Omar Bennett
The United States Constitution, the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution, was drafted in Philadelphia during the summer of 1787. The Constitutional Convention, convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, resulted in a new constitution establishing the government of the United States. The document, signed on September 17, 1787, embodies the separation of powers, delineating the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal government. It also outlines the rights and freedoms of citizens and the relationship between the federal government and the states.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Philadelphia |
| Date | May 25 to September 17, 1787 |
| Number of Delegates | 38 |
| Number of Signatures | 39 |
| Number of Amendments | 10 |
| Number of Articles | 7 |
| Number of Pages | 4 |
| Writer | Jacob Shallus |
| Type of Document | Handwritten |
| Type of Government | Federal |
| Type of Ratification | Special ratifying conventions in each state |
| Number of States that Ratified | 9 |
Explore related products
$9.99 $9.99
What You'll Learn
The Philadelphia Convention
The convention was initially intended to revise the Articles of Confederation and devise the first system of federal government. However, leading proponents of the convention, including James Madison of Virginia and Alexander Hamilton of New York, sought to create an entirely new frame of government. The delegates elected George Washington of Virginia, a proponent of a stronger national government, to serve as president of the convention.
During the convention, delegates debated and redrafted the articles of the new Constitution. Some of the key issues under discussion were the balance of power between the central government and the states, the number of representatives each state would have in Congress, and how these representatives would be elected—directly by the people or by state legislators. The convention ultimately produced a model of cooperative statesmanship and compromise, with the final document establishing a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting relations with foreign governments.
The Constitution delineates the framework of the federal government, with its first three articles embodying the doctrine of the separation of powers. It divides 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 establishes concepts of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments, their relationship to the federal government, and the shared process of constitutional amendment.
The delegates to the Philadelphia Convention worked under an oath of secrecy, and the final document was signed on September 17, 1787. It was published in a newspaper, "The Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser," on September 19, 1787, marking the first time the American people saw the Constitution. The Constitution then underwent a ratification process, requiring approval by the people, and came into effect in 1789, serving as the basis of the United States Government ever since.
Enumerated Powers: Implied or Expressly Written?
You may want to see also
The Constitutional Convention
The convention was conducted under an oath of secrecy, with the delegates shuttering the windows of the State House to ensure privacy. The delegates debated and redrafted the articles of the new Constitution throughout the summer, with the chief points of contention being how much power to allow the central government, how many representatives in Congress to allow each state, and how these representatives should be elected.
One of the fiercest arguments was over congressional representation—whether it should be based on population or divided equally among the states. The delegates compromised by agreeing to give each state 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 to allow the slave trade to continue until 1808.
The delegates to the convention represented a wide range of interests and views, and their work stands as a model of cooperative statesmanship and the art of compromise. The resulting Constitution established the government of the United States and delineates the frame of the federal government, embodying the doctrine of the separation of powers. It consists of seven articles, with the first three articles dividing the federal government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial.
The original U.S. Constitution was handwritten on four or five pages of parchment by Jacob Shallus. It was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 delegates (with one delegate signing for an absent colleague, bringing the total number of signatures to 39). The Constitution did not go into effect immediately but needed to be ratified by the people. Ratification by 9 of the 13 states was required for the new government to be enacted, and this was achieved by June 1788.
The Mayflower Compact: America's First Written Constitution?
You may want to see also
The delegates
The U.S. Constitution was drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787. The Federal Convention convened in the State House (Independence Hall) in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787, to revise the Articles of Confederation. The delegates to the convention included George Washington, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton, who feared that their young country was on the brink of collapse. America’s first constitution, the Articles of Confederation, gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it had no enforcement powers, couldn’t regulate commerce, or print money. The delegates to the convention swore an oath of secrecy so they could speak freely. They shuttered the windows of the State House to ensure their privacy.
Through discussion and debate, it became clear by mid-June that, rather than amend the existing Articles, the Convention would draft an entirely new frame of government. The delegates debated and redrafted the articles of the new Constitution all through the summer in closed sessions. Among the chief points at issue were how much power to allow the central government, how many representatives in Congress to allow each state, and how these representatives should be elected—directly by the people or by the state legislators. The delegates also grappled with the question of slavery, agreeing to count enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person and to allow the slave trade to continue until 1808.
On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with George Reed signing for John Dickinson of Delaware, who was absent, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. The Constitution established the government of the United States and remains a crucial part of American history, serving as a symbol of the values and principles that shape the nation today.
Scotland's Constitution: Written or Unwritten?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The signing
The Constitutional Convention, also known as the Philadelphia Convention, had convened on May 25, 1787, with the aim of revising the Articles of Confederation. However, by mid-June, the delegates had decided to draft an entirely new form of government. The delegates debated and redrafted the articles of the new Constitution throughout the summer, under an oath of secrecy.
The Constitution established a powerful central government, with 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. It also delineated the rights and responsibilities of state governments and their relationship to the federal government.
The document was a model of cooperative statesmanship and the art of compromise, with delegates representing a wide range of interests and views. The issue of congressional representation was particularly contentious, with delegates eventually agreeing to a compromise that gave each state 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 to allow the slave trade to continue until 1808.
The Constitution did not go into effect immediately after it was signed. It needed to be ratified by nine of the 13 states, which was achieved by June 1788. The process of ratification was not without debate, with Federalists arguing for the approval of the Constitution and Anti-Federalists arguing against it.
Christian Values and the Constitution: A Complex Relationship
You may want to see also
The ratification process
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, but it didn't go into effect immediately. It needed to be approved by the people through a ratification process. This process began with Congress debating in secret on whether to send the Constitution to the states for ratification. A majority of the congressional delegates were Federalists and supporters of the Constitution, who wanted to forward it to the states. However, there were also opponents, the Antifederalists, who proposed sending the Constitution to the states with amendments, including a bill of rights.
The delegates decided that nine states would need to ratify the Constitution for it to be accepted as the nation's founding document. This number was chosen because it was the same number of states required in the Confederation Congress to adopt important matters. The first state to approve it was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by eight other states: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, and, finally, New Hampshire on June 21, 1788.
By May 29, 1790, all 13 states had eventually ratified the US Constitution, making it the official framework for the government of the United States of America. The Constitution continues to guide the government, protect the rights of Americans, and inspire democracies around the world.
The Birth of Ghana's 1992 Constitution
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was written in Philadelphia during the Constitutional Convention, also known as the Philadelphia Convention, which convened from May 14, 1787, to September 17, 1787.
The US Constitution is a four- or five-page document that establishes the government of the United States and outlines the rights and freedoms of its citizens. It is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world.
The Bill of Rights is the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution. It defines the rights of citizens and states in relation to the government.
