Simone Lawson
The United States Constitution, the first permanent constitution, was signed on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia. The drafting process began in May 1787, when delegates from 12 states convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, which had become inadequate. The delegates decided to abandon the Articles and instead drafted a new Constitution with a stronger national government. The final document was signed by 38 of the 41 delegates present, and it was later ratified by nine states, instituting a new form of government. The Constitution has since been amended 27 times, with the original text and all prior amendments remaining untouched.
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What You'll Learn
The Committee of Detail
The committee's draft of the Constitution referenced state constitutions, the Articles of Confederation, plans submitted to the convention, and other available material. The Declaration of Independence acted as an important guide, as did the writings of European political philosophers such as Montesquieu and John Locke. The committee sought to create a balanced government of checks and balances to serve the long-term interests of the people of an independent nation.
Edmund Randolph of Virginia wrote an initial rough draft of a constitution, which was revised by James Wilson. The committee then reviewed it, and a clean copy was sent to Philadelphia printers John Dunlap and David Claypoole. After five weeks of debate over the committee's draft, the convention appointed a committee of style to prepare a final version.
Wilson modified the list of enumerated powers, notably by adding the necessary and proper clause and strengthening the supremacy clause. These changes set the final balance between the national and state governments that would be part of the final document. The committee's report, submitted on August 6, 1787, became the first draft of the constitution and the first workable constitutional plan.
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The Committee of Eleven
The work of the Committee of Eleven was instrumental in shaping the Electoral College system and the impeachment process outlined in the final version of the U.S. Constitution. Their contributions reflect the fierce debates and compromises that characterised the Constitutional Convention as the delegates worked towards establishing a new framework of government.
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The Committee of Style and Arrangement
Before the Committee of Style and Arrangement's involvement, the Constitution had been drafted by a committee of detail, which produced a printed draft reported to the Constitutional Convention on August 6, 1787. This committee was first formed to study the Convention's resolutions, state constitutions, the Articles of Confederation, and other applicable reports and documents. Following this, Edmund Randolph of Virginia wrote a rough draft, which was then revised by James Wilson. A clean copy of this draft was sent to Philadelphia printers John Dunlap and David Claypoole, who printed copies for the Convention's delegates.
The US Constitution was drafted during the summer of 1787, as 55 delegates met in Philadelphia to revise the failing Articles of Confederation. The final text was signed on September 17, 1787, though some changes were made in the final days of the convention. The Constitution provided a new framework of government for "We the People".
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The Virginia Plan
- Provision ought to be made for the admission of states lawfully arising within the United States, with the consent of a number of voices in the National Legislature less than the whole.
- Provision ought to be made for the continuance of Congress and their authorities until a given day after the reform of the Articles of Union is adopted, as well as for the completion of all their engagements.
- A republican constitution and its existing laws ought to be guaranteed to each state by the United States.
- Provision ought to be made for the amendment of the Articles of Union when necessary.
- The legislative, executive, and judiciary powers within the several states ought to be bound by oath to support the Articles of Union.
- The members of the first branch of the National Legislature ought to be elected by the people of the several states and meet specific age and eligibility requirements.
- The members of the second branch of the National Legislature ought to be elected by those of the first branch, be of a certain age, and receive stipends for their public service.
- Each branch ought to possess the right of originating Acts; the National Legislature ought to be empowered to enjoy the Legislative Rights vested in Congress by the Confederation and moreover to legislate in all cases to which the separate States are incompetent.
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The signing of the Constitution
The signing of the US Constitution took place on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, marking the end of a long and complex process of drafting and revision. The Constitutional Convention, tasked with revising the failing Articles of Confederation, began its work on May 25, 1787, with 55 delegates in attendance.
The drafting process was meticulous and involved several committees and individuals. Edmund Randolph of Virginia wrote the first rough draft, which was then revised by James Wilson. A clean copy of this draft was sent to Philadelphia printers John Dunlap and David Claypoole, who produced an estimated 120 printed drafts for the Convention's delegates. The committee then discussed and debated this draft for five weeks before appointing a committee of style, led by Gouverneur Morris, to prepare a final version.
The final draft, presented on September 12, contained seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement. It was engrossed by Jacob Shallus, the assistant clerk for the Pennsylvania General Assembly, and signed by 39 of the delegates on September 17. Benjamin Franklin, despite having reservations about certain parts of the document, famously accepted the Constitution, stating that he expected no better and was unsure if a better version could be achieved.
The US Constitution, the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force, embodies the doctrine of the separation of powers. It divides the federal government into three branches: the legislative (bicameral Congress), the executive (President and subordinate officers), and the judicial (Supreme Court and other federal courts). The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation on March 4, 1789, becoming the supreme law of the land.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was called to revise the Articles of Confederation, which were considered to be failing. However, the Convention ultimately abandoned the Articles, drafting a new Constitution with a stronger national government.
The National Constitution Center has an interactive tool that highlights the changes between the drafts. One notable difference is the evolution of the Preamble. It started as "That the Government of the United States," then changed to "We the people of the States of...," listing the 13 colonies, before becoming the now-iconic "We the people of the United States." Another change was the proposal of a six-year term for the president in the July 24, 1787, draft.
Fifty-five delegates attended the Constitutional Convention, chosen by their state legislatures. The Committee of Detail, composed of John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth, and James Wilson, was selected to write the first draft. The Committee of Style and Arrangement, including Gouverneur Morris, Alexander Hamilton, William Johnson, Rufus King, and James Madison, then distilled a final draft from the approved articles.
