Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution was born in September 1787, but it was not until June 21, 1788, that it was officially adopted when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it. The Constitution of India, on the other hand, was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on November 26, 1949, and became effective on January 26, 1950.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of adoption of the US Constitution | June 21, 1788 |
| Date of adoption of the Indian Constitution | November 26, 1949 |
| Date the Indian Constitution became effective | January 26, 1950 |
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What You'll Learn
The United States Constitution was adopted on 21 June 1788
The drafting of the Constitution had begun on 25 May 1787, when the Constitutional Convention first met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The convention was convened to address the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation, which had proven inadequate in dealing with the issues facing the newly formed nation. The delegates crafted a new framework for governance, and on 17 September 1787, the new Constitution was signed.
The ratification process began immediately, with Delaware becoming the first state to ratify the Constitution on 7 December 1787. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut quickly followed suit. However, it was not until June 1788 that the Constitution was officially adopted, with New Hampshire's ratification pushing the number of ratifying states to nine, as required under Article VII.
The new government officially began operating on 4 March 1789, and the first quadrennial presidential election under the new Constitution was held later that year. George Washington was unanimously elected as the nation's first president, with John Adams as his vice president. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until 29 May 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document.
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The Indian Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949
The Indian Constitution, the world's longest for a sovereign nation, was adopted on 26 November 1949. It is the supreme legal document of India and lays down the framework for the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions. The constitution also sets out the fundamental rights, directive principles, and duties of citizens.
The process of drafting the constitution began in 1946 when the British decided to examine the possibility of granting India its independence. As a result, a British cabinet mission was sent to India to hold discussions with the representatives of British India and the Indian States. The Constituent Assembly, with 278 representatives and 15 women, was elected and met for the first time in December 1946. The assembly held eleven sessions in 165 days before adopting the constitution.
Sir B. N. Rau, a civil servant, was appointed as the assembly's constitutional advisor. He prepared the initial draft of the constitution in February 1948, which consisted of 243 articles and 13 schedules. This draft was then considered, debated, and amended by the seven-member drafting committee, appointed on 29 August 1947 with B. R. Ambedkar as the chair. The committee submitted a revised draft constitution to the assembly on 4 November 1947.
The Constituent Assembly adopted the final version of the constitution on 26 November 1949, and it came into force on 26 January 1950. The constitution had 395 articles, 8 schedules, and 22 parts at the time of its enactment and has been amended 106 times since then. The latest amendment was given assent on 28 September 2023.
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The US Constitution was drafted in 1787
The Constitutional Convention was convened by Congress to create a new framework for governance, and the resulting document established a federal system with checks and balances, addressing the concerns of both populous and less populous states. The Constitution's main provisions included seven articles that defined the basic framework of the federal government, with the first three articles embodying the doctrine of the separation of powers.
The legislative branch was to consist of a bicameral Congress, the executive branch was led by the President, and the judicial branch comprised the Supreme Court and other federal courts. While the states ceded their sovereignty to the nation, they retained all powers not explicitly granted to the national government. The Constitution also delineated the rights and responsibilities of state governments and their relationship to the federal government.
After the drafting process, the Constitution was submitted to each state legislature for ratification. By June 1788, the required nine states had ratified the document, and the new national government officially began operating on March 4, 1789. The Constitution remains significant today as the highest law of the nation, shaping democracy, protecting minority rights, and influencing governance worldwide.
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The US Constitution was ratified by all states on 29 May 1790
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by thirty-nine delegates, and required ratification from nine states to become effective. The drafting of the Constitution of the United States began on May 25, 1787, when the Constitutional Convention first met at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The convention was convened to address the flaws of the Articles of Confederation, which had proven incapable of addressing the problems facing the new nation, including war debts, piracy, and rebellion.
The Constitutional Convention crafted an entirely new framework for governance, and the resulting discussions culminated in a landmark agreement that established a federal system with checks and balances, addressing the concerns of both populous and less populous states. The Constitution's main provisions include seven articles that define the basic framework of the federal government, with the first three embodying the doctrine of the separation of powers. Article I describes the Congress, the legislative branch, and establishes the manner of election and the qualifications of members.
The ratification process for the Constitution began on September 17, 1787, and ended when the final state, Rhode Island, ratified it on May 29, 1790. Nine states were required to ratify the Constitution for it to be adopted. By June 1788, this requirement was met, and New Hampshire became the critical ninth state to ratify the Constitution on June 21, 1788. The new government officially started operating on March 4, 1789. The US Constitution has since formed the highest law in the nation, shaping democracy, protecting minority rights, and influencing governance worldwide.
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The Indian Constitution became effective on 26 January 1950
The Indian Constitution is the supreme legal document of India and the longest written national constitution in the world. With 145,000 words, it is the second-longest active constitution in the world, after the Constitution of Alabama. The Indian Constitution lays down the framework that demarcates the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens. It also espouses constitutional supremacy.
The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution of India on 26 November 1949 and it came into force on 26 January 1950. The process took 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days, and incurred a total expenditure of ₹6.4 million. The Constitution of India was framed by a Constituent Assembly established by Dr Rajendra Prasad in 1946, who was its Chairman. The Constituent Assembly was indirectly elected by the provincial legislatures, comprising 278 representatives and 15 women. The parties represented in the Constituent Assembly were the Congress Party, the Muslim League, the Scheduled Caste Federation, the Indian Communist Party, and the Union Party.
The Constituent Assembly held eleven sessions in 165 days before adopting the constitution. The initial draft of the constitution was prepared by Sir B. N. Rau, a civil servant who became the first Indian judge in the International Court of Justice. Rau's draft consisted of 243 articles and 13 schedules, which came to 395 articles and 8 schedules after discussions, debates, and amendments. The seven-member drafting committee, appointed on 29 August 1947 with B. R. Ambedkar as chair, prepared a revised draft constitution that was submitted to the assembly on 4 November 1947.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was adopted on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the document.
The Indian Constitution was adopted on November 26, 1949, and became effective on January 26, 1950.
The US Constitution was ratified by all 13 states on May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document.
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