Jonah Patel
The Constitution of the United States was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 of the 41 delegates present. The Constitutional Convention had assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, with the initial purpose of amending the Articles of Confederation. However, the delegates ultimately decided to create a new form of government, and the Constitution was the result of this process. The Constitution was ratified by 9 of the 13 states, with Delaware being the first state to do so on December 7, 1787. The process of drafting and ratifying the Constitution took approximately three months, and it laid the foundation for the new government of the United States.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time taken to draft the constitution | 2 years, 11 months and 18 days |
| Number of sessions held | 11 |
| Total number of days covered | 165 |
| Number of days spent on the consideration of the Draft Constitution | 114 |
| Number of delegates who drafted the constitution | 299 |
| Date of the first session of the Constituent Assembly | 9 December 1946 |
| Date of the last meeting of the Constituent Assembly | 24 January 1950 |
| Date the constitution took effect | 26 January 1950 |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
The US Constitution, the oldest written constitution in operation in the world, was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates at the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The Constitutional Convention was presided over by Revolutionary War hero George Washington, a delegate from Virginia.
The delegates at the convention were divided over the issue of state representation in Congress. The more populated states sought proportional legislation, while the smaller states wanted equal representation. This problem was resolved by the Connecticut Compromise, which proposed a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the lower house (House of Representatives) and equal representation of the states in the upper house (Senate).
The Constitution would only become binding once it was ratified by nine of the 13 states. Beginning on December 7, five states—Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut—ratified it in quick succession. However, other states, especially Massachusetts, opposed the document as they believed it failed to reserve undelegated powers to the states and lacked constitutional protection of basic political rights, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press.
A compromise was reached in February 1788, and Massachusetts, along with Maryland and South Carolina, narrowly ratified the document. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, and it was subsequently agreed that the government under the Constitution would begin on March 4, 1789.
The first Congress of the United States adopted 12 amendments to the Constitution—the Bill of Rights—on September 25, 1789, and sent them to the states for ratification. Ten of these amendments were ratified in 1791.
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It took 3 months to draft the US Constitution
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, 1787. The US Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world.
The drafting of the US Constitution began on May 25, 1787, when the Constitutional Convention met for the first time at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Convention assembled to revise the Articles of Confederation, but by mid-June, the delegates had decided to completely redesign the government. There was fierce debate over the structure and powers of a new federal government, and it was agreed that congressional representation would be based on population, with each state receiving one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate.
On July 26, 1787, after two months of debate, the Convention appointed a Committee of Detail to draft a written constitution. The committee was composed of John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth, and James Wilson. The committee studied the Convention's resolutions, state constitutions, the Articles of Confederation, and other applicable reports and documents. Edmund Randolph wrote the first draft, which was then revised by James Wilson. After five weeks of debate over the committee's draft, the Convention appointed a Committee of Style to prepare a final version, with Gouverneur Morris doing most of the work.
On September 17, 1787, after three months of work, the Constitutional Convention concluded with the signing of the new US Constitution by 38 out of 41 delegates present. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document. Thus, it took three months to draft the US Constitution, with the process beginning in May 1787 and concluding in September 1787.
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The Indian Constitution was adopted on November 26, 1949
The process of drafting the Indian Constitution began in December 1946, with the appointment of Dr B. R. Ambedkar as the chairman of the drafting committee. He is recognized as the "Father of the Indian Constitution" for his pivotal role in the process. Before drafting the constitution, he studied the constitutions of about 60 countries. The Constituent Assembly, originally consisting of 299 members, saw 284 of them sign the final approved Constitution of the Indian Assembly on November 26, 1949.
The Indian Constitution-drafting process was a significant undertaking, with the Constituent Assembly working diligently to shape the foundation of the country's governance. The Assembly's sessions were intensive and focused on crafting a constitution that reflected the values and aspirations of a newly independent India. The final product was a comprehensive document that outlined the rights and responsibilities of citizens, the structure and powers of the government, and the principles that would guide the nation.
The adoption of the Indian Constitution on November 26, 1949, marked a pivotal moment in the country's history. It established a sovereign body of laws and principles that would govern the world's largest democracy. The Constitution enshrined fundamental rights and liberties for all citizens, guaranteeing justice, equality, and freedom. It also outlined the responsibilities and limitations of the government, ensuring a balance of power and the protection of citizens' rights.
The completion of the Indian Constitution was a testament to the dedication and collaboration of the Constituent Assembly members, who worked tirelessly to create a framework that would serve the nation for generations to come. The Constitution has endured as a living document, undergoing amendments and interpretations to adapt to the evolving needs and circumstances of the country. Its adoption on November 26, 1949, stands as a testament to India's commitment to democracy, unity, and the well-being of its diverse populace.
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The Indian Constitution was drafted in 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days
The drafting committee, consisting of seven members, was appointed on 29 August 1947, with B. R. Ambedkar as its chairman. Ambedkar studied the constitutions of about 60 countries while drafting India's constitution and is recognised as the "Father of the Indian Constitution". The committee's work included considering the initial draft prepared by constitutional advisor Sir B. N. Rau in February 1948, which consisted of 243 articles and 13 schedules. After discussions, debates, and amendments, this draft evolved to include 395 articles and 8 schedules.
The Constituent Assembly held eleven sessions over a 165-day period, with the final approved Constitution being signed on 26 November 1949 by 284 members. The Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950, marking the completion of the drafting process and the establishment of India's constitutional framework.
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The US Constitution has 27 amendments
The US Constitution is a living document that has been amended several times since its inception. Amendments to the Constitution are made through a two-step process outlined in Article Five. Firstly, amendments must be proposed, and then they must be ratified before becoming operative.
Since 1789, there have been approximately 11,848 proposals to amend the Constitution introduced in Congress. Out of these, thirty-three amendments have been proposed by the US Congress and sent to the states for ratification. Twenty-seven of these amendments have been ratified by the requisite number of states and are now part of the Constitution.
The first ten amendments, known collectively as the Bill of Rights, were ratified simultaneously on December 15, 1791. Amendment XI, which modified Article III, section 2, of the Constitution, was passed by Congress on March 4, 1794, and ratified on February 7, 1795.
The process of proposing and ratifying amendments can take several years. For example, the 22nd Amendment, which limits the President to two terms, was passed by Congress on March 21, 1947, but was not ratified until February 27, 1951.
The most recent amendment, the 27th Amendment, was proposed in 1789 and ratified in 1992. It changed the procedure for enacting laws by changing how Congress's compensation changes take effect.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constituent Assembly took almost three years (2 years, 11 months and 18 days to be precise) to draft the Indian Constitution. The constitution was passed and adopted by the assembly on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950.
The Constituent Assembly held eleven sessions over a 165-day period.
The initial draft of the Indian Constitution was prepared by B.N. Rau, the Constitutional Adviser to the Constituent Assembly, by February 1948.
