Eleanor Finch
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. The final draft of the Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. The drafting of the 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 convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, which was the nation's first constitution. The final draft of the Constitution was the result of months of thoughtful debate, deliberation, and compromise among the delegates.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of commencement of drafting | May 25, 1787 |
| Date of completion of drafting | September 17, 1787 |
| Date of signing | September 17, 1787 |
| Date of ratification | June 21, 1788 |
| Location | Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, Philadelphia |
| Number of original states participating | 12 |
| Number of delegates | 55 |
| Number of delegates who signed | 39 |
| Number of delegates who refused to sign | 3 |
| Number of articles | 7 |
| Number of committees involved in the drafting process | 4 (Committee of Detail, Committee of Eleven, Committee of Style and Arrangement, Committee of Five) |
| Key figures involved | George Washington, James Madison, Gouverneur Morris, John Dickinson, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, Alexander Hamilton, William Johnson, Rufus King, John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth, James Wilson |
| Preceding constitution | The Articles of Confederation |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitutional Convention
The convention was marked by fierce debates over the structure and powers of the new federal government. One of the key issues was the representation of the lower house, which was eventually compromised to be based on the white inhabitants and three-fifths of the "other people." The convention also debated plans for the new government, with Madison and the nationalists advocating for a stronger central government. The convention ultimately approved Senate equality and moved towards the creation of a new government.
To facilitate the drafting process, the convention appointed committees to address specific issues and propose solutions. The Committee of Detail, including John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth, and James Wilson, was tasked with drafting a detailed constitution reflective of the convention's resolutions. They presented a twenty-three-article (plus preamble) constitution, which was discussed and amended over several weeks. The Committee of Eleven, or the Leftover Business committee, addressed outstanding issues such as the method of choosing the president and the impeachment process. Finally, the Committee of Style and Arrangement, including Alexander Hamilton, William Johnson, Rufus King, James Madison, and Gouverneur Morris, distilled the approved articles into a cohesive final draft constitution.
The final draft of the Constitution, containing seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement, was presented to the convention and received unanimous approval. Thirty-nine delegates from twelve states signed the Constitution on September 17, 1787, with three delegates refusing to sign. The ratification process then began, with the final state, Rhode Island, ratifying the Constitution on May 29, 1790.
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The Committee of Detail
The drafting of the United States Constitution, the supreme law of the United States of America, began on May 25, 1787, when the Constitutional Convention first met at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Committee of Detail, composed of John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth, and James Wilson, was selected to write a first draft of the Constitution, reflecting the Resolutions passed by the convention. The Convention recessed from July 26 to August 6 to await the report of the Committee of Detail.
The Committee of Style and Arrangement presented the completed final draft of the Constitution to the convention for its consideration. The 23 articles had been reorganised into a cohesive document containing seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement, of which Gouverneur Morris was the primary author. The draft Constitution received unanimous approval from the state delegations, and on September 17, 1787, the approved Constitution was signed by 39 delegates from 12 states (all except Rhode Island). The ratification process for the Constitution began on the same day and ended when Rhode Island ratified it on May 29, 1790.
The Constitution's first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government 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). The remaining articles (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.
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The Committee of Style and Arrangement
The drafting of the United States Constitution began on May 25, 1787, when the Constitutional Convention first met at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia. The convention was held to revise the Articles of Confederation, which was the nation's first constitution. The convention ended on September 17, 1787, when the Frame of Government drafted by the convention's delegates to replace the Articles was adopted and signed. The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation on March 4, 1789.
The committee presented the completed final draft of the Constitution to the convention for its consideration. The twenty-three articles had been reorganised into a cohesive document containing seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement. Gouverneur Morris was the primary author of the final draft. The committee also presented a proposed letter to accompany the constitution when it was delivered to Congress.
The draft Constitution received unanimous approval from the state delegations. On September 17, 1787, the Constitution was signed by thirty-nine delegates from twelve states, with only Rhode Island not signing. The Constitution's first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The Constitution of the United States is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world.
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The ratification process
The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, making it the official framework for the government of the United States of America.
The remaining four states eventually ratified the Constitution by May 29, 1790, with Rhode Island being the last state to approve the document. The Bill of Rights, consisting of ten amendments, was ratified on December 15, 1791.
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The Articles of Confederation
The Congress of the Confederation, as established by the Articles, was empowered to make war and peace, negotiate diplomatic and commercial agreements with foreign countries, and resolve disputes between the states. However, it could not tax and was generally ineffective in setting commercial policy. The Articles also outlined a Congress with representation not based on population – each state would have one vote.
The ratification process for the Articles of Confederation was lengthy, with the first state, Virginia, ratifying on December 16, 1777, and the final state, Maryland, ratifying on March 1, 1781. Several states, including Maryland, initially refused to ratify due to disputes over western land claims and other issues. However, as the young nation teetered on the brink of economic disaster, a national government became increasingly urgent.
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Frequently asked questions
The final draft of the US Constitution was written on September 17, 1787.
The US Constitution was drafted in Philadelphia, in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall.
The final draft of the US Constitution was distilled from 23 approved articles by the Committee of Style and Arrangement, composed of Alexander Hamilton, William Johnson, Rufus King, James Madison, and Gouverneur Morris. Gouverneur Morris was the primary author.
The US Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, to create a stronger national government. The first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial.
After the final draft was written, 39 of the 41 delegates present signed the US Constitution. Three delegates—Edmund Randolph, George Mason, and Elbridge Gerry—refused to sign. The Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to approve it, and it became the law of the land.
