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  | This section contains an overview of the United States Constitution. The Constitution is the basis for the American system of government. It is also the basis of the legal system in the USA, with all laws stemming from the Constitution in some way. | | |
 | The original Constitution was written in 1787. Read the history section to understand the background to the framing of the Constitution. This section is not required for the examination, but it will help you understand the way that the political system is structured and the reasons for choosing that structure. The Articles section outlines the specific provisions of the Constitution. | |  | |
 | Since the original document was written, there have been several amendments, or changes to the Constitution. The first ten of these were intended to protect individual freedoms and are called the Bill of Rights. | | |
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