Malcolm Rivera
The United States Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in the world. It is the supreme law of the United States of America, superseding the nation's first constitution, the Articles of Confederation, on March 4, 1789. The Constitution is four pages long and consists of a preamble, seven articles, and a signature page. The seven articles define the basic framework of the federal government, with the first three embodying the doctrine of the separation of powers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Number of articles | 7 |
| Date of completion | May 25 to September 17, 1787 |
| Date of ratification | March 4, 1789 |
| Date of signing | September 17, 1787 |
| Number of signatories | 39 |
| Location of completion | Independence Hall, Philadelphia |
| Location of display | National Archives |
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What You'll Learn
- The US Constitution is four pages long
- It is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution
- It includes seven articles that define the basic framework of the federal government
- The document is on permanent display at the National Archives
- The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation in 1789
The US Constitution is four pages long
The Constitution's first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into three branches. The legislative branch (Article I) consists of the bicameral Congress, which is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The executive branch (Article II) consists of the President and subordinate officers. The judicial branch (Article III) consists of the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
Article IV, Article V, and Article VI embody concepts of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments, their relationship 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 acted as a merger, uniting a group of states with different interests, laws, and cultures under one nation. It united its citizens as members of a whole, vesting the power of the union in the people.
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It is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution
The United States Constitution is a four-page document that is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world. It was signed on September 17, 1787, ratified in 1788, and introduced into operation in 1789. The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789.
The Constitution's main provisions include seven articles that define the basic 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).
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.
While the US Constitution is the oldest written national constitution still in use, there are earlier written constitutions of independent states, such as the Swedish Constitution of 1772 and the Constitution of San Marino of 1600, which is the oldest surviving constitution in the world. Additionally, the United Kingdom has an "unwritten" constitution based on common law, practices, and various statutes, including the Magna Carta, which was written in the 13th century.
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It includes seven articles that define the basic framework of the federal government
The United States Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in the world. It is also the supreme law of the United States of America. The Constitution includes seven articles that define the basic framework of the federal government. The first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into three branches. These are the legislative branch, consisting of the bicameral Congress (Article I); the executive branch, consisting of the President and subordinate officers (Article II); and the judicial branch, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts (Article III).
Article I of the Constitution describes the legislative branch of the federal government, which is the Congress of the United States. It establishes the manner of election and the qualifications of members of each body. For example, 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.
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 has been amended several times over the past 200+ years, and these amendments outline the procedure for amending the Constitution. Amended articles still include the original text, although provisions repealed by amendments are usually bracketed or italicized to indicate they no longer apply. Despite these changes, the focus of each Article remains the same as when they were adopted in 1787.
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The document is on permanent display at the National Archives
The US Constitution is a four-page document that is on permanent display at the National Archives. The document, which is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force, was drafted at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia between May 25 and September 17, 1787. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789.
The National Archives building in Washington, DC, houses the Charters of Freedom, which include the US Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights. The Charters of Freedom were transferred to the National Archives in 1952, and the building became one of the most popular places to visit in Washington, DC. The documents are stored in a custom-built, 50-ton, steel and concrete, bomb-and fire-proof safe. They are lowered into the safe at night and then raised into their display cases during the day.
The US Constitution was inscribed on parchment by Jacob Shallus, and the document on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum includes the original spelling and punctuation. The seven articles of the Constitution, which have been amended over the past 200+ years, define the basic 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).
The US Constitution is a significant document that united a group of states with different interests, laws, and cultures. It vested the power of the union in the people, and without it, the American Experiment might have ended as quickly as it began.
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The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation in 1789
The Constitution of the United States is a four-page document that is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in the world. It is the supreme law of the United States of America and supersedes the Articles of Confederation, which was the nation's first constitution. The Constitution came into effect on March 4, 1789, replacing the government under the Articles with a federal government.
The Articles of Confederation was an agreement and early body of law in the Thirteen Colonies, serving as the first frame of government during the American Revolution. It was debated by the Second Continental Congress at present-day Independence Hall in Philadelphia between July 1776 and November 1777. The Articles were finalized and adopted on November 15, 1777, and came into force on March 1, 1781, after being ratified by all 13 colonial states.
The Articles of Confederation established a league of friendship for the 13 sovereign and independent states, with each state retaining its sovereignty and independence. It outlined a Congress with representation not based on population, giving each state one vote. The central government under the Articles had limited powers and could not regulate commerce, print money, or enforce its rules. It also lacked taxing powers and was unable to effectively support a war effort.
The Constitution, on the other hand, provided for a much stronger federal government by establishing a chief executive (the president), courts, and taxing powers. It consists of seven articles that define the basic framework of the federal government, with the first three articles embodying the doctrine of the separation of powers. Article I describes the legislative branch, consisting of a bicameral Congress. Article II covers the executive branch, consisting of the president and subordinate officers. Article III establishes the judicial branch, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
The process of drafting and adopting the Constitution involved a Constitutional Convention that assembled in Philadelphia between May 25 and September 17, 1787. The delegates, representing diverse interests and views, created a powerful central government while crafting compromises. The final Constitution was signed by 39 delegates and sent to the states for ratification. Ratification by 9 of the 13 states was required to enact the new government, and on March 4, 1789, the Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution is four pages long.
The US 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 includes seven articles that define the basic framework of the federal government. The first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
The US Constitution was drafted at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia between May 25 and September 17, 1787. It was signed by 39 delegates on September 17, 1787, and submitted for ratification.
