Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution, the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force, was signed on September 17, 1787. Drafted in secret during the summer of 1787, the four-page document established the government of the United States. The U.S. Constitution is composed of the Preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments, with the first 10 amendments known as the Bill of Rights.
Explore related products
$11.29 $19.99
$10.55 $19.99
What You'll Learn
- The US Constitution is the oldest written national constitution still in use
- The document was drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention
- The convention was held in Philadelphia, with 12 states represented
- The Constitution was signed by 39 delegates, with unanimous consent of the states present
- The document establishes the government of the United States and defines the rights of its citizens
The US Constitution is the oldest written national constitution still in use
The US Constitution, composed of the Preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments, is the oldest written national constitution still in use. Drafted in 1787, it is also known as the Constitution of the United States of America and is considered a landmark document of the Western world. The document was signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788, with the first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, being ratified on December 15, 1791.
The US Constitution was drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787. The convention was convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, which had attempted to retain as much independence and sovereignty for the states as possible while assigning only nationally important functions to the central government. However, the national government's inability to act during crises like Shays' Rebellion (1786-87) in Massachusetts highlighted the need for a stronger central government.
The Constitutional Convention, which met in Philadelphia, was initially supposed to revise the Articles of Confederation. However, through discussion and debate, it became clear that an entirely new form of government was needed. The delegates debated and redrafted the articles of the new Constitution throughout the summer, addressing issues such as the balance of power between the central government and the states, the number of representatives in Congress for each state, and how these representatives should be elected.
The final document, consisting of four pages, established the government of the United States and united its citizens as members of a whole. The first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing 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 remaining articles 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.
The US Constitution has been amended 27 times since its ratification, with the first 10 amendments constituting the Bill of Rights. It is considered a fundamental law of the US federal system of government and has had a significant influence on the country's history and development.
Conflict's Core: Writing Scenes with Tension and Struggle
You may want to see also
The document was drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention
The Constitution of the United States of America, written in 1787, is the oldest written national constitution still in use today. It is a four-page document that was drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787 and signed on September 17, 1787. The Constitutional Convention was convened in the State House (Independence Hall) in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787, to revise the Articles of Confederation. The delegates, however, decided to draft an entirely new constitution instead of amending the existing Articles.
The Constitutional Convention was called by the Confederation Congress to propose revisions to the Articles of Confederation, which had attempted to retain the states' independence and sovereignty while assigning only essential national functions to the central government. However, the Articles had left the national government with limited powers, and the country's experiences from 1781 to 1787, including the government's inability to act during Shays' Rebellion in Massachusetts, highlighted the need for a stronger central government.
The Constitutional Convention was initially attended by delegates from only two states, Virginia and Pennsylvania, and it was postponed until a quorum of seven states was achieved on May 25. Eventually, twelve states were represented, with Rhode Island refusing to participate. The delegates debated and redrafted the articles of the new Constitution in closed sessions throughout the summer. The main points of contention included the balance of power between the central government and the states, the number of representatives in Congress for each state, and the method of electing these representatives.
The final proposal was agreed to by eleven state delegations and the lone remaining delegate from New York, Alexander Hamilton. The new Constitution was signed by 39 delegates and submitted to the Congress of the Confederation within three days of its signing. The document established a new form of government and united the citizens of the United States as members of a whole, vesting the power of the union in the people. The Constitution's first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial.
Britain's Unwritten Constitution: Bogdanor's View
You may want to see also
The convention was held in Philadelphia, with 12 states represented
The United States Constitution, written in 1787, is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world. It is also the fundamental law of the U.S. federal system of government and a landmark document of the Western world.
The Federal Convention, also known as the Constitutional Convention, convened in the State House (Independence Hall) in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787, to revise the Articles of Confederation. The convention was held in Philadelphia, with 12 states represented. The Virginia and Pennsylvania delegations were the only ones present on the first day, and the convention's opening meeting was postponed until a quorum of seven states was met on May 25. Eventually, 12 states were represented, with Rhode Island refusing to participate.
The delegates to the convention were tasked with revising the Articles of Confederation, which had attempted to retain as much independence and sovereignty for the states as possible while assigning only nationally important functions to the central government. However, the central government was deprived of many essential powers, including direct taxation and the ability to regulate interstate commerce.
The convention's discussions and debates led to the drafting of an entirely new frame of government rather than amendments to the existing Articles. The delegates debated and redrafted the articles of the new Constitution throughout the summer in closed sessions. The chief points at issue included the balance of power between the central government and the states, the number of representatives in Congress for each state, and how these representatives should be elected.
The advocates of the Constitution sought unanimous support from all twelve states represented at the convention. At the end of the convention, eleven state delegations and the lone remaining delegate from New York, Alexander Hamilton, agreed to the proposal. The new Constitution was signed by 39 delegates on September 17, 1787, and submitted for ratification to the thirteen states.
The US Constitution: A Historical Overview
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Constitution was signed by 39 delegates, with unanimous consent of the states present
The United States Constitution, written in 1787, was signed by 39 delegates, with the unanimous consent of the states present. The signing of the United States Constitution occurred on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 39 delegates who signed the document represented 12 states, with Rhode Island being the only state that did not send any delegates to the convention. The signing of the Constitution marked the end of a four-month-long convention, which began on May 25, 1787, and was attended by 55 delegates. The convention was initially intended to revise the Articles of Confederation and address the weaknesses of the central government, which lacked the power to raise revenue, conduct diplomacy, and manage western territories effectively. However, it ultimately resulted in the creation of a new form of government, with a stronger central government and protected prerogatives of the states.
The delegates who signed the Constitution did so as individual witnesses of the unanimous consent of the states present, rather than on behalf of their respective states. This endorsement included signatures, a declaration of successful completion, and a statement of adoption by the states present. The closing endorsement served to authenticate the Constitution's validity, providing essential documentation that "This is what was agreed to." The Constitution was then submitted to the Congress of the Confederation within three days of its signing and was forwarded to the thirteen states for their ratification.
The process of drafting and signing the United States Constitution was a significant event in American history. The document established the government of the United States and is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution currently in force worldwide. The ideas and structure of the Constitution were influenced by European Enlightenment thinkers, such as Montesquieu and John Locke, and it embodies the doctrine of the separation of powers. The first three articles of the Constitution divide the federal government into the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with specific functions and powers assigned to each branch.
While the Constitution was signed by 39 delegates, it is important to note that not all delegates agreed with its final form. Some signed anticipating debates within their states, while others, like Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, George Mason of Virginia, and Randolph, refused to sign altogether. Despite these differences, the Constitution was forwarded to the states for ratification, and by June 1788, the requisite nine states had ratified it as the law of the land. This marked the beginning of a new government, which commenced in March 1789.
Understanding Written Notice Requirements in New Jersey Law
You may want to see also
The document establishes the government of the United States and defines the rights of its citizens
The United States Constitution, written in 1787, is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world. It is the fundamental law of the US federal system of government and a landmark document of the Western world.
The document establishes the government of the United States by outlining the structure of the government and defining the basic rights of its citizens. The Constitution divides 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 legislative branch makes the laws, the executive branch enforces the laws, and the judicial branch interprets the laws. The Constitution also outlines the rights and responsibilities of state governments and their relationship to the federal government.
The Constitution's first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, came into effect in 1791 and further defined the rights of citizens. The Bill of Rights protects freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to keep and bear arms, freedom of assembly, and the freedom to petition. These rights apply to all citizens, residents, and visitors in American territory. The Fourteenth Amendment, which includes the Citizenship Clause, further clarifies the rights of citizens by establishing a national rule for citizenship. It states that anyone born in the United States or naturalised is a citizen and is entitled to certain privileges and immunities, such as equal protection under the law.
The ideas of unalienable rights, the separation of powers, and the structure of the Constitution were influenced by European Enlightenment thinkers like Montesquieu and John Locke. However, the Founding Fathers, including Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, believed that the existing forms of government in Europe, particularly autocratic monarchies, were not compatible with the egalitarian character of the American people. As a result, they crafted a constitution that established a new form of government and guaranteed certain fundamental rights for its citizens.
The French Constitution: Written or Unwritten?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The Constitution of the United States of America was written in 1787.
The Constitution was written to unite the states under a single national government and establish a new form of government.
The Constitution is composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The first three articles embody the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
The Constitution was drafted in Philadelphia by delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787.
The Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, and the first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791.
