Simone Lawson
The Constitution of the United States is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Constitution was written during the Philadelphia Convention, now known as the Constitutional Convention, which convened from May 25 to September 17, 1787, and was signed on the latter date. The Constitution was the result of delegates debating and redrafting the articles of the new Constitution in closed sessions throughout the summer of 1787.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date written | 25 May to 17 September 1787 |
| Location written | Philadelphia |
| Building written | Pennsylvania State House |
| Building written is now known as | Independence Hall |
| Date signed | 17 September 1787 |
| Number of delegates who signed | 38 |
| Total number of signatures | 39 |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
The US Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world. It is also the world's shortest and oldest national constitution. It is the fundamental framework of America's system of government. The Constitution separates the powers of government into three branches: the legislative branch, which makes the laws; the executive branch, which executes the laws; and the judicial branch, which interprets the laws. It sets up a system of checks and balances to ensure no one branch has too much power, and it divides power between the states and the federal government.
The Constitution was written and signed at a time when the young country was feared to be on the brink of collapse. 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 country apart. The delegates of the Constitutional Convention were tasked with revising the existing government, but they ended up creating a completely new one. Representing wildly different interests and views, they crafted compromises.
The ratification campaign for the Constitution was challenging due to opposition from Anti-Federalists, who fought against it because it created a powerful central government that reminded them of the one they had just overthrown, and it lacked a bill of rights. The Federalists, who supported the Constitution, needed to convert at least three states to secure ratification. The tide turned in Massachusetts, where the "vote now, amend later" compromise helped secure victory. Ratification by 9 of the 13 states enacted the new government.
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It superseded the Articles of Confederation
The United States Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, which served as the country's first constitution. The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and established a "league of friendship" for the 13 sovereign and independent states.
The Articles of Confederation outlined a Congress with representation not based on population, with each state holding one vote. The document also addressed issues such as state sovereignty, the powers granted to Congress, the establishment of a judiciary, western land claims, and voting procedures. However, the Articles of Confederation had limitations, particularly in terms of assembling delegates, raising funds, and regulating commerce. The central government lacked sufficient power to regulate commerce, levy taxes, or set commercial policy.
As the Confederation Congress attempted to govern the growing number of states, it faced challenges due to the limitations on the central government's authority. The Articles required more than a simple majority to pass legislation related to fundamental issues, which hindered the legislature's effectiveness. Additionally, the Articles gave Congress the authority to regulate and fund the Continental Army, but it lacked the power to compel states to comply with requests for troops or funding, leaving the military vulnerable.
The final draft of the Articles of Confederation was completed on November 15, 1777, and it served as the United States' first constitution until 1789 when the present-day Constitution went into effect. The process of ratification took several years, with Virginia being the first state to ratify on December 16, 1777, and Maryland being the last holdout state, finally ratifying on February 2, 1781.
The Constitution of the United States, which superseded the Articles of Confederation, was drafted in 1787 by a committee including James Madison and Alexander Hamilton. It established a federal government with three branches: the legislative, consisting of a bicameral Congress; the executive, consisting of the President and subordinate officers; and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts. The Constitution also delineated the rights and responsibilities of state governments and their relationship to the federal government.
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The Constitution established the separation of powers
The United States Constitution, the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution, was written in 1787. The document was drafted by a Committee of Detail, which included John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth, and James Wilson. The committee reported a draft on August 6, 1787, which included a preamble and twenty-three articles embodying fifty-seven sections.
The legislative branch, as outlined in Article I of the Constitution, consists of the bicameral Congress. This branch is responsible for creating and passing laws. The executive branch, as outlined in Article II, consists of the President and subordinate officers. This branch is responsible for executing the laws created by the legislative branch. The judicial branch, as outlined in Article III, consists of the Supreme Court and other federal courts. This branch is responsible for interpreting the laws and ensuring they align with the Constitution.
Each branch of government has specific powers and responsibilities, and they are designed to serve as checks and balances on each other. For example, the legislative branch can pass laws, but the executive branch can veto them, and the judicial branch can review the constitutionality of laws and executive actions. This separation of powers aims to prevent the concentration of excessive power in any one branch and protect against arbitrary governance.
The concept of separation of powers has been further reinforced through judicial review, which gives the judiciary the power to determine if executive actions or laws passed by the legislature violate the Constitution. This check on the other branches ensures that the Constitution remains the supreme law of the land and cannot be overridden by ordinary legislation.
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It was drafted in secret during the Constitutional Convention
The United States Constitution was drafted in secret during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The convention was held in Philadelphia, and the delegates shuttered the windows of the State House to ensure secrecy so that they could speak freely. James Madison voted in favor of secrecy, believing that it would prevent misrepresentations and mistakes, and allow delegates to consider issues and change their minds without the pressure of public opinion. In a letter to James Monroe, Madison further justified the rule of secrecy, stating that it would "secure the requisite freedom of discussion" and "save both the Convention and Community from a thousand erroneous and perhaps mischievous reports".
The convention was convened due to fears that the young country was on the brink of collapse. America's first constitution, the Articles of Confederation, had given the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers and could not regulate commerce or print money. There were also disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade that threatened to tear the country apart. Alexander Hamilton helped convince Congress to organize a Grand Convention of state delegates to revise the Articles of Confederation.
The deputies debated proposed plans and, on July 24, 1787, a substantial agreement was reached, and a Committee of Detail was appointed. This committee included John Rutledge of South Carolina, Edmund Randolph of Virginia, Nathaniel Gorham of Massachusetts, Oliver Ellsworth of Connecticut, and James Wilson of Pennsylvania. On August 6, they reported a draft that included a preamble and twenty-three articles, embodying fifty-seven sections. Debate continued until September 8, when a new Committee of Style was named to revise the draft. This committee included William Samuel Johnson of Connecticut, Alexander Hamilton of New York, Gouverneur Morris of Pennsylvania, James Madison of Virginia, and Rufus King of Massachusetts. They reported the draft in approximately its final shape on September 12, and on September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with George Reed signing for the absent John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total to 39 signatures.
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 remaining articles outline concepts of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments, the relationship between the states and the federal government, and the shared process of constitutional amendment. The Constitution of the United States is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world.
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The document was ratified by nine of the 13 states
The United States Constitution, written in 1787, was ratified by nine of the 13 states. This was a remarkable achievement, as the delegates tasked with revising the existing government ended up creating an entirely new system. The Constitution was crafted by delegates with diverse interests and views, resulting in a powerful central government that carefully balanced state and federal powers.
The document was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 delegates, with George Reed signing on behalf of the absent John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total signatures to 39. The signing took place in Philadelphia, in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. This was the same location where the Declaration of Independence had been signed in 1776.
The process of ratification was not easy, as the Anti-Federalists strongly opposed the Constitution. They argued that it created a central government reminiscent of the one they had just overthrown, and they criticised it for lacking a bill of rights. However, the Federalists, who believed in a strong central government, managed to secure the necessary nine states for ratification. By January 9, 1788, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut had already approved the Constitution, with the remaining four states eventually following suit.
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 remaining articles elaborate on concepts of federalism, outlining the rights and responsibilities of state governments, their relationship with the federal government, and the process of constitutional amendment.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was written in 1787 during the Philadelphia Convention, also known as the Constitutional Convention.
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 out of 41 delegates present.
The US Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States of America on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it.
