Jonah Patel
The Constitution of the United States, transcribed by Jacob Shallus on parchment, is the supreme law of the United States of America. It contains a preamble and seven articles that outline the structure and operation of the government, including the three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The document, on display at the National Archives Museum, was drafted at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. It acts as a merger, uniting states with different interests, laws, and cultures under a single national government.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The Constitution's drafting
The drafting of the US Constitution, often referred to as its framing, was completed at the Constitutional Convention in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, between May 25 and September 17, 1787. The convention was assembled to amend the Articles of Confederation, which had been ineffective in meeting the needs of the young nation. However, the delegates, chosen by the state legislatures of 12 of the 13 original states (Rhode Island refused to send delegates), quickly began considering measures to replace the Articles.
The first proposal, the Virginia Plan, called for a bicameral (two-house) Congress elected on a proportional basis based on state population, an elected chief executive, and an appointed judicial branch. An alternative to this plan, the New Jersey Plan, retained the legislative structure while also calling for an elected executive. These plans reflected the competing interests of the large and small states, with the former wanting representation based on population and the latter wanting the states to have equal representation.
The Constitution's seven articles delineate the frame of the federal government, with the first three articles establishing the three branches of government and their powers: the legislative (Congress), executive (office of the President), and judicial (Federal court system). A system of checks and balances prevents any one of these separate powers from becoming dominant. The remaining articles describe the relationship of the states to the Federal Government, establish the Constitution as the supreme law of the land, and define the amendment and ratification processes.
The Constitution acted like a colossal merger, uniting a group of states with different interests, laws, and cultures under one national government. It superseded the Articles of Confederation on March 4, 1789, and its drafting ensured that the American Experiment, as it was known, could continue.
Federal Constitution: Crimes and Punishments
You may want to see also
The document's display
The document on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum is a transcription of the Constitution as it was inscribed by Jacob Shallus on parchment. The spelling and punctuation reflect the original document.
The preamble of the Constitution begins with "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
The Constitution then outlines the legislative powers of Congress, which consists of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The House of Representatives is to be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states, with each state having the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislature. The document also specifies that Congress shall assemble at least once a year and that each House shall be the judge of the elections, returns, and qualifications of its members.
The document on display also includes the signatures of those present at the Constitutional Convention, including G. Washington, who was the President and a deputy from Virginia. The date of signing was the 17th day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, marking the unanimous consent of the states present to the Constitution.
Lifetime Judicial Appointment: A Constitutional Mandate?
You may want to see also
The original spelling and punctuation
The preamble of the Constitution, as originally spelled and punctuated, reads:
> "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives. The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature."
The original document also includes notes on the ratification process, such as:
> "The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same."
Other sections of the original Constitution detail the role of Congress, including the requirement to assemble at least once a year, and the rules and procedures of each House. For example, the original text states:
> "Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide."
The original Constitution also includes details on the election of the President and Vice President, and the rules surrounding their terms, as well as restrictions on who can be elected to the office of the President.
The Police and Their Oath to Defend the Constitution
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$4.99 $22
The document's ratification
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 drafting of the Constitution, often referred to as its framing, was completed at the Constitutional Convention, which assembled at Independence Hall in Philadelphia between May 25 and September 17, 1787. Delegates to the convention were chosen by the state legislatures of 12 of the 13 original states; Rhode Island refused to send delegates. The convention's initial mandate was limited to amending the Articles of Confederation, which had proven highly ineffective in meeting the young nation's needs.
The Constitution's first three articles 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). Article IV, Article V, and Article VI embody concepts of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments, the states in relation to the federal government, and the shared process of constitutional amendment.
Article V explains the amendment process, which is different from the process for making laws. When two-thirds of the Senate and two-thirds of the House of Representatives vote to change the Constitution, an amendment goes to the state legislatures for a vote. Alternatively, two-thirds of the state legislatures can submit an application to Congress, and then Congress calls a national convention at which states propose amendments. Three-fourths of the state legislatures or state conventions must vote in favour of an amendment to ratify it.
Article VII describes the ratification process for the Constitution. It called for special state ratifying conventions. The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States was sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying.
Commander in Chief: US Constitution's Leadership Clause
You may want to see also
The Articles of Confederation
The drafting of the US Constitution, often referred to as its framing, was completed at the Constitutional Convention, which assembled at Independence Hall in Philadelphia between May 25 and September 17, 1787. Delegates to the convention were chosen by the state legislatures of 12 of the 13 original states; Rhode Island refused to send delegates. The convention's initial mandate was limited to amending the Articles of Confederation, which had proven highly ineffective in meeting the young nation's needs. However, the delegates quickly began considering measures to replace the Articles.
The first proposal discussed, introduced by delegates from Virginia, called for a bicameral (two-house) Congress that would be elected on a proportional basis based on state population, an elected chief executive, and an appointed judicial branch. This proposal, known as the Virginia Plan, was one of several measures considered to attract the seceding states back into the Union and to entice border slave states to stay. An alternative to the Virginia Plan, known as the New Jersey Plan, also called for an elected executive but retained the legislative structure created by the Articles of Confederation.
Shays' Rebellion: Prelude to the US Constitution
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The back of the US Constitution contains the signatures of those who were present at the Constitutional Convention, including G. Washington, who presided over the convention, and other delegates from the 12 of the 13 original states that were present. Rhode Island refused to send delegates.
Jacob Shallus transcribed the US Constitution.
The original US Constitution is on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum.
The US Constitution contains a preamble and seven articles that describe the way the government is structured and how it operates. The first three articles establish the three branches of government and their powers: the legislative branch (Congress), the executive branch (office of the President), and the judicial branch (Federal court system).
The US Constitution acted like a colossal merger, uniting a group of states with different interests, laws, and cultures. It united its citizens as members of a whole, vesting the power of the union in the people.
