Malcolm Rivera
The United States Constitution, the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in use, has gone through several iterations since its drafting in 1787. The US Constitution is the supreme law of the United States, outlining the framework of the federal government and the rights and responsibilities of state governments. While it has been amended only 27 times since 1791, the US Constitution has evolved and adapted to shape the nation's political landscape and define the relationship between its federal and state governments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Constitutions | 3 |
| First Constitution | Articles of Confederation |
| Current Constitution | Constitution of 1787 |
| Number of Amendments | 27 |
| Amendments after the Bill of Rights | 17 |
| Number of Articles | 7 |
| Number of Justices in the Supreme Court | Not specified |
| Date of Drafting | May 25, 1787 - September 17, 1787 |
| Location of Drafting | Independence Hall, Philadelphia |
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What You'll Learn
- The US Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution
- The US Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation in 1789
- The US Constitution is the supreme law of the United States
- The US Constitution does not mention executive orders, political parties, or marriage
- The US Constitution does not require presidential concession speeches
The US Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution
The United States Constitution, which was signed into law in 1789, is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in the world. The drafting of the Constitution, often referred to as its framing, was completed at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia between May 25 and September 17, 1787. The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, which was the nation's first constitution.
The US Constitution establishes the framework for the federal government, delineating its structure and functions. The first three articles of the Constitution embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into three branches: the legislative, consisting of the bicameral Congress; the executive, consisting of the President and subordinate officers; and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
Articles IV, V, and VI of the Constitution outline the concepts of federalism, delineating the rights and responsibilities of state governments, their relationship with the federal government, and the shared process of constitutional amendment. The Constitution also establishes the procedure for its ratification by the 13 states.
The US Constitution has been amended 27 times since its inception, with 17 of those amendments coming after the Bill of Rights of 1791. The amendments address various issues, such as the Fourth Amendment, which protects citizens against unreasonable searches and seizures, and the Third Amendment, which prohibits the quartering of soldiers in private homes without consent.
The US Constitution has served as a foundational document for American governance and has been influential in shaping the nation's political and legal landscape. It has undergone a few amendments to adapt to the changing needs and values of the country, ensuring that it remains a living document relevant to the present day.
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The US Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation in 1789
The United States Constitution of 1789 is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in the world. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, which was the nation's first constitution.
The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and served as the United States' first constitution. It established a "league of friendship" for the 13 sovereign and independent states. Each state retained all powers not expressly delegated to the United States. The Articles of Confederation outlined a Congress with representation not based on population, with each state holding one vote.
However, the Articles of Confederation had several weaknesses. Congress lacked the authority to regulate commerce, making it unable to protect or standardise trade between foreign nations and the various states. It also could not raise funds or conduct foreign policy without the voluntary agreement of the states. The central government had insufficient power to regulate commerce, levy taxes, or print money, and it was generally impotent in setting commercial policy.
In May 1787, the Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation. However, by mid-June, the delegates had decided to completely redesign the government. They agreed to a compromise on congressional representation, with each state receiving one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate. They also agreed to count enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person, and allowed the slave trade to continue until 1808.
The US Constitution, which came into effect in 1789, delineates the framework of the federal government. The first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into three branches: the legislative, consisting of the bicameral Congress (Article I); the executive, consisting of the President and subordinate officers (Article II); and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts (Article III).
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The US Constitution is the supreme law of the United States
The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The US Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world. It is the framework for the US government and the source of all government powers.
The US Constitution originally included seven articles. The first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into three branches: the legislative, consisting of the bicameral Congress (Article I); the executive, consisting of the president and subordinate officers (Article II); and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts (Article III).
Articles IV, V, and VI embody concepts of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments, the states in relation to the federal government, and the shared process of constitutional amendment. Article VII establishes the procedure used by the 13 states to ratify the Constitution.
The Constitution also includes a Bill of Rights, which outlines important limitations on the government to protect the fundamental rights of US citizens. For example, the Fourth Amendment (1791) protects people against unreasonable searches and seizures of either self or property by government officials. The Sixth Amendment assures the right to a speedy trial by a jury of one's peers, to be informed of the charges, and to confront the witnesses brought by the government. The Ninth Amendment states that the list of rights enumerated in the Constitution is not exhaustive, and that the people retain all rights not enumerated.
The Supremacy Clause, introduced as part of the New Jersey Plan, is a constitutional provision that identifies the supremacy of federal law. It assumes the underlying priority of federal authority, and states that federal statutes and treaties must be within the parameters of the Constitution. The Supremacy Clause is considered a cornerstone of the US federal political structure.
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The US Constitution does not mention executive orders, political parties, or marriage
The United States Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in the world. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The US Constitution does not mention executive orders, political parties, or marriage.
Executive Orders
Executive orders are issued by the President and direct the federal government to take any steps that are within the scope of the constitutional authority of the executive branch. They do not violate any federal laws. The Constitution has checks and balances to ensure that no one branch of the government is more powerful than the other. For example, Congress can enact a law that reverses what the President has done, provided Congress has the constitutional authority to legislate on the issue. A court can also hold that an executive order is unlawful if it violates the Constitution or a federal statute.
Political Parties
Political parties are not mentioned in the US Constitution, yet they play an important role in the country's government. They began to emerge with disputes over the ratification of the Constitution, becoming known as the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. George Washington, in his farewell address in 1796, warned against "the baneful effects of the spirit of party". However, once Washington retired, political parties became a permanent fixture of American elections.
Marriage
The US Constitution does not mention marriage.
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The US Constitution does not require presidential concession speeches
The US Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in the world. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The US Constitution outlines the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial.
While the US Constitution outlines the framework for the country's governance, it does not address all aspects of the political process. Notably, it does not require presidential concession speeches. A presidential concession speech is when the losing candidate in a presidential election publicly acknowledges their defeat and congratulates the winner. While there is no legal or constitutional requirement for this, it has become an important tradition in American politics.
The first public concession in US presidential politics is considered to be a congratulatory telegraph from William Jennings Bryan, the Democratic candidate in 1896, to his opponent, William McKinley. Since then, the tradition has continued in every election, with the concession speech taking on a formulaic structure. The speaker typically congratulates the winner, calls for unity, and encourages supporters to accept the result and continue fighting for their cause.
The absence of a constitutional mandate for presidential concession speeches highlights the flexibility and adaptability of the US Constitution. While it serves as the foundation of the country's political system, it also allows for the evolution of traditions and customs that contribute to the democratic process.
In recent years, the tradition of concession speeches has faced challenges, with some questioning whether it marks a departure from past practices. However, the public concession speech remains an important symbol of the peaceful transfer of power and the celebration of democracy.
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Frequently asked questions
The US has had two constitutions in its history: the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution of 1787, which is the current constitution.
The current US Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world. It superseded the Articles of Confederation on March 4, 1789.
The US Constitution establishes a federal system with a separation of powers. The first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. The remaining articles outline concepts of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments in relation to the federal government, and the shared process of constitutional amendment.
Some critics, such as Congregationalist minister and abolitionist Samuel Hopkins, have argued that the US Constitution falls short of its ideals, particularly in its failure to address slavery and protect individual liberties. Others have criticised the concentration of power in a strong central government.
Yes, you can read the original text of the US Constitution on Congress.gov.
