Malcolm Rivera
The United States Constitution is a document that outlines the country's laws and principles, and it was created at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. The Constitution was written and signed by 38 delegates, including James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington, who aimed to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution. The new Constitution established a stronger central government, outlined the powers of the three branches of government, and included amendments to protect individual rights. The process of ratifying the Constitution was challenging, with fierce debates over issues like congressional representation and slavery. The final document, with its famous first 52 words, has been a cornerstone of American law and political orthodoxy, shaping the nation's history and courts' rulings ever since.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of adoption | May 25, 1787 |
| Location of adoption | Philadelphia |
| Number of delegates | 38 |
| Date of signing | September 17, 1787 |
| Number of articles | 7 |
| Number of clauses | 23 |
| Number of amendments | 4 |
| Bill of rights | Mentioned but not included |
| Judicial review | Not expressly authorized but established through precedent |
| Jurisdiction | Original jurisdiction in cases involving ambassadors, ministers, consuls, foreign nation-states, and controversies between states |
| Oaths | Justices take a Constitutional oath to uphold the Constitution as the "Supreme law of the land" |
| Ratification | Required 9 of 13 states |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The Philadelphia Convention
The Constitutional Convention, also known as the Philadelphia Convention, took place in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 17, 1787. The convention was convened to address the issues with the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation, which had been in force since 1781. The Articles of Confederation established a “league of friendship” and a constitution for the 13 sovereign and independent states after the American Revolution. However, the central government had limited power, as the states retained considerable power. This led to challenges in conducting foreign policy, regulating commerce, and effectively supporting war efforts.
George Washington, former commanding general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War and a proponent of a stronger national government, was elected unanimously to serve as president of the convention. The convention debated and ratified the Constitution of the United States, establishing a federal government with more specific powers, including the power to conduct relations with foreign governments. The new government was divided into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial, with a system of checks and balances to divide federal authority.
The convention's secretary, William Jackson, added a note to verify four amendments made by hand to the final document and signed it to authenticate its validity. The discussions and votes were kept secret until the conclusion of the meeting, and the windows of the meeting hall were nailed shut to ensure secrecy. James Madison's "Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787" provide a detailed first-person record of the convention, although they were not published until after his death in 1836 due to the delegates' pledge of secrecy. The Constitution came into effect in 1789 after the necessary number of state ratifications and has served as the basis of the United States Government ever since.
Lincoln's War Declaration: Constitutional or Not?
You may want to see also
George Washington's presidency
George Washington was the first President of the United States, serving two terms from 1789 to 1797. He was inaugurated on April 30, 1789, at Federal Hall in New York, then the nation's capital. Chancellor Robert Livingston administered the presidential oath of office, and Washington added the words "so help me God" to the oath prescribed by the Constitution. Washington's cabinet included four original members: Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of War Henry Knox, and Attorney General Edmund Randolph.
During his first term, Washington defined the role of the executive branch and set up the government. He also established the federal judiciary by passing the Judiciary Act of 1789 and appointing all the Supreme Court justices. In 1790, Washington took personal control of the building of the federal district, the President's mansion, and the Capitol on the bank of the Potomac River. He also delivered the first State of the Union address to Congress, covering defence, foreign policy, economic, education, and immigration topics.
Washington was unanimously re-elected for a second term in 1792, receiving 132 electoral votes. His second inauguration took place in the Senate Chamber of Congress Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on March 4, 1793. Washington's inaugural address was just 135 words, in stark contrast to the first, which was seen by many as almost a monarchical coronation. During his second term, Washington coordinated a journey to the southern states to emphasize national unity and understand the region's political sentiments.
After retiring to his estate at Mount Vernon in 1797, Washington fell ill in 1799 and died on December 14. He is often referred to as the "Father of His Country" and is the only US president to be unanimously elected by the electoral college.
Becoming a Federal Judge: Understanding Constitutional Requirements
You may want to see also
Weakness of the Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation, composed in 1777 and ratified in 1781, was the first written constitution of the United States. It established a league of friendship and a constitution for the 13 sovereign and independent states after the Revolution. However, the Articles of Confederation had several weaknesses that became apparent over time.
One of the main weaknesses was the lack of authority to levy taxes. Congress could only request that the states contribute their fair share to the common treasury, but the requested amounts were often not forthcoming. This led to a significant deficit in revenue, as Congress was dependent on the states for funding. Additionally, the central government lacked the power to regulate commerce, which further hindered its ability to raise funds and manage the economy effectively.
The Articles of Confederation also gave each state a liberum veto, which allowed them to block amendments and important legislation. All amendments had to be ratified by all thirteen states, and significant legislation required the approval of nine states. This often led to legislative proposals being defeated due to absent or dissenting delegations. Congress also lacked the authority to enforce its decisions, particularly in the case of treaties with foreign powers.
The weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation led to a recognition that a stronger central government was needed. The inability to raise funds, regulate trade, or conduct foreign policy effectively highlighted the need for a new constitution that could address these issues. The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was convened to create new federal laws under the United States Constitution, replacing the inadequate Articles of Confederation.
Stay-at-Home Orders: Constitutional Rights or Government Overreach?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Bill of Rights
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates. However, it did not include a bill of rights. The Bill of Rights, which comprises the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution, was proposed on September 25, 1789, by the First Congress of the United States. Ten of the proposed twelve amendments were ratified on December 15, 1791, by three-fourths of the state legislatures. These ratified amendments constitute the first ten amendments of the Constitution, or the U.S. Bill of Rights.
The first three amendments in the Bill of Rights are as follows:
- First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
- Second Amendment: A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
- Third Amendment: No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Cell Regulation of Constitutive Enzymes: Always Controlled?
You may want to see also
Ratification by the states
The ratification of the US Constitution by the states was a long and arduous process. The delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the document on September 17, 1787, marking the beginning of the ratification process. The Constitution stipulated that it would not be binding until it was ratified by nine of the 13 existing states. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787. This was followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut.
The ratification process was not without opposition, as some states argued that the Constitution did not adequately protect rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. To address these concerns, the Massachusetts Compromise was reached in February 1788, which stipulated that amendments—what became known as the Bill of Rights—would be immediately proposed. This compromise helped secure the ratification of the Constitution by Massachusetts, Maryland, and South Carolina, and, crucially, New Hampshire, which became the ninth state to ratify on June 21, 1788, officially establishing the Constitution as the framework of the US government.
Following New Hampshire's ratification, a committee was formed to examine all ratifications received and develop a plan for putting the new Constitution into operation. The nation's first presidential election was held, resulting in the unanimous election of George Washington as the first president and John Adams as the first vice president. The process of amending the Constitution continued, with Madison introducing 17 amendments born from the Massachusetts Compromise, of which 12 were adopted by Congress and sent to the states for ratification. Ten of these amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791.
The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island became the final state to approve the document. The capital of the United States was established on July 16, 1790, and the Bill of Rights was ratified as part of the Constitution by the end of the following year. The US Constitution, with its Bill of Rights, became the cornerstone of the nation's government, providing a framework for stability and centralized power that was lacking under the previous Articles of Confederation.
Who Chooses the Head of Government?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
A few years after the Revolutionary War, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington feared that their young country was on the brink of collapse. America's first constitution, the Articles of Confederation, gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it had no enforcement powers, couldn't regulate commerce, or print money. The states' disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the country apart.
The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787. General George Washington was unanimously elected as the president of the convention. James Madison, a 36-year-old delegate from Virginia, was also involved, along with other delegates from various states.
The founders set the terms for ratifying the Constitution, bypassing the state legislatures as they believed their members would be reluctant to give up power to a national government. Instead, they called for special ratifying conventions in each state. Ratification by 9 of the 13 states enacted the new government.
