Omar Bennett
The Constitution of the United States is the oldest written national constitution still in use today. It is a four-page document that was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 members of the Constitutional Convention. The Constitution is the fundamental law of the U.S. federal system of government and defines the basic rights of citizens. It is interesting to note that the Constitution was drafted in secret during the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by 55 delegates to a convention that was called to amend the Articles of Confederation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Date written | 1787 |
| Location written | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Number of authors | 55 |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution is four pages long
The Constitution was written by 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, which was convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution. The delegates were chosen by the state legislatures of 12 of the 13 original states; Rhode Island refused to send delegates. The convention was marked by long and often contentious debates over issues such as states' rights, representation, and slavery.
The Constitution's 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; the executive, consisting of the president and subordinate officers; and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts. The Constitution also united citizens as members of a whole, vesting the power of the union in the people.
The document has been amended several times since its ratification, with the first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, being certified on December 15, 1791. The US Constitution remains a fundamental text in American law and governance, with its principles influencing legal and political developments even today.
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It was written in 1787
The United States Constitution, the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in effect, was written in 1787. It was drafted in secret by 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787. The Federal Convention first convened in the State House (Independence Hall) in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787, to revise the Articles of Confederation. However, the delegates soon began considering measures to replace the Articles.
The Constitution was the product of political compromise and long, often contentious debates about issues like states' rights, representation, and slavery. Delegates from small and large states disagreed over whether each state should have the same number of representatives in the new federal legislature, regardless of population, as was the case under the Articles of Confederation.
The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 members of the Constitutional Convention. It established the government of the United States and united its citizens as members of a whole, vesting the power of the union in the people. The document is four pages long, and all four pages are on permanent display at the National Archives.
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It was drafted in Philadelphia
The United States Constitution is written on four pages. It was drafted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the summer of 1787, by 55 delegates to a convention that was called ostensibly to amend the Articles of Confederation, the country's first constitution. The Federal Convention convened in the State House, also known as Independence Hall, on May 14, 1787. However, due to low attendance, the members adjourned until a quorum of seven states was achieved on May 25.
The delegates to the convention were chosen by the state legislatures of 12 of the 13 original states; Rhode Island refused to send delegates. The convention's initial mandate was to revise the Articles of Confederation, which had proven inadequate in addressing the young nation's needs. However, it soon became clear that the convention would draft an entirely new framework of government. The Constitution was a product of political compromise and lengthy debates on issues such as states' rights, representation, and slavery.
Philadelphia played a significant role in the drafting process, providing a space for delegates to engage in closed sessions, debate, and redraft the articles of the new Constitution. The final document, signed on September 17, 1787, established the government of the United States and united its citizens as members of a whole, vesting the power of the union in the people. The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation on March 4, 1789, becoming the supreme law of the land and defining the principal organs of government, their jurisdictions, and the basic rights of citizens.
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It was signed by 39 members
The United States Constitution, the oldest written national constitution still in use, was signed by 39 members of the Constitutional Convention on September 17, 1787. This four-page document established the government of the United States and is now on permanent display at the National Archives.
The Constitution was drafted in secret by 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, which assembled at Independence Hall in Philadelphia between May 25 and September 17, 1787. The delegates were chosen by the state legislatures of 12 of the 13 original states; Rhode Island refused to send delegates. The convention's initial mandate was to revise the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, which had proven ineffective in meeting the young nation's needs. However, the delegates soon began considering measures to replace the Articles entirely.
The Constitution was the result of intense debates and political compromise. Delegates from small and large states disagreed over whether each state should have the same number of representatives in the new federal legislature, as was the case under the Articles of Confederation, or if representation should be based on state population. Other contentious issues included states' rights and slavery.
The document's four pages delineate the frame of the federal government, embodying the doctrine of the separation of powers. The first three articles divide 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. The remaining articles embody concepts of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments, their relationship to the federal government, and the shared processes between the two.
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It is the oldest written constitution in use
The United States Constitution, a four-page document, is often regarded as the oldest written constitution still in use. Drafted in 1787 and enacted in 1789, it is considered the world's longest-surviving written charter of government.
While the US Constitution is indeed the oldest if we consider a single document that lays out a framework for governing a country, there are other nations with written governing documents that predate it and are still in effect. For instance, the United Kingdom has an "unwritten" constitution based on common law, practices, and various statutes, including the 13th-century Magna Carta. Similarly, San Marino, a small country landlocked by Italy, bases its government on a series of written laws enacted in 1600, known as "legislative instruments."
Despite these older written governing documents, the US Constitution remains unique in its comprehensive and unified nature. It acted as a colossal merger, uniting states with diverse interests, laws, and cultures under a single national government. This aspect sets it apart from the more fragmented and less formal constitutions of the UK and San Marino, which are comprised of multiple source documents across different centuries.
In summary, while the US Constitution may not be the oldest in an absolute sense, it is the oldest written constitution that comprehensively outlines the governing framework of a nation. Its enduring influence and impact on the US political system underscore its significance as a foundational document in the history of democracy.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution is written on four pages.
The US Constitution is kept at the National Archives in Washington, DC. All four pages of the document are on permanent display.
The US Constitution was written during the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was signed on September 17, 1787.
