Jonah Patel
The United States Constitution is a four-page document containing 4,543 words and the signatures of 39 of the 55 delegates representing the states. It was proposed on September 17, 1787, by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and ratified by conventions in each state. The Constitution's seven articles define the basic framework of the federal government, with the first three embodying the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial. The remaining articles embody concepts of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments, the states' relationship to the federal government, and the shared process of constitutional amendment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Number of words | 4,543 |
| Number of signatures | 39 |
| Number of total possible signatures | 55 |
| Number of amendments | 27 |
| Number of amendments in the Bill of Rights | 10 |
| Number of articles | 7 |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution is a four-page document
The Constitution is composed of seven articles that define the basic framework of the federal government. The 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 embody concepts of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments, the relationship between the states and the federal government, and the shared process of constitutional amendment.
The process of amending the Constitution involves two steps: proposal and ratification. Proposals to amend the Constitution must be properly adopted and ratified before they can change the Constitution. The proposal can be adopted by either a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives or by a national convention called by two-thirds of the state legislatures. Once the proposal is passed, Congress decides on the ratification method, which can be either through the state legislatures or state ratifying conventions. To date, 27 amendments have been made to the Constitution, with the first ten known as the Bill of Rights.
The Constitution is a result of the collaborative efforts of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention, who debated and redrafted the articles of the document during the summer of 1787. The work reflects cooperative statesmanship and the art of compromise, uniting a group of states with diverse interests, laws, and cultures under a single government. The opening words, "We the People," signify that the government derives its legitimacy from the people rather than the states.
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It contains 4,543 words
The United States Constitution is a document that contains 4,543 words. It was proposed on September 17, 1787, by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Constitution contains seven articles that define the basic framework of the federal government. The 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).
Article IV, Article V, and Article VI outline the concepts of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments, the relationship between the states and the federal government, and the shared process of constitutional amendment. Article VII establishes the procedure for the 13 states to ratify the Constitution.
The Constitution also includes a preamble, which begins with the famous words, “We the People,” and outlines six goals for the nation. The main body of the Constitution is followed by 27 amendments, the first ten of which are known as the Bill of Rights. These amendments detail the rights of individuals and further shape the structure and functions of the three branches of government.
The United States Constitution is a concise yet powerful document, with its 4,543 words establishing the foundation of the American government and uniting a diverse group of states under a common framework of laws and principles.
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It was signed by 39 of 55 delegates
The United States Constitution is a four-page document containing 4,543 words, including the signatures of 39 of the 55 delegates representing the states. The delegates were tasked with debating and redrafting the articles of the new Constitution during the summer of 1787. The chief points at issue were how much power to allow the central government, how many representatives in Congress to allow from each state, and how these representatives should be elected—directly by the people or by the state legislators.
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 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.
The Constitution's opening words, "We the People", represented a new thought: the idea that the people, and not the states, were the source of the government's legitimacy. This phrase was coined by Gouverneur Morris of Pennsylvania, who chaired the convention's Committee of Style. The Constitution united its citizens as members of a whole, vesting the power of the union in the people. Without it, the American experiment might have ended as quickly as it had begun.
The 39 delegates who signed the Constitution on September 17, 1787, established the government of the United States.
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The Constitution has seven articles
The US Constitution, signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788, consists of seven articles that outline the basic framework of the federal government. The first three articles establish the three branches of government and their powers: the legislative (Congress), executive (office of the President), and judicial (Federal court system). This embodies the doctrine of the separation of powers, preventing any one branch from becoming dominant.
Article I assigns the responsibility for making laws to the Legislative Branch, or Congress, which is divided into two parts: the House of Representatives and the Senate. This bicameral Congress was a compromise between large and small states, balancing representation based on population and equal representation for each state.
Article II covers the executive branch, consisting of the President and subordinate officers.
Article III addresses the judicial branch, which includes the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
Articles IV, V, and VI embody concepts of federalism, outlining the rights and responsibilities of state governments and their relationship with the federal government. Article V, in particular, explains the process for amending the Constitution, which is more difficult than the process for making laws. It requires a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, or a national convention requested by two-thirds of state legislatures. Article VI establishes the supremacy of Federal law over state and local laws.
Article VII describes the ratification process for the Constitution, which was enacted by nine states through special state ratifying conventions.
The Constitution has been amended 27 times, starting with the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments ratified on December 15, 1791. Notable amendments include the Third Amendment, prohibiting the federal government from forcing individuals to house soldiers during peacetime without consent, and the Fourth Amendment, protecting against unreasonable searches and seizures by government officials.
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It establishes the federal government
The US Constitution establishes the federal government of the United States. It outlines the basic framework of the government, dividing it into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. This separation of powers ensures that no individual or group holds too much power.
The legislative branch is made up of Congress, which consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Each state is allocated two senators regardless of its population, and collectively, they pass legislation, which the president can veto. The executive branch is established in Article Two of the Constitution, which vests executive power in the president of the United States. The president is both the head of state and the head of government, and is responsible for executing the laws and appointing heads of federal agencies. The vice president is the second-highest official and supports the president, assuming their duties if they are unable to serve.
The judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court and other federal courts, which interpret and apply the law. The Supreme Court can overturn unconstitutional laws and has the final say in disputes over the limits of federal government powers.
The Constitution also establishes the rights and responsibilities of state governments and their relationship with the federal government. It outlines the process for amending the Constitution, which involves proposals being adopted and ratified, with amendments requiring the approval of three-fourths of the states. The Constitution's establishment of federal rule of law is based on principles of federalism, republicanism, and democracy, reflecting the idea that the people are the source of the government's legitimacy.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution is a four-page document.
There are 4,543 words in the US Constitution, including the signatures of 39 of the 55 delegates representing the states.
The US Constitution has had 27 amendments since its passage. The first ten are known as the Bill of Rights. So, the current size of the US Constitution would be 4,543 words plus the cumulative word count of all 27 amendments.
The original US Constitution, without any amendments, consisted of 4,543 words. It was drafted in the summer of 1787 and signed on September 17, 1787.
The original US Constitution is on display at the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, D.C.
