<P> The United States Bill of Rights consists of 10 amendments added to the Constitution in 1791, as supporters of the Constitution had promised critics during the debates of 1788 . The English Bill of Rights (1689) was an inspiration for the American Bill of Rights . Both require jury trials, contain a right to keep and bear arms, prohibit excessive bail and forbid "cruel and unusual punishments". Many liberties protected by state constitutions and the Virginia Declaration of Rights were incorporated into the Bill of Rights . </P> <P> Neither the Convention which drafted the Constitution, nor the Congress which sent it to the thirteen states for ratification in the autumn of 1787, gave it a lead caption . To fill this void, the document was most often titled "A frame of Government" when it was printed for the convenience of ratifying conventions and the information of the public . This Frame of Government consisted of a preamble, seven articles and a signed closing endorsement . </P> <P> The preamble to the Constitution serves as an introductory statement of the document's fundamental purposes and guiding principles . It neither assigns powers to the federal government, nor does it place specific limitations on government action . Rather, it sets out the origin, scope and purpose of the Constitution . Its origin and authority is in "We, the people of the United States". This echoes the Declaration of Independence . "One people" dissolved their connection with another, and assumed among the powers of the earth, a sovereign nation - state . The scope of the Constitution is twofold . First, "to form a more perfect Union" than had previously existed in the "perpetual Union" of the Articles of Confederation . Second, to "secure the blessings of liberty", which were to be enjoyed by not only the first generation, but for all who came after, "our posterity". </P> <P> Article One describes the Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government . Section 1, reads, "All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives ." The article establishes the manner of election and the qualifications of members of each body . Representatives must be at least 25 years old, be a citizen of the United States for seven years, and live in the state they represent . Senators must be at least 30 years old, be a citizen for nine years, and live in the state they represent . </P>

What are the first words of the us constitution