Jonah Patel
The United States Constitution, America's first written constitution, was drafted in 1787 at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The convention was convened to amend the Articles of Confederation, which had become inadequate in addressing the young nation's needs. The Constitution was designed to establish a powerful central government, with a bicameral (two-house) Congress, an elected chief executive, and an appointed judicial branch. It consisted of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments, with the first 10 amendments known as the Bill of Rights. The document was ratified by 9 of the 13 states, enacting a new form of government that balanced federal and state powers and has since become one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions worldwide.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Written by | Jacob Shallus |
| Number of articles | 7 |
| Number of amendments | 27 |
| First 10 amendments | Bill of Rights |
| Ratified on | June 21, 1788 |
| Signed on | September 17, 1787 |
| Number of delegates who signed | 38 |
| Total signatures | 39 |
| Location | Independence Hall, Philadelphia |
| Dates of convention | May 25 to September 17, 1787 |
| Number of states represented | 12 |
| State not represented | Rhode Island |
| Number of states required for ratification | 9 of 13 |
| Number of states with pro-Constitution majority | 6 of 13 |
| Number of delegates | 55 |
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What You'll Learn
The Articles of Confederation
The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia between May 25 and September 17, 1787, with General George Washington elected unanimously as its president. The convention's initial mandate was limited to amending the Articles of Confederation, but delegates almost immediately began considering measures to replace them. The first proposal discussed, introduced by delegates from Virginia, called for a bicameral (two-house) Congress that was to be elected on a proportional basis based on state population, an elected chief executive, and an appointed judicial branch. An alternative to the Virginia Plan, known as the New Jersey Plan, retained the legislative structure but also called for an elected executive.
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The role of Congress
The U.S. Constitution is composed of the Preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments, the first 10 of which are known as the Bill of Rights. The first permanent constitution, it is interpreted, supplemented, and implemented by a large body of federal constitutional law and has influenced the constitutions of other nations.
The original U.S. Constitution was handwritten on five pages of parchment by Jacob Shallus. It was signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788. The drafting of the Constitution, often referred to as its framing, was completed at the Constitutional Convention, which assembled at Independence Hall in Philadelphia between May 25 and September 17, 1787. The convention's initial mandate was limited to amending the Articles of Confederation, which had proven ineffective in meeting the young nation's needs. However, delegates quickly began considering measures to replace the Articles.
Congress also had a crucial role in the legislative process. The legislative powers were vested in a Congress consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The House of Representatives was to be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the states, with qualifications similar to those of electors in the most numerous branch of the state legislature. Each House could judge the elections, returns, and qualifications of its members and determine its rules of proceeding. A majority was required for quorum, and each House could keep a journal of its proceedings, publishing them if desired.
Additionally, Congress played a role in the selection of the President. The original Constitution outlined the President's term, powers, and method of selection, which included the Electoral College system. The specific process of electing the President, including the role of electors, is outlined in the original document.
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State legislatures
The drafting of the US Constitution, often referred to as its framing, was completed at the Constitutional Convention, which assembled at Independence Hall in Philadelphia between May 25 and September 17, 1787. The convention was initially intended to amend the Articles of Confederation, which had proven ineffective in meeting the young nation's needs. However, delegates soon began considering measures to replace the Articles, as they believed the central government had insufficient power to regulate commerce, levy taxes, or effectively support a war effort.
The delegates to the convention were chosen by the state legislatures of 12 of the 13 original states, with Rhode Island refusing to send delegates. The state legislatures played a crucial role in selecting representatives to participate in the Constitutional Convention and contribute to the drafting of the Constitution.
The original US Constitution was handwritten on five pages of parchment by Jacob Shallus. It consisted of a preamble, seven articles, and amendments. The first three articles addressed the structure and powers of the federal government, including the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The state legislatures were particularly relevant to the legislative branch, as the House of Representatives was composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states, with qualifications similar to those for electors in the most numerous branch of the state legislature.
The state legislatures also had a role in the amendment process. The Articles of Confederation provided that amendments were to be proposed by Congress and ratified by the unanimous vote of all 13 state legislatures. However, this proved challenging, as it required unanimous approval from all state legislatures, hindering constitutional reform. To address this flaw, the amendment process crafted during the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention aimed to balance pliancy and rigidity. It allowed for amendments to be proposed and ratified by specially elected conventions or state legislatures, depending on the state.
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Amendments
The US Constitution is composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The first ten amendments are known as the Bill of Rights. The first permanent constitution, it has been interpreted, supplemented, and implemented by a large body of federal constitutional law and has influenced the constitutions of other nations.
The US Constitution was drafted at the Constitutional Convention, which assembled in Philadelphia between May 25 and September 17, 1787. The convention's initial mandate was to amend the Articles of Confederation, which had proven ineffective in meeting the needs of the young nation. 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, could not regulate commerce, or print money.
The delegates to the convention were chosen by the state legislatures of 12 of the 13 original states; Rhode Island refused to send delegates. The delegates came up with a completely new form of government, creating a powerful central government. They crafted compromises, including the Connecticut Compromise or "Great Compromise", which proposed proportional representation for seats in the House of Representatives based on population, with people voting for representatives. This compromise ended the stalemate between patriots and nationalists, leading to numerous other compromises.
The amendment process crafted during the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention was designed to establish a balance between pliancy and rigidity. It aimed to guard against both extreme facility, which would render the Constitution too mutable, and extreme difficulty, which might perpetuate its discovered faults. The power to make amendments rested with the legislature in three of the states, and in the other five, it was given to specially elected conventions.
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Ratification
The founders set the terms for ratifying the Constitution, bypassing the state legislatures due to concerns about relinquishing power to a national government. Instead, they called for special ratifying conventions in each state. Ratification by nine of the thirteen states was required to enact the new government. The Federalists, who supported a strong central government, faced opposition from the Anti-Federalists, who were concerned about the concentration of power and the absence of a bill of rights.
The ratification campaign was intense, and at the time, only six of the thirteen states reported a pro-Constitution majority. The tide turned in Massachusetts, where a "vote now, amend later" compromise helped secure victory. Eventually, eleven state delegations and Alexander Hamilton, the lone remaining delegate from New York, agreed to the proposal. On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with George Reed signing on behalf of the absent John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total to 39 signatures.
Within days of its signing, the Constitution was submitted to the Congress of the Confederation in New York City. Members of Congress could have rejected it, but they voted unanimously on September 28 to forward the proposal to the thirteen states for their ratification. Ratification by nine of the thirteen states was achieved, and the new government was established. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was designed to establish a powerful central government, with a separation of powers between the legislature, executive, and judiciary. It also provided for a system of checks and balances to prevent the abuse of power. The Constitution was also designed to protect individual liberties and establish a framework for the US government.
The original Constitution was drafted in response to the failures of the Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution. The Articles gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers, the ability to regulate commerce, and the power to tax. This led to disputes between the states over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade, threatening to tear the young country apart.
One of the key compromises was the Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise, which proposed proportional representation for seats in the House of Representatives based on population, with equal representation for each state in the Senate. Another compromise was the Three-Fifths Compromise, which balanced sectional interests. Additionally, there were compromises on presidential term limits, powers, and the method of selection, as well as the jurisdiction of the federal judiciary.
