Malcolm Rivera
The United States Constitution, written in 1787, is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world. It was drafted in secret during the summer by 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and signed on September 17, 1787. The Constitution established the government of the United States and continues to be the supreme law of the land. It defines the principal organs of government and their jurisdictions, the basic rights of citizens, and the system of checks and balances that limits the powers of each branch.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year written | 1787 |
| Date signed | 17th of September, 1787 |
| Location written | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Location signed | Independence Hall, Philadelphia |
| Number of authors | 55 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Type of government | Democratic |
| Type of document | Charter |
| Ratification date | 1788 |
| First elections under Constitution | Late 1788 |
| Amendments proposed | 12 |
| Amendments ratified | 10 |
| Amendments adoption certified | 15th of December, 1791 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The Constitution was written in 1787
The United States Constitution, the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force, was written in 1787. It was drafted in secret during the summer of that year by 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, also known as the Philadelphia Convention. The Federal Convention convened in the State House (Independence Hall) in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787, to revise the Articles of Confederation. The delegates debated and redrafted the articles of the new Constitution in closed sessions throughout the summer. The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 members of the Constitutional Convention.
The Constitution established the government of the United States and continues to be the supreme law of the land. It defines the principal organs of government and their jurisdictions, as well as the basic rights of citizens. The document'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 Constitution was a revolutionary document, putting governance in the hands of the people. It established a representative form of government, with the legislative powers vested in a Congress consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The executive power was vested in the President of the United States, and the judicial power in the Supreme Court. The Constitution also set forth a system of checks and balances, limiting the powers of each branch of government.
The writing of the Constitution was inspired by the country's experience under the Articles of Confederation, which had attempted to retain the independence and sovereignty of the states. However, the Articles had deprived the national government of essential powers, and it became clear that a new frame of government was needed. The Constitution addressed this issue and has since served as a model of cooperative statesmanship and the art of compromise.
The Constitution's Historical Day of Birth
You may want to see also
It was signed on September 17, 1787
The United States Constitution, the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force, was signed on September 17, 1787. This date is now commemorated as Constitution Day, a federal observance that was established by law in 2004. Constitution Day requires educational institutions that receive federal funding to hold educational programs about the Constitution.
The Constitution was drafted in secret by 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787. The Federal Convention convened in the State House (now known as Independence Hall) in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787, to revise the Articles of Confederation. However, it soon became clear that, rather than amend the existing Articles, the Convention would draft an entirely new form of government.
The Constitution was a charter of government that was subsequently ratified by the states. It established the government of the United States and continues to be the supreme law of the land. The document consists of four pages and is now housed in the National Archives in Washington, D.C. The Constitution outlines the frame of the federal government, dividing it into three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial.
The signing of the Constitution was preceded by a series of events and influences. The country's experience under the Articles of Confederation, which attempted to retain state independence and sovereignty, informed the authors of the Constitution. However, the limitations of the Articles became evident between 1781 and 1787, particularly during Shays' Rebellion (1786-87) when the national government was unable to act effectively.
Founding Documents: The US Constitution's Formative Years
You may want to see also
The US Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing national constitution
The US Constitution, written in 1787, is the oldest and longest-standing national constitution still in use. It is a four-page document, signed on September 17, 1787, that established the government of the United States. The Constitution was drafted in secret by 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, also known as the Philadelphia Convention, during the summer of 1787. The Federal Convention initially convened in the State House (Independence Hall) in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787, to revise the Articles of Confederation. However, it soon became clear that, instead of amending the existing Articles, the Convention would draft an entirely new form of government.
The Constitution of the United States is a landmark document of the Western world. It is the fundamental law of the US federal system of government, defining the principal organs of government, their jurisdictions, and the basic rights of citizens. 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 US Constitution is the world's oldest and longest-standing national constitution, and it has inspired the trajectory of world history. Its creation put governance in the hands of the people, allowing them to select their form of government. The Constitution is a model of cooperative statesmanship and the art of compromise, demonstrating that a document can be neither too rigid nor too malleable to maintain its meaning and significance.
While the US Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing national constitution, there are earlier written constitutions of independent states. For example, the Swedish Constitution of 1772 was adopted by the king, and the Constitution of San Marino of 1600 is the oldest surviving constitution in the world. Additionally, the Bill of Rights 1689 of the United Kingdom, Canada, and other Commonwealth countries is older than the US Constitution and is still in force today.
The Written Constitution's Core Function: Law and Order
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$9.91 $32.5
The document was drafted in secret
The United States Constitution was drafted in the summer of 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The document was written in secret by 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, which had convened on May 25, 1787, to revise the Articles of Confederation.
The Federal Convention was held in the State House (now known as Independence Hall) in Philadelphia. The delegates to the convention were under an oath of secrecy. During the summer, they held closed sessions, debating and redrafting the articles of the new Constitution. The chief points at issue included how much power to allow the central government, how many representatives in Congress to permit from each state, and how these representatives should be elected.
The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 members of the convention. It was then published in a newspaper, The Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser, on September 19, 1787, marking the first time that Americans saw the Constitution. The document was not immediately effective, however, as it needed to be ratified by the people.
The Constitution was a charter of government that established the government of the United States. It is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world.
The Texas Constitution: A Historical Overview
You may want to see also
The Constitution was ratified by the states
The Constitution of the United States is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world. It was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 members of the Constitutional Convention, establishing the government of the United States. The Constitution was written during the Philadelphia Convention, now known as the Constitutional Convention, which convened from May 25 to September 17, 1787. The Federal Convention initially met to revise the Articles of Confederation, but it became clear that they would instead draft an entirely new frame of government.
The Constitution was written in secret by 55 delegates to the convention and was a charter of government that came to be ratified by the states. The document was signed at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, the same place the Declaration of Independence was signed. The Constitution did not go into effect immediately after it was signed; it needed to be approved by the people through the ratification process.
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 Constitution also sets forth a system of checks and balances, limiting the powers of each branch.
The Constitution was ratified by nine states in June 1788, as required by Article VII, which established the procedure for the 13 states to ratify the document. Congress set March 4, 1789, as the date for the new government to commence proceedings, and the first elections under the Constitution were held in 1788. The Constitution continues to be the supreme law of the land, and it has been an inspiration that changed the trajectory of world history, putting governance in the hands of the people.
Founding Fathers' Intent: The Constitution's Purpose
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was written in 1787.
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787.
The US Constitution was written in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The US Constitution was written by 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention.
The US Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world. It is the fundamental law of the US federal system of government and defines the basic rights of citizens.
