.InGodWeTrustNationalMottooftheUnitedStates |
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