Malcolm Rivera
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 delegates, with George Reed signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total to 39 signatures. The Constitution established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting relations with foreign governments. The framers of the Constitution, wary about centralized power and loyal to their states, created a powerful central government. The Constitution's main provisions include seven articles that define the basic framework of the federal government, with the first three articles embodying the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing federal authority between the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of government.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date approved | September 17, 1787 |
| Number of signers | 39 |
| Location of approval | Philadelphia |
| Type of government | Federal |
| Powers | More specific powers, including those related to conducting relations with foreign governments |
| Branches | Legislative, Executive, and Judicial |
| Number of articles | Seven |
| Amendments | Outlined in Article V |
| Previous constitution | Articles of Confederation |
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What You'll Learn
- The Constitution established a federal government with more specific powers
- It superseded the Articles of Confederation
- It included seven articles that define the basic framework of the federal government
- It was signed by 39 delegates
- It was submitted to the Congress of the Confederation in the nation's temporary capital, New York City
The Constitution established a federal government with more specific powers
The United States Constitution, signed on September 17, 1787, established the government of the United States. The Constitution's main provisions include seven articles that define the 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 I, Section 8 of the Constitution describes specific powers that belong to the federal government. These powers are referred to as "enumerated powers." The legislative powers of the federal government are vested in a Congress of the United States, which consists of a Senate and House of Representatives. The article establishes the manner of election and the qualifications of members of each body. Representatives must be at least 25 years old, be citizens of the United States for seven years, and live in the state they represent.
The Constitution also outlines the process for amending it. The amendment-making power rested with the legislature in some states, while in others, it was given to specially elected conventions. The amendment process was designed to strike a balance between flexibility and rigidity, allowing for changes while also ensuring the stability of the Constitution.
The Founders provided the national government with limited and enumerated powers, leaving the regulation of intrastate commerce to the states. This concept of "Enumerated Powers Federalism" ensured that state power was protected by limiting the federal government's ability to act. The Tenth Amendment reinforces this principle, stating that powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved for the states or the people.
The Constitution's establishment of a federal government with specific powers was a significant development in the history of the United States, providing a framework for the nation's governance and the relationship between the federal and state governments.
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It superseded the Articles of Confederation
The United States Constitution, approved on September 17, 1787, superseded the Articles of Confederation, which was the nation's first constitution. The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and served as a written document that established the functions of the national government of the United States after it declared independence from Great Britain.
The Articles of Confederation established a weak central government, which prevented individual states from conducting their own foreign diplomacy. However, the states retained considerable power, and the central government had insufficient authority to regulate commerce, levy taxes, or set commercial policies. It also could not effectively support a war effort or settle disputes between states.
The limitations of the Articles of Confederation became apparent in the years following the Revolutionary War. The country was on the brink of economic disaster, and the central government lacked the power to resolve quarrels between states. In May 1787, the Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia 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 frame of government.
The United States Constitution, which came into effect on March 4, 1789, established a stronger central government with 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 provided a process for amending it, which was designed to be balanced and flexible, allowing for necessary changes while also guarding against extreme facility that could lead to instability.
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It included seven articles that define the basic framework of the federal government
The United States Constitution, signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788, is a four-page document that established the government of the United States. It included seven articles that define the basic framework of the federal government.
The seven articles make up the structural constitution, with the first three articles embodying the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into three branches. The first article, Article I, describes the Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government. It establishes the manner of election and the qualifications of members of each body. It also establishes that the legislative branch is split into two different chambers – the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Article II describes the executive branch, which consists of the president and subordinate officers. This branch of the government manages the day-to-day operations of the government through various federal departments and agencies, such as the Department of Treasury. The president also has the power to make treaties with other nations, appoint federal judges, department heads, and ambassadors, and determine how to best run the country and military operations.
Article III outlines the judicial branch, which consists of the Supreme Court and other federal courts. It states that the court of last resort is the U.S. Supreme Court and that the U.S. Congress has the power to determine the size and scope of those courts below it. All judges are appointed for life unless they resign or are charged with misconduct.
Article IV defines the relationship between the states and the federal government. Article V outlines the process for amending the Constitution, and Article VI determines that the U.S. Constitution and all laws made from it are the "supreme Law of the Land." It also states that all officials must swear an oath to the Constitution. Finally, Article VII covers the ratification of the Constitution.
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It was signed by 39 delegates
The United States Constitution was signed by 39 delegates on September 17, 1787. The document, drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787, established the government of the United States. The Federal Convention convened in the State House (Independence Hall) in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787, to revise the Articles of Confederation. However, by mid-June, the delegates had decided to draft an entirely new frame of government.
The 39 signatories to the Constitution represented 11 states, with the remaining delegate from New York, Alexander Hamilton, also agreeing to the proposal. The Constitution was then submitted to the Congress of the Confederation within three days of its signing.
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention created a model of government that relied on a series of checks and balances by dividing federal authority between the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. The Constitution's main provisions included seven articles that defined the basic framework of the federal government. The first three articles embodied the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Articles of Confederation had given the Confederation Congress rule-making and funding powers, but it lacked enforcement powers, the ability to regulate commerce, and the ability to print money. The Constitution, on the other hand, established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting foreign relations.
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It was submitted to the Congress of the Confederation in the nation's temporary capital, New York City
The United States Constitution, a four-page document, was drafted in the summer of 1787 and signed on September 17, 1787. It established the government of the United States and superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. Within three days of its signing, the Constitution was submitted to the Congress of the Confederation, which was then sitting in New York City, the nation's temporary capital.
New York City served as the nation's temporary capital until Congress chose a permanent location. The location of the new capital sparked heated debates, with several cities vying to be selected as the new capital. New York City was chosen as the temporary capital, in part because of the efforts of Alexander Hamilton, America's first Treasury Secretary, who was based in the city. Hamilton viewed this financial plan as essential and was willing to trade away his ambition of keeping New York City as the nation's capital permanently.
During its time as the temporary capital, Federal Hall in New York City served as the seat of the U.S. Congress, and it was the site of many of the earliest and fiercest political debates in American history. Federal Hall was also the location of George Washington's inauguration as America's first president. The building, originally known as Old City Hall, was elaborately redesigned to accommodate the new federal government and was renamed Federal Hall.
The selection of a permanent capital city was a highly controversial topic, with New York City, a commercially oriented city, competing with other more conservative and rural locations. In July 1790, Congress voted to establish the permanent capital on the banks of the Potomac River, with Philadelphia designated as the temporary capital until the new site was ready.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitutional Convention was assembled to address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation. The delegates to the convention created a new model of government that relied upon a series of checks and balances by dividing federal authority between the Legislative, the Judicial, and the Executive branches.
The US Constitution included seven articles that defined the basic framework of the federal government. The first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
America's first constitution, 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, couldn't regulate commerce, or print money. The states' disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the young country apart.
The Anti-Federalists opposed the Constitution because it created a powerful central government that reminded them of the monarchy they had just overthrown, and it lacked a bill of rights. Benjamin Franklin, one of the 39 signers, also expressed his reservations about certain parts of the Constitution.
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