Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in the world. It is the fundamental law of the United States and is considered the supreme law of the land. The Constitution was signed in 1787 and ratified in 1788, and it outlines the framework for the United States government, including the separation of powers and the protection of fundamental rights. The document has been an inspiration and has changed the trajectory of world history, putting the governance of the country into the hands of its people.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty |
| Inspiration | To put governance in the hands of the people |
| Date written | 1787 |
| Date signed | September 17, 1787 |
| Date ratified | June 22, 1788 |
| Date of first celebration | 1856 |
| Date of first commemorative stamp | 1788 |
| Date of first commemorative coin | 1987 |
| Oldest written constitution | The Constitution of San Marino of 1600 is the oldest surviving constitution in the world |
| Shortest written constitution | The US Constitution is the world's shortest national constitution |
| Oldest continuously operating constitution | The US Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world |
| Number of delegates who signed | 39 of 55 |
| Number of branches of government | 3 |
| Number of Supreme Court justices | 6 (originally), 9 (currently) |
| Key figures | James Madison, Gouverneur Morris, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Marshall, James Wilson, Oliver Ellsworth, Alexander Hamilton |
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What You'll Learn
- The US Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution
- The Constitution is the supreme law of the land in the US
- The document was signed in 1787 by 39 of 55 delegates
- The Constitution's first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers
- The Constitution was written to put governance in the hands of the people
The US Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution
The US Constitution is a written and codified national constitution that serves as the supreme law of the land. It was signed on September 17, 1787, ratified in 1788, and introduced into operation in 1789. 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 legislative branch consists of the bicameral Congress, the executive branch is led by the President, and the judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
The US Constitution is often regarded as the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution still in use. However, it is important to note that some countries, like San Marino and the United Kingdom, have older governing documents or collections of laws and practices that serve a similar purpose. San Marino's constitution dates back to around 1600, and while it is not codified, it is the oldest surviving constitution in the world. The UK, on the other hand, has an "unwritten" constitution based on common law, practices, and statutes like the Magna Carta, which was written in the 13th century.
Despite these older governing documents, the US Constitution stands out as a single, unified document that lays out a comprehensive framework for governing a country. This unified nature is a common definition of a constitution, and by this definition, the US Constitution is indeed the oldest and longest-standing. It has served as a model for other nations and continues to be revered as a foundational document of democracy.
The US Constitution's longevity can be attributed to its adaptability. The basic framework of each article has been maintained, but amendments have been made to reflect the changing needs and values of American society. This balance between stability and flexibility has allowed the US Constitution to endure and remain relevant, making it a testament to the foresight of its framers and the resilience of American democracy.
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The Constitution is the supreme law of the land in the US
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the land and the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force. It is the fundamental law within the states and can only be changed by an extraordinary legislative process of national proposal, followed by state ratification. The Constitution is the source of all government powers and also provides limitations on the government to protect the fundamental rights of US citizens.
The Constitution was drafted by the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, and its first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers. The federal government is divided 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 Constitution's aim was to create a government with enough power to act on a national level, but without putting fundamental rights at risk. This was achieved by separating the power of the government into three branches and including checks and balances to ensure that no one branch became too powerful. The powers of each branch are outlined in the Constitution, and any powers not assigned to them are reserved for the states.
The Constitution also establishes the relationship between the states. States are required to give "full faith and credit" to the laws, records, contracts, and judicial proceedings of other states. They are also prohibited from discriminating against citizens of other states or imposing tariffs on one another. In addition, the Constitution outlines a process for amending the document, which has been amended 27 times since its ratification.
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The document was signed in 1787 by 39 of 55 delegates
The United States Constitution, the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force, was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 of the 55 delegates present at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The remaining 16 delegates refused to sign, with objections to the lack of a bill of rights and the codification and protection of slavery and the slave trade.
The Constitution was drafted by the delegates of the Constitutional Convention, with the aim of creating a federal government with enough power to act on a national level, while also ensuring that fundamental rights were not at risk. This was achieved by dividing the government's power into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial, and then including checks and balances to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power.
The process of ratification for the Constitution was set out in the document itself and provided for much popular debate in the states. It would take effect once it had been ratified by nine of the thirteen state legislatures, with no requirement for unanimity. This process of ratification by the states was also a key aspect of the document's status as the fundamental law of the land, with the power to override any conflicting laws or provisions.
The Constitution of the United States is considered a revolutionary document, as it put the governance of the country into the hands of the people, a right that no other country in the world had granted its citizens at the time. The process of drafting and signing the Constitution was a significant moment in history, and it continues to inspire and shape the world today.
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The Constitution's first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers
The Constitution of the United States is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world. The drafting of the Constitution, often referred to as its framing, was completed at the 1787 Constitutional Convention. The Constitution's first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into three branches.
The first article, Article I, establishes the legislative branch, consisting of the bicameral Congress. The second article, Article II, establishes the executive branch, consisting of the President and subordinate officers. The third article, Article III, establishes the judicial branch, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
The separation of powers doctrine is a fundamental principle of the Constitution, intended to preserve liberty and prevent the concentration of power in a single branch of government. While the text of the Constitution does not expressly refer to the doctrine of separation of powers, it divides governmental power among the three branches. The Supreme Court has elaborated on the separation of powers doctrine in several cases, addressing the three branches of government and determining that one branch's actions have infringed upon the core functions of another.
In addition to the first three articles, other provisions of the Constitution implicate the separation-of-powers doctrine. The Constitution establishes checks and balances between the three branches of government, intended to prevent the encroachment or aggrandizement of one branch at the expense of another. The Judiciary Act of 1789 established six Supreme Court justices, with the number later being fixed at nine by Congress. The basic theory of American judicial review holds that the written Constitution is the fundamental law within the states, with the powers of all departments limited to the grants enumerated in the Constitution. Courts are expected to enforce the provisions of the Constitution as the supreme law of the land and to refuse to enforce anything in conflict with it.
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The Constitution was written to put governance in the hands of the people
The United States Constitution was written in 1787 and ratified in 1788, becoming the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world. The document was authored by the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, establishing a framework for the United States government.
The Constitution was created with the intention of putting governance in the hands of the people, as stated in its preamble: "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." This fundamental principle of freedom and democracy is what sets the US Constitution apart and has inspired the world.
The Constitution's first three articles embody the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. This ensures that power is distributed and that the people have a say in how they are governed. The legislative branch consists of a bicameral Congress, the executive branch is led by the President, and the judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
The process of ratification further emphasized the role of the people in governance. Article VII of the Constitution established that ratification by the conventions of nine states would be sufficient to establish the Constitution. This process, involving state conventions and culminating in the approval of the people, demonstrated that the Constitution was intended to be a governing document for and by the people.
The Constitution has been described as a "charter of government" and the "most powerful vision of freedom ever expressed." It has served as a source of inspiration, changing the course of world history by empowering citizens and promoting democratic ideals. The creation of the US Constitution was a significant moment in the history of governance, shifting power dynamics and establishing a framework for a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution of the United States is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world. It is the supreme law of the United States and outlines the fundamental laws and principles of the country.
The Constitution is written at the highest level as it is the supreme law of the land in the United States. It serves as the framework for the US government and outlines the separation of powers into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial.
Yes, the Constitution can be amended through an extraordinary legislative process involving a national proposal followed by state ratification. This process has been used to address issues such as the lack of a bill of rights and the protection of fundamental civil rights.
