Simone Lawson
The United States Constitution is a legal document that outlines the country's fundamental laws and governing principles. It was signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788. The Constitution has been amended 27 times since it became operational in 1789, with the first ten amendments known as the Bill of Rights. The document begins with a preamble, a 52-word paragraph drafted in Philadelphia during the summer of 1787, which sets the stage for the rest of the Constitution by outlining the intentions of its framers and its purpose. The first three words of the preamble, We the People, are among the most famous in American history.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of amendments | 27 |
| First 10 amendments | Known as the Bill of Rights |
| First three words | "We the People" |
| Number of Articles | 7 |
| Date of signing | September 17, 1787 |
| Date of ratification | June 21, 1788 |
| Date of the first 10 amendments ratification | December 15, 1791 |
| Writer | Jacob Shallus |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution's Preamble
The Preamble to the US Constitution, which begins with the words "We the People", serves as an introduction to the highest law of the land. It sets the stage for the Constitution, communicating the intentions of its framers and the purpose of the document. The Preamble is a guidepost that measures progress toward building a prosperous nation and creating "a more perfect union".
The Preamble's language addresses establishing justice, *"insuring"* domestic tranquility, providing for a common defence, promoting the general welfare, and securing the "Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity". These words reflect the framers' vision for the nation and the principles upon which it was founded.
The US Constitution, written over 200 years ago, is a powerful document that has been amended 27 times since it became operational in 1789. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, specifically protect individual liberty and justice and place restrictions on the powers of the government within the US states. The remaining 17 amendments primarily expand on civil rights protections and address issues related to federal authority and government processes.
The drafting of the Constitution, often referred to as its framing, took place at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 17, 1787. The convention was attended by delegates chosen by the state legislatures of 12 of the 13 original states, with Rhode Island refusing to send representatives. The final document was signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788.
The Constitution acted as a merger, uniting a diverse group of states under one national government. It vested power in the people, bringing them together as members of a whole. The Preamble to the Constitution, with its concise and powerful words, continues to inspire and guide Americans toward fulfilling the nation's founding principles and ideals.
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The drafting of the Constitution
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 on May 25, 1787. The convention was attended by 55 delegates, chosen by their state legislatures, who received instructions from Congress to revise the failing Articles of Confederation. The delegates were tasked with drafting a new framework of government, uniting a group of states with different interests, laws, and cultures under a stronger national government.
The first proposal discussed was the Virginia Plan, which called for a bicameral (two-house) Congress based on proportional representation, an elected chief executive, and an appointed judicial branch. An alternative to this plan was the New Jersey Plan, which also called for an elected executive but retained the single-chamber legislative structure created by the Articles of Confederation. After a summer spent debating and drafting, the delegates arrived at a final text for the Constitution.
On August 6, 1787, a working draft of the proposed Constitution was delivered by Rutledge, who provided printed copies to the delegates. This draft included a Preamble, which began with the now-familiar words, "We the People." The draft underwent further revisions, and on September 8, a committee was elected to finalize the style and arrangement of the Constitution's agreed-upon articles. The committee, which included Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and Gouverneur Morris, condensed the 23 articles into seven and completed its draft on September 12.
On September 13, Dunlap & Claypoole printed copies of the second working draft, which were distributed to the delegates. The final document was engrossed by Jacob Shallus and taken up at the convention's final session on September 17. Despite some disappointment among the delegates, the Constitution was signed and adopted, with Benjamin Franklin famously stating that he accepted it "because I expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best." The Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, and since then, it has been amended 27 times, with the first ten amendments collectively known as the Bill of Rights.
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Amendments and the Bill of Rights
The US Constitution has been amended 27 times since it became operational in 1789. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791, and offer protections of individual liberty and justice and place restrictions on the powers of government within the US states.
The First Amendment protects several freedoms, including the freedom of speech and the right to petition the government. The Second Amendment protects the right to keep and bear arms. The Third Amendment prevents the government from forcing homeowners to allow soldiers to use their homes. The Fourth Amendment bars the government from unreasonable search and seizure of an individual or their private property. The Fifth Amendment provides several protections for people accused of crimes, including the right to a grand jury, protection against double jeopardy, and the right to just compensation for taken property. It also includes the right against self-incrimination and the right to due process of law. The Sixth Amendment provides additional protections to people accused of crimes, including the right to a speedy and public trial and an impartial jury. The Seventh Amendment extends the right to a jury trial in Federal civil cases. The Eighth Amendment bars excessive bail and fines and cruel and unusual punishment. The Ninth Amendment states that the listing of specific rights in the Constitution does not mean that people do not have other rights that are not explicitly mentioned. The Tenth Amendment states that the Federal Government only has the powers delegated to it in the Constitution.
The remaining 17 amendments mostly expand individual civil rights protections, address issues related to federal authority, or modify government processes and procedures. For example, the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery, the Fifteenth Amendment granted Black Americans the right to vote, and the Nineteenth Amendment granted women's suffrage. The Eighteenth Amendment prohibited liquor, but this was later repealed by the Twenty-First Amendment. The Twenty-Sixth Amendment lowered the voting age to 18, and the Twenty-Seventh Amendment, passed in 2010, deals with congressional pay raises.
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The Constitution's ratification
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to approve it. The road to ratification, however, was long and arduous. The Articles of Confederation, which served as the country's first constitution, were weak and ineffective in addressing the young nation's needs. It became clear that a stronger, more centralized government was required for future stability.
The drafting of the Constitution, often referred to as its framing, was completed at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, which assembled between May 25 and September 17, 1787. The convention's initial mandate was to amend the Articles of Confederation, but the delegates soon began considering a complete replacement. The first proposal, the Virginia Plan, called for a bicameral (two-house) Congress elected on a proportional basis, an elected chief executive, and an appointed judiciary. An alternative, the New Jersey Plan, retained the legislative structure while also calling for an elected executive.
The final document was a series of compromises, and several delegates were disappointed with the result. Three refused to sign, while others left before the ceremony. Benjamin Franklin, one of the signers, summed up the sentiment: "There are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them." He accepted the Constitution because he "expected no better." The advocates of the Constitution sought unanimous support from the twelve states represented at the convention, and they achieved a closing endorsement of "Done in Convention, by the unanimous consent of the States present."
Under Article VII, the new Constitution would not be binding until ratified by nine of the thirteen states. Hamilton and Madison, with assistance from Jay, produced "The Federalist Papers," a series of essays explaining and defending the proposed government. The first state to ratify was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. The constitution was subsequently ratified by Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, and finally New Hampshire. The constitution included protections for individual liberties, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press.
The first ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island approved the document. The United States Constitution, with its Preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments, has been amended 27 times since it became operational in 1789.
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The signing of the Constitution
The signing of the United States Constitution, also known as the "Colossal Merger", took place on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This hall is also known as the State House. The signing of the Constitution established the government of the United States.
The Constitutional Convention, which lasted four months, was attended by 74 delegates, 39 of whom signed the final document. The delegates represented 12 of the 13 original states, with Rhode Island refusing to send delegates. The convention was presided over by George Washington.
The delegates to the convention were chosen by the state legislatures. The convention's initial mandate was to amend the Articles of Confederation, which had been ineffective in meeting the young nation's needs. However, the delegates soon began considering measures to replace the Articles. The first proposal, introduced by delegates from Virginia, called for a bicameral (two-house) Congress that would be elected on a proportional basis based on state population, with an elected chief executive and an appointed judicial branch.
The final document was engrossed by Jacob Shallus. Several delegates were disappointed with the result, and some left before the signing ceremony. Three of the remaining delegates refused to sign. Benjamin Franklin, at 81 the oldest signer, summed up the sentiments of those who did sign, saying:
> There are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them. I accept this Constitution ... because I expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best.
The closing endorsement of the Constitution was: "Done in Convention, by the unanimous consent of the States present". This formula was agreed upon to obtain unanimous support from all 12 states represented in the convention.
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Frequently asked questions
The address to the Constitution is called the "Preamble".
The Preamble sets the stage for the Constitution and clearly communicates the intentions of its framers. It is not a law but an introduction to the highest law of the land.
The Preamble begins with the famous words "We the People" and outlines five key objectives: establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for common defence, promote general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty for all.
The Preamble was drafted in Philadelphia during the hot summer of 1787 and signed on September 17, 1787.
The final document of the US Constitution was inscribed by Jacob Shallus on parchment.
