<P> The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States . The Constitution , originally comprising seven articles , delineates the national frame of government . Its first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers , whereby the federal government is divided into three branches : the legislative , consisting of the bicameral Congress ; the executive , consisting of the President ; and the judicial , consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts . Articles Four , Five and Six embody concepts of federalism , describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments and of the states in relationship to the federal government . Article Seven establishes the procedure subsequently used by the thirteen States to ratify it . It is regarded as the oldest written and codified national constitution in force . </P>
<P> The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States . The Constitution , originally comprising seven articles , delineates the national frame of government . Its first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers , whereby the federal government is divided into three branches : the legislative , consisting of the bicameral Congress ; the executive , consisting of the President ; and the judicial , consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts . Articles Four , Five and Six embody concepts of federalism , describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments and of the states in relationship to the federal government . Article Seven establishes the procedure subsequently used by the thirteen States to ratify it . It is regarded as the oldest written and codified national constitution in force . </P>
the term used to refer to the official approval of the constitution by the states
the term used to refer to the official approval of the constitution by the states
ratify
ratify