Jonah Patel
The Constitution of the United States was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 of 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, establishing the government of the United States. The document was drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787 and was ratified on June 21, 1788. The Constitution is composed of the Preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments, with the first 10 amendments known as the Bill of Rights. It is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of signing | September 17, 1787 |
| Date of ratification | June 21, 1788 |
| Date of superseding the Articles of Confederation | March 4, 1789 |
| Location of drafting | Independence Hall, Philadelphia |
| Number of articles | Seven |
| Number of amendments | 27 |
| First three words | We the People |
| First 10 amendments | Bill of Rights |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
The US Constitution, the world's longest-surviving written charter of government, was signed on September 17, 1787. The four-page document was drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787. The convention was 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 throughout the summer. Some of the chief points of contention were how much power to allow the central government, how many representatives in Congress to allow each state, and how these representatives should be elected. The Constitution was a compromise between those who wanted a strong central government to provide order and stability and those who feared giving too much power to a central authority.
The document was dated "the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord" 1787, and "of the Independence of the United States of America the Twelfth." It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. 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).
To encourage all Americans to learn more about the Constitution, Congress established Constitution Week, to begin each year on September 17, the date in 1787 when delegates to the Convention signed the Constitution.
Understanding Texas' Abandoned Vehicle Mechanics and Notices
You may want to see also
It superseded the Articles of Confederation
The US Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and served as the United States' first constitution.
The Articles of Confederation were drafted by John Dickinson, a delegate from Delaware, and established a league of friendship for the 13 sovereign and independent states. Each state retained "every Power... which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States". The Articles also outlined a Congress with representation not based on population—each state held one vote. Ratification by all 13 states was necessary, and this was achieved when Maryland ratified the Articles on February 2, 1781, and Congress was informed on March 1, 1781.
However, the Articles created a weak central government that lacked the power to regulate commerce, levy taxes, or set commercial policy. It also could not effectively support a war effort and lacked the power to settle disputes between states. The central government had little power to address quarrels between states over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade.
In May 1787, the Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation. The delegates soon realized that, rather than amend the existing Articles, they would need to draft an entirely new frame of government. The US Constitution was drafted in secret over the summer of 1787 and signed on September 17, 1787.
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).
Appellate Process: Constitutional Right or Judicial Creation?
You may want to see also
The Federal Convention convened in May 1787
The Federal Convention, also known as the Constitutional Convention, convened in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787, with the initial aim of revising the Articles of Confederation. The convention was attended by 55 representatives from the 13 original states, excluding Rhode Island, which was the only state that refused to send delegates. George Washington of Virginia, a proponent of a stronger national government, was elected to preside over the convention.
The convention was convened to address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation. The Articles of Confederation, which was the nation's first constitution, recognised the sovereignty of the states and limited the federal government's powers primarily to foreign affairs, excluding control of interstate commerce. The delegates to the convention, including James Madison of Virginia and Alexander Hamilton of New York, sought to create a new frame of government rather than revise the existing one.
Madison, who had studied republics and confederacies throughout history, drafted a document titled "Vices of the Political System of the United States" in April 1787. This document systematically evaluated the American political system and offered solutions, including a strong central government with compulsory taxation authority and the power to regulate interstate commerce. The delegates debated and redrafted the articles of the new Constitution throughout the summer of 1787, with the windows of the meeting hall nailed shut to keep the proceedings a secret.
The convention ultimately ratified the Constitution of the United States, which established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting relations with foreign governments. The Constitution included a series of checks and balances by dividing federal authority between the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. It also addressed issues related to slavery, the electoral college for selecting the president, and the powers of Congress. The final version of the Constitution was signed by 39 of the 55 delegates on September 17, 1787, and it came into effect in 1789, superseding the Articles of Confederation.
The Constitution's Preamble: Our Nation's Founding Principles
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The document was ratified in 1788
The United States Constitution, written in 1787, was ratified in 1788 and has been in operation since 1789. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Constitution is the world's longest-surviving written charter of government.
The document was signed on September 17, 1787, by delegates to the Constitutional Convention, which had convened in the State House (Independence Hall) in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787. The delegates had been tasked with revising the Articles of Confederation, but it soon became clear that they would instead be drafting an entirely new frame of government. The document was carefully debated and redrafted throughout the summer of 1787.
The Constitution's seven articles delineate the frame of the federal government, which 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 first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, with a system of checks and balances limiting the powers of each branch.
The document was ratified on June 21, 1788, and came into operation on March 4, 1789. The first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791.
Founders' Fears: The Constitution's Federalist Concerns
You may want to see also
The Constitution is the supreme law of the US
The Constitution of the United States is the country's supreme law, superseding the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, establishing the government of the United States. It is a four-page document drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787. The Federal Convention convened in the State House (Independence Hall) in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787, initially to revise the Articles of Confederation. However, it soon became clear that the convention would draft an entirely new frame of government.
The Constitution delineates the framework of the federal government, with its first three articles embodying 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 also outlines the rights and responsibilities of state governments and their relationship with the federal government.
The Constitution is the source of all government powers and provides important limitations to protect the fundamental rights of US citizens. It was created to establish a government with sufficient power to act on a national level while ensuring that fundamental rights were not at risk. This was achieved by separating governmental power into three branches with checks and balances to prevent any one branch from gaining supremacy. The Constitution also established the relationship between the states, requiring them to give "full faith and credit" to the laws, records, contracts, and judicial proceedings of other states.
The Constitution has been amended 27 times since its ratification. The process of making amendments is designed to be onerous to prevent arbitrary changes. An amendment may be proposed by a two-thirds vote of both Houses of Congress or by a convention called at the request of two-thirds of the states. Notable amendments include the Titles of Nobility Amendment (proposed in 1810), which would strip US citizenship from any citizen who accepted a foreign title of nobility, and the Child Labor Amendment (proposed in 1924), authorizing Congress to regulate and prohibit child labor.
The Constitution's Gifts: Our Rights and Freedoms
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 came into effect on March 4, 1789.
The US Constitution was drafted in Philadelphia, in the State House, also known as Independence Hall.
The US Constitution is composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial.
