Eleanor Finch
The US Constitution is written in English, which was designated as the official language of the United States in 2025. However, this was not always the case. In 1787, German and Dutch translations of the Constitution were distributed to residents of Pennsylvania and New York, respectively, during the public debate over the adoption of the document. These translations provide insight into how the Constitution was interpreted and understood by non-English speakers at the time. While there have been proposals to amend the Constitution to adopt English as the official language, none have been successful. The issue of an official language is contentious, with some arguing that it promotes unity and shared values, while others contend that it violates the Constitution's protections of due process and equal protection for non-English speakers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Language used in the Constitution | English |
| Other languages it has been translated into | German, Dutch |
| Year of translation | 1787, 1788 |
| Reason for translation | For German and Dutch speakers to have access to the Constitution during the pitched public debate in New York state |
| Differences in translation | The German version uses a word to define “commerce” that indicates “the larger scope of actions and interactions of persons involved in business." The Dutch version defines commerce as activities among merchants. |
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What You'll Learn
German and Dutch translations of the Constitution
The US Constitution has been translated into several languages, including German and Dutch. These translations played a significant role in the debate and ratification process, as non-negligible portions of the electorate spoke languages other than English.
German Translation
In Pennsylvania, where about one-third of the population spoke German as their primary language, the Pennsylvania Assembly ordered 3,000 copies of the Constitution to be printed in English and 1,500 copies to be printed in German. The German translation was also distributed in Maryland.
A reprint of the German translation of the US Constitution, including Amendments 1 through 22, was published in 1960 by Westdeutscher Verlag GmbH Weisbaden in the Federal Republic of Germany. This translation was later digitized in 2010 and is available through the HathiTrust Digital Library.
The German translation of the Constitution has some notable differences from the English version. For example, amendments are referred to as "improvements," and felonies are considered serious crimes rather than "crimes worthy of death" as in the Dutch translation. The German translation also uses a broader definition of "commerce" in Article 1, Section 8, which may give the government more power to establish commerce.
Dutch Translation
In New York, the Constitution was translated into Dutch by Rev. Lambertus de Ronde and printed by Charles Webster of Albany in 1788. This translation was commissioned by the Federal Committee, a group lobbying for the ratification of the Constitution in New York. The Dutch translation was intended to promote support for ratification among the Dutch-speaking residents of New York, and it had a significant influence on the voting population.
The Dutch translation of the Constitution also differs from the English version in several ways. For example, the Dutch version defines "commerce" as activities among merchants, and it considers felonies to be "crimes worthy of death." The Dutch translation of the "Necessary and Proper Clause" in Article 1 may also restrict some powers of Congress in passing sweeping laws.
Analysis of Translations
Christina Mulligan, Michael Douma, Hans Lind, and Brian Quinn have examined the German and Dutch translations of the Constitution, noting that they provide valuable insights into the original public meaning of the document as understood by German and Dutch speakers. These translations also highlight the challenges of translating legal and political terms accurately, with some critics noting that the translators made mistakes and struggled to find equivalent native language terms for certain English words and concepts.
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The Constitution's original public meaning
The US Constitution was originally written in English and has been the standard language for all other historic governing documents, including the Declaration of Independence. In 2025, English was designated as the official language of the United States, with the intention of promoting unity and a shared American culture for all citizens.
However, it is interesting to note that during the time of its creation, German and Dutch translations of the Constitution were provided to residents of Pennsylvania and New York, as a significant portion of the population in these states was of German origin. These translations offered a unique perspective on how certain concepts were presented to German and Dutch speakers, sometimes differing from the English version. For example, the German translation of the Commerce Clause in Article 1, Section 8, uses a broader definition of "commerce", while the Dutch version narrows it down to activities among merchants.
The original public meaning of the Constitution in English has evolved over time, with certain legal terms taking on a more restrictive meaning than their common English definitions. This evolution in language interpretation is one of the reasons why the Supreme Court exists—to interpret and adapt the Constitution to changing cultural values and language nuances.
While English has been designated as the official language, there is opposition to this decision, with groups like the ACLU arguing that English-only laws can violate the U.S. Constitution's protection of due process and equal protection.
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The Constitution's accessibility
The US Constitution is written in English, which has been designated as the official language of the United States. While English-only laws save government money on translation and printing costs, they can also violate the US Constitution's protection of due process and equal protection for non-English speakers.
In recognition of this, German and Dutch translations of the Constitution were provided to residents of Pennsylvania and New York during the public debate over its adoption. These translations offer a unique perspective on how the Constitution was presented to non-English speakers, and they differ in interesting ways from the English version. For example, the German translation of the Commerce Clause in Article 1, Section 8, uses a word for "commerce" that indicates "the larger scope of actions and interactions of people involved in business". The Dutch version, on the other hand, defines commerce as activities among merchants.
While the US Constitution has not been officially translated into other languages, its meaning has been "translated" several times by the Supreme Court, as the meaning of words shifts over time. Legal texts tend to be written in more archaic language, so it falls to lawyers and judges to interpret this special register of English when applying the law.
As language continues to evolve, it is likely that the US Constitution will be updated or replaced before English changes enough to make it incomprehensible to modern speakers. However, the process of rewriting and rewording laws from time to time is necessary to ensure the accessibility of the rule of law.
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The Constitution's language evolving
The US Constitution is the oldest constitution still in use and was written in 1787. It was written in English, which has been the national language of the United States since its founding. However, as language is always evolving, the Constitution's language has also changed over time, with some words taking on more restrictive meanings than their common English definitions.
While the Constitution has not been officially translated into other languages, there have been instances where it was translated into other languages for specific purposes. For example, in 1787, German and Dutch translations of the Constitution were distributed to residents of Pennsylvania and New York during the public debate over its adoption. These translations provided a unique perspective on how the Constitution was presented to non-English speakers, as the translators had to interpret complex legal concepts and choose the best equivalent terms in their respective languages.
The evolution of the Constitution's language is also evident in the changing legal landscape. The meaning of certain words and phrases has shifted over time, and the Supreme Court plays a crucial role in interpreting and adapting these meanings to modern contexts. This process of interpretation ensures that the Constitution remains relevant and understandable to modern speakers, even as the English language continues to evolve.
Despite the changes in language, the Constitution has not become incomprehensible to modern readers. Legal texts tend to use more archaic language, and it is the role of legal professionals to interpret and apply these texts when necessary. However, as language evolves, the Constitution may eventually need to be rewritten or reworded to ensure accessibility and understanding for future generations.
The debate over establishing English as the official language of the United States has been ongoing, with amendments proposed in almost every session of Congress. While some argue that a single official language promotes unity and consistency, others oppose it as undemocratic and restrictive of the rights of non-English speakers. The Constitution's protection of due process and equal protection further complicates the issue, highlighting the importance of ensuring that all citizens can understand and engage with the nation's governing documents.
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The Constitution's legal terminology
The US Constitution is written in English, which has been designated as the official language of the United States. However, this designation only occurred in an executive order on March 1, 2025, and there is no official language stipulated within the Constitution itself. In fact, there have been several attempts to amend the Constitution to include English as the official language, but these efforts have not been successful.
The use of English in the Constitution has led to some challenges in interpretation over time as language evolves. Legal texts tend to employ a more archaic style of English, and it becomes the role of lawyers and judges to interpret the specific register of English used in these documents. The Supreme Court plays a crucial role in this process, as they interpret and "translate" the Constitution to align with changing language and cultural values.
Interestingly, there were German and Dutch translations of the Constitution created in 1787 and 1788, respectively. These translations were distributed to residents of Pennsylvania and New York during the public debate over the adoption of the Constitution. The German translation, in particular, has been noted for its broader definition of "commerce," which includes "the larger scope of actions and interactions of persons involved in business." This translation also appears to grant the government more power in establishing commerce.
The issue of an official language in the United States is a complex one, with arguments for and against designating English as the sole official language. Proponents of English-only laws argue that they promote unity, consistency in government operations, and encourage the learning of English by non-English speakers. Additionally, they highlight the cost savings for governments by allowing for the publication of official documents in a single language. On the other hand, opponents argue that such laws can violate the Constitution's protection of due process and equal protection by creating difficulties for non-English speakers.
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Frequently asked questions
English is used in the US Constitution. While there is no official language of the United States, English has been used as the national language since the founding of the Republic.
While there have been efforts to establish English as the official language, these have been opposed by groups such as the ACLU, which argues that English-only laws can violate the US Constitution's protection of due process and equal protection.
While the US Constitution has not been officially translated, it has been "translated" in a sense by the Supreme Court, which interprets the meaning of the text as cultural values and language evolve over time.
Yes, Norway's constitution, which is the second oldest in the world, is written in old-fashioned Danish. Any new laws added to the constitution must be in the same style, so there are people who are experts in that language to read and add to it.
The US Constitution is the oldest constitution still in use, but it has been "translated" and interpreted over time by the Supreme Court as language evolves and cultural values change.
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