Eleanor Finch
The original, signed, handwritten U.S. Constitution is on permanent display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. The document was signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to do so. 500 copies of the 1787 printing of the final text were produced, but only a handful have survived to the present day. There are 12 remaining complete final printings (and one incomplete) of the Constitution known to exist. The first public printing of the Constitution was published in a newspaper, The Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser, on September 19, 1787.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of original copies printed | 500 |
| Number of surviving original copies | 12 complete final printings (and one incomplete) |
| Number of official copies produced for delegates | 13 |
| Number of copies in private hands | 2 |
| Location of original signed, handwritten Constitution | National Archives in Washington, D.C. |
| Date of signing | September 17, 1787 |
| Date of first public printing | September 19, 1787 |
| Newspaper that first published the Constitution | The Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Amendments | 1-10 constitute the Bill of Rights |
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What You'll Learn
Original copies of the US Constitution
The US Constitution, which superseded the Articles of Confederation, came into effect on March 4, 1789. It is the supreme law of the United States of America. The original US Constitution was inscribed by Jacob Shallus on parchment. All four pages of the document are on permanent display at the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC.
While 500 copies of the 1787 printing of the Constitution's final text were produced, only a handful have survived to the present day. There are only 13 known copies of the official printing produced for the delegates, with 11 of those copies held by official institutions or government collections. The two remaining copies in private hands are the Goldman Constitution, purchased by Ken Griffin during a Sotheby's auction in November 2021 for $43.2 million, and another that went up for sale in December of the same year.
The US Constitution has undergone several amendments since its inception, with the first ten amendments collectively known as the Bill of Rights. The first 1787 printing of the Constitution is considered "considerably rarer" than comparable historical documents such as the Declaration of Independence.
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Location of the original copies
The original U.S. Constitution was handwritten on five pages of parchment by Jacob Shallus. 500 copies of the final text were produced by John Dunlap and David Claypoole, the Constitutional Convention’s official printers. However, only a handful of these copies have survived to the present day.
Of the 500 copies, 13 were official printings produced for the delegates, with 11 of those copies currently held by official institutions or government collections. Two of the 13 copies remain in private hands. One of these is the Goldman Constitution, which was purchased by Ken Griffin during a Sotheby’s auction in November 2021 for $43.2 million. The other copy was expected to be auctioned off in December 2022, with a price estimate of $20-30 million.
The locations of the 11 copies in official institutions or government collections are as follows:
- American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, founded by Benjamin Franklin
- State archives
- Historical societies
- Other official institutions or their original recipients’ designated repositories
In addition to the 13 official printings, there are 12 remaining complete final printings (and one incomplete) of the Constitution known to exist. One of these copies was auctioned off in 2024 at Brunk Auctions and sold for $9 million.
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Amendments to the original text
The United States Constitution has undergone numerous amendments since its inception, with approximately 11,848 proposals introduced in Congress since 1789. Out of these, 33 amendments have been proposed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification, with 27 of them successfully becoming part of the Constitution.
The first ten amendments, collectively known as the Bill of Rights, were adopted and ratified simultaneously. These amendments encompass fundamental rights and liberties, such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly, as well as protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments, known as the Reconstruction Amendments, were adopted following the Civil War to address issues related to slavery, citizenship, and voting rights.
The process of amending the Constitution is outlined in Article Five, which requires amendments to be properly proposed and ratified before becoming operative. This can be achieved through a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Congress or by calling a national convention upon the application of legislatures of two-thirds of the states. To become part of the Constitution, an amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the states, typically through their state ratifying conventions.
One notable amendment is the Twenty-first Amendment, which repealed the Eighteenth Amendment and ended the prohibition of alcohol. Other amendments have clarified and expanded upon the powers of the federal government, such as the power to declare war, collect taxes, and regulate interstate commerce. The Tenth Amendment reserves powers not explicitly granted to the federal government to the states or the people, and the Eleventh Amendment prohibits federal courts from hearing certain cases involving state sovereignty.
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The US Constitution's influence
The US Constitution has had a profound influence worldwide, impacting the history of ideas, legal thinking, and government structures. Its impact has been felt since its signing on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, with September 17 designated as Constitution Day to commemorate this landmark event.
The Constitution introduced novel concepts such as checks and balances, separation of powers, and defining the powers of each branch of government. It also established a living document that could be amended with sufficient support from the people and ratification by the states. This idea of a fundamental law that could be amended and reviewed has influenced foreign constitutionalists and their nations' possibilities. Notable figures impacted by the US Constitution include Abraham Lincoln, Benito Juarez of Mexico, José Rizal of the Philippines, and Sun Yat-sen of China.
The document's seven articles define the basic framework of the federal government, with amendments indicating changes over time. The Tenth Amendment, for example, leaves powers not listed in the Constitution to the states or the people, and the Eleventh Amendment prohibits federal courts from hearing cases where a state is sued by an individual from another state or country.
While the influence of the US Constitution remains significant, some observers argue that it has been waning since the 1980s as countries create new constitutions or update older ones. Despite this, the US Constitution continues to be a pivotal document, shaping not only the United States but also influencing the global understanding of governance, law, and individual rights.
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The US Constitution's global appeal
The United States Constitution has had a significant influence on the legal thinking and adaptation of emerging nations across the globe. Its impact is evident in the similarities of phrasing, borrowed passages, and the adoption of principles such as the rule of law, separation of powers, and recognition of individual rights. The US Constitution's appeal can be attributed to its role as the first national written constitution, marking a departure from the rule of monarchs and sovereigns and empowering the people as the source of the government's legitimacy.
The influence of the US Constitution can be seen in various countries and regions. For instance, in Latin America, countries like Mexico, the Philippines, and China were inspired by the US Constitution's republican and democratic practices. Jose Rizal of the Philippines cited the US Constitution in his push for Filipino representation, similar to the calls for American representation before the American Revolution. Sun Yat-sen, the first president of the Republic of China, was also influenced by the US Constitution in forming a provisional Republican government.
Additionally, the Australian Constitution adopted concepts of federalism, separation of powers, and judicial review from the US Constitution, while also preserving the British monarchy and parliamentary traditions. Similarly, Japan, India, and Canada have been influenced by the US Constitution in their constitutional development.
However, it is important to note that the influence of the US Constitution may be waning. As countries create new constitutions or update older ones, they sometimes opt for more centralized models, such as the British Westminster system. Nevertheless, the US Constitution remains a significant document in global constitutionalism, reflecting the ideals of a nation diverging from colonial rule and empowering its citizens.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the original US Constitution still exists in print. There are 12 remaining complete final printings (and one incomplete) of the Constitution known to exist.
The original signed, handwritten Constitution is at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. All four pages of the document are on permanent display.
500 copies of the Constitution's final text were produced by John Dunlap and David Claypoole, the Constitutional Convention's official printers.
There are only 13 known copies of the official printing produced for the delegates, with 11 of those copies held by official institutions or government collections.
