Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution, written in 1787, is the oldest written national constitution still in use. It was drafted by 55 delegates to a convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and signed by 39 of them on September 17, 1787. The document established the US government, defined its relationship with the people and states, and outlined the basic rights of citizens. The Constitution was written on parchment, with six sheets stitched together to create a scroll 13 feet and 5 inches long.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of delegates who signed the Constitution | 39 |
| Date the Constitution was signed | 17th September 1787 |
| Number of delegates who wrote the Constitution | 55 |
| Date the Constitution was written | Summer of 1787 |
| Location the Constitution was written | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Number of sheets of parchment stitched together to create the scroll | 6 |
| Length of the scroll | 13 feet and 5 inches |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitution's physical form
The American Constitution is written on parchment, a durable and high-quality material made from animal skin, typically sheep, goat, or calf. Parchment has been used for important documents and manuscripts throughout history due to its longevity and ability to withstand the test of time.
The use of parchment for the Constitution was a deliberate choice, signifying the importance and permanence of the document. At the time of its creation, parchment was a common material for official records and legal documents, and its use was standard practice for the founding fathers, who were well-versed in legal traditions.
The physical form of the Constitution consists of four pages, measuring approximately 28 by 23.5 inches when fully opened. The text is written on both sides of each page, with the first three pages containing the main body of the Constitution and the fourth page featuring the signatures of the framers. The document is written in a clear and legible style, with each word carefully inscribed to ensure its readability and accessibility.
The ink used for the Constitution is also of note. It is believed that iron gall ink, made from a mixture of iron salts and tannic acids, was used. This type of ink was commonly used in the 18th century and is known for its durability and ability to produce a dark, crisp text. The use of this particular ink further contributes to the longevity of the document.
Overall, the physical form of the American Constitution is a testament to the importance and endurance of this foundational document. The use of parchment, the careful inscription of the text, and the choice of durable ink all contribute to its longevity, ensuring that the Constitution remains a tangible and powerful symbol of American democracy.
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The Constitution's authors
The US Constitution was written in the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by 55 delegates to a convention called ostensibly to amend the Articles of Confederation, the country's first constitution. The delegates included George Washington, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton, who feared that the young country was on the brink of collapse. America's first constitution, the Articles of Confederation, gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it had no enforcement powers, couldn't regulate commerce, or print money. The states' disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the country apart.
Alexander Hamilton helped convince Congress to organize a Grand Convention of state delegates to work on revising the Articles of Confederation. The convention was tasked with revising the existing government, but the delegates came up with a completely new form of government. Representing wildly different interests and views, they crafted compromises. The final document was a product of political compromise after long and often rancorous debates over issues such as states' rights, representation, and slavery.
The framers of the Constitution were especially concerned with limiting the power of government and securing the liberty of citizens. The doctrine of legislative, executive, and judicial separation of powers, the checks and balances of each branch against the others, and the explicit guarantees of individual liberty were all designed to strike a balance between authority and liberty—the central purpose of American constitutional law. The ideas of unalienable rights, the separation of powers, and the structure of the Constitution were largely influenced by European Enlightenment thinkers, like Montesquieu, John Locke, and others.
In 1787–88, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison published a series of essays on the Constitution and republican government in New York newspapers under the pseudonym "Publius". Their work, collected and published in book form as "The Federalist" (1788), became a classic exposition and defence of the Constitution.
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The Constitution's purpose
The US Constitution was written and signed in 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by 55 delegates to a convention that was ostensibly called to amend the Articles of Confederation, the country's first constitution. The Constitution was the product of political compromise after long and often rancorous debates over issues such as states' rights, representation, and slavery. Delegates from small and large states disagreed over whether the number of representatives in the new federal legislature should be the same for each state or different depending on a state's population.
The Constitution established the United States government and determined its relationship with the people and states. It also set up a system of checks and balances to ensure no one branch has too much power and divides power between the states and the federal government. The Constitution describes the purposes and duties of the government and places limits on it to prevent arbitrary rule. It guarantees every American fundamental rights and protection of life, liberty, and property.
The framers of the Constitution were especially concerned with limiting the power of government and securing the liberty of citizens. The doctrine of legislative, executive, and judicial separation of powers, the checks and balances of each branch against the others, and the explicit guarantees of individual liberty were all designed to strike a balance between authority and liberty—the central purpose of American constitutional law. The Constitution also created an effective national government, one that balances expansive powers with specific limits.
The Constitution is the fundamental law of the US federal system of government and a landmark document of the Western world. It is the oldest written national constitution still in use and defines the principal organs of government and their jurisdictions and the basic rights of citizens.
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The Constitution's influence
The US Constitution is written on parchment. It is made up of six sheets of parchment stitched together to create a scroll 13 feet and 5 inches long.
The US Constitution, written and signed in 1787, is the oldest written national constitution still in use. It is the supreme law of the land and has been a source of inspiration for democratic ideals around the world. It established the United States government and determined its relationship with the people and states. It also set up a system of checks and balances to ensure no one branch has too much power and divided power between the states and the federal government. The Constitution's influence extends to the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms, including life, liberty, and property. It created an effective national government, balancing expansive powers with specific limits.
The Constitution was the result of a political compromise and long debates over issues such as states' rights, representation, and slavery. The delegates who crafted it represented wildly different interests and views, and their compromises led to one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions globally. The Constitution's influence on the structure of government and the protection of individual liberties has been significant, with its principles of separation of powers and checks and balances designed to limit the power of government and secure citizens' liberty.
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The Constitution's amendments
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788. It is one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions globally, serving as the supreme law of the land.
The Constitution has been amended 27 times since its inception, with the first ten amendments comprising the Bill of Rights, ratified on December 15, 1791. The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution to address the concerns of the Anti-Federalists, who opposed the Constitution due to the absence of a bill of rights and the creation of a powerful central government reminiscent of the one they had overthrown.
The first three amendments in the Bill of Rights address specific limitations on the government regarding religious freedom, freedom of speech, and the right to peaceably assemble. The fourth amendment establishes the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures. The fifth amendment guarantees due process of law, protects against self-incrimination, and prohibits double jeopardy. The sixth amendment ensures the right to a speedy trial, the right to an impartial jury, and the right to an attorney. The seventh amendment protects the right to a trial by jury in civil cases, while the eighth amendment prohibits excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishments. The ninth amendment states that the rights not specifically enumerated in the Constitution are retained by the people, and the tenth amendment clarifies that powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved for the states or the people.
The remaining 17 amendments to the Constitution address various issues, including voting rights, civil rights, income tax, and the election of US senators. These amendments were added incrementally over time, with the most recent amendment, the 27th Amendment, being ratified in 1992.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution is a document that established the United States government and determined its relationship with the people and states. It is the oldest written national constitution still in use.
The US Constitution is written on parchment.
The US Constitution was written in 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by 55 delegates to a Constitutional Convention.
The US Constitution was written to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, which was the country's first constitution. The Articles of Confederation created a weak and ineffective central government that lacked enforcement powers and could not regulate commerce or print money. The US Constitution established a new form of government with a balance of powers and limits to prevent arbitrary rule.
