Malcolm Rivera
The U.S. Constitution, written in 1787, is the founding document that established the framework for the federal government of the United States. It is the oldest and shortest written constitution still in use by any nation. The U.S. Constitution has served as the foundational legal and structural framework for the U.S. government for over two centuries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date Written | May to September 1787 |
| Date Signed | September 17, 1787 |
| Date Ratified | 1788 |
| Date Adopted | 1787 |
| Date in Operation | 1789 |
| Location Written | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Number of Delegates | 42 |
| Number of States Represented | 12 |
| Number of Amendments | 27 |
| Number of Words | 7,591 |
| Purpose | To establish a stronger federal government and replace the ineffective Articles of Confederation |
| Outcome | The framework for the federal government of the United States, with a separation of powers among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The US Constitution
The document was written to address the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation, which had proven ineffective in governing the newly formed nation. The Founding Fathers aimed to create a stronger federal government to ensure stability and unity among the various states. The Constitution was formed to balance state and federal powers while satisfying concerns over potential tyranny by a strong central government. This was achieved through checks and balances and the separation of powers among the three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial.
UK's Unwritten Rules: Time for a Written Constitution?
You may want to see also
The Articles of Confederation
The Articles established a league of friendship for the 13 sovereign and independent states. Each state retained "every Power... which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States". The document also outlined a Congress with representation not based on population – each state would have one vote. Ratification by all 13 states was necessary to set the Confederation into motion.
However, the Articles of Confederation had several shortcomings. The central government had insufficient power to regulate commerce, levy taxes, or set commercial policy. It also could not effectively support a war effort or settle disputes between states. As a result, the Constitutional Convention was assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation and create a stronger federal government. This convention resulted in the drafting of the US Constitution, which replaced the Articles of Confederation as the foundational legal and structural framework for the US government.
The US Constitution: A Historical Writing Process
You may want to see also
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration was authored by a committee comprising John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston. Jefferson, who was tasked with writing the original draft, composed it largely in isolation between June 11 and June 28, 1776, in Philadelphia. The final wording of the Declaration was unanimously approved by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, and it was signed on the same day. The delegates who signed the Declaration, committing an act of high treason against the Crown, became known as the Founding Fathers.
The Written Constitution's Core Function: Law and Order
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Bill of Rights
The founding document written in 1787 is the U.S. Constitution, which established the framework for the federal government of the United States. It was drafted during the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, replacing the Articles of Confederation, the first governing document of the U.S., which had been in effect since 1781. The U.S. Constitution is the oldest and shortest written constitution still in use by any nation.
The concepts codified in the Bill of Rights built upon those in earlier documents, especially the Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776), the Northwest Ordinance (1787), the English Bill of Rights (1689), and the Magna Carta (1215). The Bill of Rights is considered one of the three founding documents of the United States, along with the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.
The Texas Constitution: A Historical Overview
You may want to see also
The Federalist Papers
The founding document written in 1787 is the U.S. Constitution, which established the framework for the federal government of the United States. It emerged from the Constitutional Convention, aiming to replace the ineffective Articles of Confederation.
Checks and Balances: Constitution's Core Principles Explained
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The U.S. Constitution.
The US Constitution is the oldest written national constitution still in use and forms the cornerstone of the American political system. It outlines the framework for the federal government, with a system of checks and balances, and the separation of powers among the three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.
The Articles of Confederation, which were adopted in 1777 and ratified in 1781. The Articles established a weak central government, highlighting the need for a stronger federal government, and eventually leading to the drafting of the US Constitution.
The Declaration of Independence, primarily authored by Thomas Jefferson, was written in 1776 and declared the 13 American colonies' independence from British rule. The Bill of Rights, which was introduced later, in 1791, as the first ten amendments to the Constitution, protecting individual freedoms and rights.
