Isabella Carter
The United States Constitution, the supreme law of the United States of America, is composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The closing endorsement of the Constitution includes the signatures of 39 framers, and the document was signed on September 17, 1787. The closing endorsement serves to authenticate the document, providing essential documentation of its validity, and recording who signed it, and when and where.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 17th September 1787 |
| Signatories | 39 delegates |
| Closing endorsement | "Done in Convention, by the unanimous consent of the States present" |
| Amendments | 27 |
| First 10 amendments | Known as the Bill of Rights |
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What You'll Learn
The closing endorsement
The United States Constitution, the nation's supreme law, was signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788. The closing endorsement of the US Constitution is untitled and includes the signatures of 39 framers. The closing endorsement serves an authentication function. It neither assigns powers to the federal government nor does it provide specific limitations on government action. Instead, it provides essential documentation of the Constitution's validity, recording who signed the Constitution, and when and where.
The advocates of the Constitution aimed for the unanimous support of all twelve states represented in the convention. Their accepted formula for the closing endorsement was "Done in Convention, by the unanimous consent of the States present". At the end of the convention, the proposal was agreed to by eleven state delegations and the lone remaining delegate from New York, Alexander Hamilton.
The signing of the United States Constitution occurred when 39 delegates endorsed the constitution created during the convention. The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, in which the federal government is divided into three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial.
The Constitution's Preamble, or famous first 52 words, introduces the articles and amendments that follow. The seven articles make up the structural constitution. The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights.
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Signatures of 39 framers
The United States Constitution, the supreme law of the United States of America, was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates who endorsed the constitution created during the Philadelphia Convention. The signatures of these 39 framers are included in an untitled closing endorsement, which serves to authenticate the document. This closing endorsement does not assign powers to the federal government or provide limitations on government action. Instead, it provides essential documentation of the Constitution's validity, stating, "This is what was agreed to." It records who signed the Constitution, and when and where.
The signing of the Constitution occurred when 39 delegates endorsed the document, and within three days, on September 20, 1787, it was submitted to the Congress of the Confederation, then sitting in New York City, the nation's temporary capital. The delegates anticipated that many state politicians would be Antifederalist and provided for the ratification of the Constitution by popularly elected ratifying conventions in each state. This allowed judges, ministers, and others ineligible to serve in state legislatures to be elected to a convention. The delegates also decided that the Constitution would go into effect as soon as nine states (two-thirds rounded up) ratified it.
The 39 signatures on the Constitution represent the unanimous consent of the states present at the convention. The proposal was agreed to by eleven state delegations, and the lone remaining delegate from New York, Alexander Hamilton, bringing the total number of endorsing states to twelve. The signing of the Constitution marked the conclusion of the convention and the creation of a new form of government, as it superseded the Articles of Confederation on March 4, 1789.
The Constitution, including the signatures of the 39 framers, is transcribed and on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum. The spelling and punctuation of the transcribed document reflect the original, including the two-fold epoch dating that links the Constitution to the religious traditions of Western civilization and the regime principles proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence. The famous first 52 words of the Constitution, beginning with "We the People," introduce the articles and amendments that follow, including the seven articles that make up the structural constitution and the 27 amendments that have been adopted.
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The procedure for amending
Firstly, a proposal for an amendment must be introduced. This can be done by a resolution of Congress, which must be passed by a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Alternatively, an amendment can be proposed by a national convention called by Congress at the request of two-thirds of the state legislatures. This method has never been used.
Once an amendment has been proposed, it must be ratified by three-quarters of the state legislatures, or by special ratifying conventions in three-quarters of the states, as specified by Congress. Amendments that have been ratified by the states then become part of the Constitution.
It is important to note that the procedure for amending the Constitution is a difficult and lengthy process, requiring broad consensus at both the federal and state levels. This was done to protect the stability and longevity of the Constitution.
Additionally, the procedure for amending the Constitution has been used to both expand individual liberties and limit the powers of the federal government. For example, the Bill of Rights, which includes the First Amendment guaranteeing freedom of speech, religion, and assembly, was added to the Constitution through the amendment process. Similarly, the Fourteenth Amendment, which granted citizenship and due process rights to former slaves after the Civil War, was also added through the amendment process.
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The date
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, when 39 delegates endorsed the constitution. The date is recorded as "the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord" 1787, and "of the Independence of the United States of America the Twelfth." This two-fold epoch dating places the Constitution within the religious traditions of Western civilization and links it to the principles proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence.
Within three days of its signing, the Constitution was submitted to the Congress of the Confederation, then located in the nation's temporary capital of New York City. On September 28, members of Congress voted unanimously to forward the proposal to the thirteen states for their ratification. The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789.
The first ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791. These amendments further defined the rights and responsibilities of citizens and the government. The signing of the Constitution marked a significant step in the establishment of a unified and more perfect Union, as envisioned by the founding fathers.
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The validity of the document
The closing endorsement is untitled and includes the signatures of 39 framers. This section does not assign powers to the federal government or provide limitations on government action. Instead, it provides essential documentation of the Constitution's validity, stating "This is what was agreed to". The advocates of the Constitution sought the unanimous support of all twelve states represented at the convention, and their accepted formula for the closing endorsement reflected this: "Done in Convention, by the unanimous consent of the States present".
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the land and superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. It establishes a new framework for the federal government, dividing it into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. The Constitution also outlines the rights and responsibilities of state governments and their relationship to the federal government.
The validity of the Constitution is further reinforced by the process of ratification. The delegates to the Philadelphia Convention provided for ratification by popularly elected ratifying conventions in each state. This allowed for the participation of individuals who were ineligible to serve in state legislatures. The Constitution went into effect as soon as nine states ratified it, with the remaining four states joining the union by ratifying it subsequently.
The Constitution has also been amended over time, with 27 amendments adopted under Article V. The first ten amendments are known as the Bill of Rights and were ratified on December 15, 1791. These amendments further validate the Constitution by embodying the rights and freedoms of the American people.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789.
The Constitution includes an untitled closing endorsement with the signatures of 39 framers, followed by 27 amendments that have been adopted under Article V.
The closing endorsement serves an authentication function. It records who signed the Constitution, when, and where. The accepted formula for the closing endorsement was "Done in Convention, by the unanimous consent of the States present".
The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights.
