Omar Bennett
The United States Constitution, the supreme law of the United States of America, came into effect on March 4, 1789, after being ratified by the required number of states (nine out of thirteen). The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 of the Constitutional Convention's 55 delegates, and sent to the states for debate and ratification votes. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, and New Hampshire became the ninth and final state needed for ratification on June 21, 1788. The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, which had been in effect since March 1, 1781, and established a federal government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date the US Constitution was signed | September 17, 1787 |
| First state to ratify the Constitution | Delaware, December 7, 1787 |
| Date the Constitution became the official framework of the US government | June 21, 1788 |
| Number of states that ratified the Constitution by June 21, 1788 | 9 out of 13 |
| Date the first federal elections were set | December 15, 1788 |
| Date the new government was set to begin | March 4, 1789 |
| Date all 13 states ratified the US Constitution | May 29, 1790 |
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What You'll Learn
The signing of the US Constitution
The process of drafting the Constitution began with a convention of state delegates in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787. The convention was called by the Confederation Congress to propose revisions to the Articles of Confederation. A Committee of Detail, including Oliver Ellsworth, Nathaniel Gorham, and Edmund Randolph, prepared a draft Constitution for delegates to review in early August. The final document incorporated many of Thomas Jefferson's ideas, although he did not sign the Constitution as he was on a diplomatic mission in Europe.
After the signing, the Constitution was sent to the states for debate and ratification votes. The first state to ratify was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, making it the official framework of the US government. The Confederation Congress set March 4, 1789, as the date for the new government to begin operating under the Constitution. The first federal elections were held from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789, and George Washington was elected as the first president.
The Constitution established a federal system of 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 delineated the rights and responsibilities of the federal government and the states and established a system of checks and balances to ensure no one branch held too much power. The Constitution also provided for a census to aid in the apportionment of the US House of Representatives and to record the nation's demographic and economic evolution.
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Ratification by the states
The journey to ratification was challenging due to the complex political landscape and the need to balance the interests of the states and the central government. The Articles of Confederation, which preceded the Constitution, had created a weak and ineffective central government, and the writers of the Constitution aimed to address this issue by strengthening the federal government while still preserving the independence and sovereignty of the states. This delicate balance of powers was a key concern during the ratification process and contributed to the lengthy and thoughtful deliberations that took place.
The process of ratification by the states was influenced by the publication of "The Federalist Papers," a collection of 85 essays written by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison. These essays defended the proposed new government under the Constitution and played a crucial role in persuading states to ratify the document. "The Federalist Papers" addressed concerns about individual rights and liberties, and the need for a stronger central government. They also became a classic exposition of the Constitution's principles and continue to be studied today.
The ratification of the Constitution by the required number of states marked a significant milestone in the establishment of the United States of America as a nation. It set the framework for the country's system of government, delineating the powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. It also established a system of checks and balances to ensure that no single branch held too much power. The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, which had guided the government since the end of the American Revolution. The first federal elections under the Constitution were held from December 1788 to January 1789, and the new government officially began operating on March 4, 1789, with George Washington as the first President and John Adams as the first Vice President.
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The first federal elections
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 of the Constitutional Convention's 55 delegates. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by eight other states. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth and final state needed to ratify the Constitution, thus making it the official framework of the government of the United States of America.
The Constitution's Articles I, II, and III embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, in which the federal government is divided 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 Elections Clause is the primary source of constitutional authority to regulate elections for the US House of Representatives and the US Senate. It directs and empowers states to determine the "Times, Places, and Manner" of congressional elections, subject to Congress's authority to "make or alter" state regulations. It grants each level of government the authority to enact a complete code for such elections, including rules concerning public notices, voter registration, voter protection, fraud prevention, vote counting, and determination of election results.
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The official implementation
The process of drafting and ratifying the Constitution was a long and arduous one. The Confederation Congress first called for a convention of state delegates in Philadelphia on February 21, 1787, to propose revisions to the Articles of Confederation. The convention was attended by delegates from 12 states, with Rhode Island refusing to participate. On September 17, 1787, 39 of the 55 delegates to the convention signed the newly written Constitution. The Constitution was then sent to the states for debate and ratification votes. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut.
The ratification process was not without its challenges. Some states voiced opposition to the Constitution on the grounds that it did not adequately protect certain rights, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. To address these concerns, the Massachusetts Compromise was reached in February 1788, which stipulated that amendments would be proposed to include these protections, resulting in what became known as the Bill of Rights.
The Constitution required the ratification of nine out of thirteen states to go into effect. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify, making the Constitution the official framework of the government. However, it was not until March 4, 1789, that the new government under the Constitution officially began its operations. In the lead-up to this date, elections were held from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789, and George Washington was elected as the first President, with John Adams as Vice President.
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The first government under the Constitution
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 of the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. However, it only became the official framework of the US government on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it. The first government under the Constitution was formed on March 4, 1789, with George Washington as President and John Adams as Vice President.
The road to ratification was long and challenging. The Articles of Confederation, which served as the country's first constitution following the American Revolution, established a "league of friendship" between the 13 independent states. However, the federal government's weakness and the states' sovereignty posed challenges to effective governance. Leaders recognised the need for a stronger, more centralised government. Alexander Hamilton of New York led the call for a constitutional convention, and on February 21, 1787, the Confederation Congress heeded his call.
The convention aimed to address the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation and create a more robust federal government. It was attended by representatives from 12 states, with Rhode Island refusing to participate. The delegates anticipated opposition from state politicians and provided for ratification by popularly elected conventions in each state. They also decided that the Constitution would come into effect once nine states had ratified it, which was achieved on June 21, 1788.
The first federal elections were held from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789, and the new government took office on March 4, 1789. The first Congress of the United States adopted 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, on September 25, 1789, and sent them to the states for ratification. This process led to the eventual ratification of the Constitution by all 13 original colonies, including North Carolina and Rhode Island.
The Constitution established a federal government with three branches: the legislative, consisting of the bicameral Congress; the executive, led by the President; and the judicial, comprising the Supreme Court and other federal courts. It replaced the Articles of Confederation as the supreme law of the land and laid the foundation for the modern US government.
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Frequently asked questions
The U.S. Constitution went into effect on March 4, 1789, when the new government under the Constitution commenced proceedings.
The Constitution required ratification by nine states. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution.
The U.S. Constitution is the fundamental framework of America's system of government. It separates the powers of government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. It also sets up a system of checks and balances to ensure no one branch has too much power.
