Isabella Carter
The US Constitution, the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force, was signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788. The four-page document, composed of the Preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments, established the government of the United States. It was drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention, which convened from May 25 to September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date written | Summer of 1787 |
| Date signed | September 17, 1787 |
| Date ratified | June 21, 1788 |
| Location written | Philadelphia |
| Location signed | Independence Hall, Philadelphia |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Number of articles | 7 |
| Number of amendments | 27 |
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What You'll Learn
- The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
- It was written during the Philadelphia Convention, also known as the Constitutional Convention
- The Constitution is composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments
- The first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers
- The Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
The Constitution was drafted in Philadelphia, in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. The process began on May 14, 1787, when the Federal Convention convened to revise the Articles of Confederation. However, it soon became clear that the convention would not merely amend the existing Articles but instead draft an entirely new framework for the government. The delegates to the Constitutional Convention worked through the summer of 1787, debating and redrafting the articles of the new Constitution.
The Constitution's main provisions include seven articles that define the basic 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). The remaining articles elaborate on concepts of federalism, outlining the rights and responsibilities of state governments and their relationship to the federal government.
The signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787, established the government of the United States. However, it did not immediately go into effect after being signed. The Constitution needed to be ratified by the states and approved by the people. This process was completed on June 21, 1788, when the Constitution became the supreme law of the land. The original signed document is now stored in the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
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It was written during the Philadelphia Convention, also known as the Constitutional Convention
The United States Constitution was written during the Philadelphia Convention, also known as the Constitutional Convention, which convened from May 25 to September 17, 1787. The convention was held in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. General George Washington was unanimously elected president of the convention.
The Constitutional Convention was convened to revise the Articles of Confederation. However, it soon became clear that, rather than amending the existing Articles, the Convention would draft an entirely new framework for the government. The delegates to the convention debated and redrafted the articles of the new Constitution in closed sessions throughout the summer. The chief points at issue included how much power to grant the central government, the number of representatives in Congress for each state, and how these representatives should be elected—directly by the people or by state legislators.
The resulting document, consisting of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments, established the government of the United States. It was signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791.
The Constitution delineates the framework of the federal government, with the first three articles embodying the doctrine of the separation of powers. The legislative branch is described in Article I, the executive branch in Article II, and the judicial branch in Article III. Articles IV, V, and VI outline the rights and responsibilities of state governments and their relationship to the federal government, while Article VII establishes the procedure for state ratification.
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The Constitution is composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments
The United States Constitution, the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in the world, was drafted in 1787 and signed on September 17 of the same year. It is a four-page document that established the government of the United States. The Constitution is composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments.
The preamble of the Constitution begins with the words, "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
The seven articles of the Constitution define the basic 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, which describes the legislative branch, establishes the manner of election and the qualifications of members of each body. For example, representatives must be at least 25 years old, be US citizens for seven years, and live in the state they represent. Article IV, Article V, and Article VI embody concepts of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments, the states in relation to the federal government, and the shared process of constitutional amendment. Article VII establishes the procedure used by the 13 states to ratify the Constitution.
The Constitution has been amended 27 times since its adoption. The first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791. Amendments to the Constitution can be proposed either by Congress, with a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, or by a national convention called by two-thirds of the state legislatures. For an amendment to be ratified, it must be approved by three-fourths of the states, either through the consent of the state legislatures or state ratifying conventions.
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The first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers
The United States Constitution, the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution, was drafted in secret during the summer of 1787 and signed on September 17, 1787. The Constitution established the government of the United States, and its first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers.
The doctrine of the separation of powers is a well-known concept derived from the text and structure of the US Constitution. The doctrine is commonly associated with the French Enlightenment political philosopher Montesquieu, who described the various forms of distribution of political power among a legislature, an executive, and a judiciary. Montesquieu argued that each power should only exercise its functions, and that the judicial branch was generally the most important of the three powers, independent and unchecked.
The first three articles of the US Constitution divide the federal government into three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial. Article I describes the legislative branch, consisting of the bicameral Congress. This article establishes the manner of election and the qualifications of members of each body, with representatives being at least 25 years old, US citizens for seven years, and living in the state they represent. Article II describes the executive branch, consisting of the President and subordinate officers. Finally, Article III describes the judicial branch, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
The separation of powers doctrine aims to preserve individual liberty by ensuring that each branch of the federal government exercises one of the three basic functions of governance. This system of checks and balances prevents the arbitrary exercise of power and protects against oppressive government action.
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The Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force
The United States Constitution, originally comprising seven articles, is the oldest and longest-standing codified national constitution in force. Drafted in secret during the summer of 1787 by delegates to the Constitutional Convention, this four-page document was signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified in 1788 before being introduced into operation in 1789. The Constitution established the federal government of the United States, outlining the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
The Constitution's first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The legislative branch consists of a bicameral Congress, with a Senate and House of Representatives. The executive branch is led by the President and subordinate officers, while the judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
Articles IV, V, and VI of the Constitution outline concepts of federalism, detailing the rights and responsibilities of state governments, their relationship with the federal government, and the shared process of constitutional amendment. Article VII establishes the procedure for the 13 states to ratify the Constitution.
The Constitution is considered a model of cooperative statesmanship and compromise, with its provisions serving as the fundamental law of the land. It can only be changed through an extraordinary legislative process involving national proposal and state ratification. The powers granted to each branch of government are limited to those enumerated in the Constitution.
While some countries, like the United Kingdom, have unwritten constitutions based on common law and practices, the United States Constitution stands as the oldest single document laying out a comprehensive framework for governing a nation. Its influence extends beyond the borders of the United States, as it inspired the constitutions of several other countries, including Switzerland.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was written in 1787.
The US Constitution was drafted over the course of the summer of 1787. The delegates of the Constitutional Convention debated and redrafted the articles of the Constitution over several months.
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787.
The US Constitution was written in Philadelphia, in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall.
The US Constitution is a four-page document that established the government of the United States. It consists of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights.
