Jonah Patel
The first draft of the US Constitution was presented on 6 August 1787. It consisted of a preamble and 23 articles covering seven large pages, with a wide margin to the left of the text for members to make notes. The draft included provisions and phrases that would become familiar to students of the completed Constitution, such as a bicameral legislature composed of a House of Representatives and a Senate, an executive called the President, and an independent judiciary with a Supreme Court.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | Seven |
| Number of articles | Twenty-three |
| Number of introductions | Two |
| Number of articles about Congress and its powers | Seven |
| Number of articles about the Executive | One |
| Number of articles about the judiciary | One |
| Number of articles about interstate comity | Three |
| Number of articles about miscellaneous topics | Seven |
| Number of sheets | Four |
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What You'll Learn
The draft was seven pages long, with wide margins for notes
The first draft of the US Constitution was seven pages long, with wide margins for notes. The document was drafted by a committee appointed by the Second Continental Congress in mid-June 1777 and was adopted by the full Congress in mid-November of that year. It took more than three years for the 13 colonies to ratify the document, which was finally completed on March 1, 1781.
The first draft consisted of a preamble and 23 articles. Two of these articles were introductions, seven dealt with Congress and its powers, one covered the Executive, one the judiciary, three provided for interstate comity, and seven covered miscellaneous topics such as the admission of new states, amendment, ratification, and setting up the new government.
The draft included provisions and phrases that are familiar to students of the completed Constitution, such as a bicameral legislature composed of a House of Representatives and a Senate, an executive called the President, an independent judiciary with a Supreme Court, and a list of powers granted to the legislature.
The first draft of the US Constitution was presented to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia on August 6, 1787. The convention accepted the draft, which was written and signed by James Wilson, delegate to the Constitutional Convention from York, PA, and chair of the Committee of Detail.
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It included a preamble and 23 articles
The first draft of the US Constitution was presented on 6 August 1787. It included a preamble and 23 articles covering seven large pages. The preamble was followed by two introductory articles. Seven articles dealt with Congress and its powers, one covered the Executive, one the judiciary, three provided for interstate comity, and seven covered miscellaneous topics such as the admission of new states, amendment, ratification, and setting up the new government.
The draft included a wide margin to the left of the text for members to make notes. It was the earliest surviving version of the Constitution and consisted of four sheets. One unique feature was that it listed all of the states in the first line.
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Seven articles dealt with Congress and its powers
The first draft of the US Constitution was presented on 6 August 1787. It included a preamble and 23 articles covering seven large pages. Seven of these articles dealt with Congress and its powers.
The Articles of Confederation, ratified several months before the British surrender at Yorktown in 1781, provided for a loose confederation of US states, which were sovereign in most of their affairs. On paper, Congress—the central authority—had the power to govern foreign affairs, conduct war, and regulate currency, but in practice, these powers were sharply limited because Congress was given no authority to enforce its requests to the states for money or troops.
The seven articles dealing with Congress and its powers in the first draft of the US Constitution aimed to address these limitations and define the role and powers of Congress in the new government. They covered topics such as the structure and composition of Congress, its legislative and decision-making powers, and its relationship with the state governments.
The specific details of these seven articles are not known as the original draft has not survived. However, it is likely that they built upon the principles established in the Articles of Confederation, while also addressing its shortcomings. For example, the first draft of the US Constitution may have included provisions to grant Congress greater enforcement powers or to establish a more effective decision-making process.
The seven articles dealing with Congress and its powers in the first draft of the US Constitution laid the foundation for the role and powers of Congress in the final version of the Constitution. They reflected the desire to create a stronger central government while also preserving the sovereignty of the individual states.
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The draft included a bicameral legislature composed of a House of Representatives and a Senate
The first draft of the US Constitution was presented on 6 August 1787. It consisted of a preamble and 23 articles covering seven large pages, with a wide margin to the left of the text for members to make notes. Of the 23 articles, two were introductions, seven dealt with Congress and its powers, one covered the Executive, one the judiciary, three provided for interstate comity, and seven covered miscellaneous topics such as the admission of new states, amendment, ratification, and setting up the new government.
The inclusion of a bicameral legislature in the first draft of the US Constitution reflected the desire of the Founding Fathers to create a balanced and representative form of government. By separating the legislative powers between two chambers, they aimed to promote deliberation, consensus-building, and checks and balances within the legislative branch. This design also allowed for a more effective representation of the diverse interests and perspectives across the nation.
The establishment of the House of Representatives and the Senate in the first draft set the foundation for a robust and responsive legislative process. The House, with its direct connection to the people, was tasked with initiating legislation and reflecting the will of the citizens. Meanwhile, the Senate, with its longer terms and state representation, provided a more deliberative body that could act as a check on the House and ensure a more thoughtful and considered approach to lawmaking.
Overall, the inclusion of a bicameral legislature in the first draft of the US Constitution demonstrated the Founding Fathers' commitment to creating a government that balanced power, ensured representation, and promoted effective lawmaking for the newly formed nation.
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The first draft was written and signed by James Wilson
The first draft of the US Constitution was written and signed by James Wilson, a delegate to the Constitutional Convention from York, Pennsylvania, and chair of the Committee of Detail. The draft was presented on 6 August 1787, consisting of a preamble and twenty-three articles covering seven large pages. The left margin was left wide to allow members to make notes. Of the twenty-three articles, two were introductions, seven dealt with Congress and its powers, one covered the Executive, one the judiciary, three provided for interstate comity, and seven covered such miscellaneous topics as the admission of new states, amendment, ratification, and setting up the new government.
The draft included provisions and phrases that would become familiar in the completed Constitution, such as a bicameral legislature composed of a House of Representatives and a Senate, an executive called the President, an independent judiciary with a Supreme Court, and a list of powers granted to the legislature. It also included the authority "to make all laws that shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers" and ratification by conventions in the states.
The first draft of the US Constitution was a significant step towards creating a stronger central government and addressing the limitations of the Articles of Confederation, which had provided for a loose confederation of states with limited powers. The Articles had been ratified several months before the British surrender at Yorktown in 1781, and by 1786, it became apparent that amendments or a replacement was needed to prevent the Union from breaking up.
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Frequently asked questions
The first draft of the US Constitution was written on four sheets of paper.
The first draft of the US Constitution included a preamble and 23 articles covering seven large pages. Two of the articles were introductions, seven dealt with Congress and its powers, one covered the Executive, one the judiciary, three provided for interstate comity, and seven covered miscellaneous topics such as the admission of new states, amendment, ratification, and setting up the new government.
The first draft of the US Constitution was written by James Wilson, a delegate to the Constitutional Convention from York, PA, and chair of the Committee of Detail.
