Isabella Carter
The United States Constitution, the first permanent constitution, was drafted in secret during the summer of 1787 by delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The four-page document was signed on September 17, 1787, and established the government of the United States. The Constitution has been amended 27 times since it became operational in 1789, with the first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, offering specific protections of individual liberty and justice and restricting the powers of the government within US states.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of signing | 17 September 1787 |
| Date of drafting | Summer 1787 |
| Date of ratification | 21 June 1788 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Number of amendments | 27 |
| First 10 amendments known as | Bill of Rights |
| Date first 10 amendments ratified | 15 December 1791 |
| Date Constitution became operational | 1789 |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
The US Constitution, a four-page document, was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates, establishing the government of the United States. The signing took place in Philadelphia, where the Federal Convention had convened in the State House (Independence Hall) on May 14, 1787, to revise the Articles of Confederation.
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention drafted the Constitution in secret during the summer of 1787. They debated and redrafted the articles of the new Constitution in closed sessions throughout the summer. The chief points of contention included how much power to allow the central government, the number of representatives in Congress for each state, and how these representatives should be elected.
The delegates resolved their disputes through a series of compromises, including the Great Compromise, which created a bicameral legislature with a Senate and a House of Representatives. Despite these resolutions, not all delegates were happy with the final document. Some, like Samuel Hopkins and George Mason, criticised the Constitution, with the latter stating that he would have preferred to chop off his hand than sign the document.
The Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, and became operational in 1789. It has since been amended 27 times, with the first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, being ratified on December 15, 1791. The US Constitution is now housed in the National Archives, alongside the Declaration of Independence.
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It was ratified on June 21, 1788
The US Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788. This was a significant moment in the history of the United States, as it marked the official adoption of the Constitution as the supreme law of the land.
The process of creating and ratifying the Constitution was a lengthy and complex one. It began with the convening of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787. The delegates to the convention, including prominent figures such as George Washington and James Madison, debated and drafted the articles of the Constitution over the course of the summer.
The final document, signed on September 17, 1787, established the government of the United States and outlined the powers and responsibilities of that government. However, it was not until almost a year later, on June 21, 1788, that the Constitution was officially ratified.
The ratification process itself was a critical step in the implementation of the Constitution. Ratification by the states gave the Constitution its legal authority and legitimacy. According to Article VII of the Constitution, ratification by nine states was required for the document to take effect. By June 1788, nine states had ratified the Constitution, allowing Congress to set March 4, 1789, as the date for the new government to begin proceedings.
The ratification of the Constitution on June 21, 1788, was a pivotal moment in American history, marking the culmination of a period of intense political debate and compromise. It established a framework for the US government that has endured, with amendments, to the present day.
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The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and became operational in 1789. It has since been amended 27 times.
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution are collectively known as the Bill of Rights. James Madison wrote these amendments to limit government power and protect individual liberties. The Bill of Rights became law on December 15, 1791, after Virginia's legislature became the final state to ratify the amendments.
The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution because the Constitution lacked limits on government power. Federalists advocated for a strong national government, believing that the people and states kept any powers not given to the federal government. Anti-Federalists, on the other hand, wanted power to remain with state and local governments and favoured a bill of rights to safeguard individual liberty.
The First Amendment protects the freedom of religion, speech, and the press, as well as the right to assemble and petition the government. The Second Amendment protects the right to bear arms, while the Third Amendment states that no soldier shall be quartered in any house without the owner's consent. The Fourth Amendment safeguards citizens' right to be free from unreasonable government intrusion in their homes and requires a warrant for searches. The Fifth Amendment provides several protections for people accused of crimes, including the right to a grand jury, protection against double jeopardy, and the right to just compensation for property. It also includes the right against self-incrimination and the right to due process of law. The Sixth Amendment provides additional protections for people accused of crimes, such as the right to a speedy and public trial and an impartial jury. The Seventh Amendment extends the right to a jury trial in Federal civil cases, while the Eighth Amendment bars excessive bail and fines and cruel and unusual punishment.
The Ninth Amendment states that the listing of specific rights in the Constitution does not deny other rights not explicitly mentioned. Finally, the Tenth Amendment states that the Federal Government only has the powers delegated to it in the Constitution.
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The Constitution has been amended 27 times
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and became operational in 1789. Since then, it has been amended 27 times. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791. These amendments offered specific protections of individual liberty and justice and restricted the powers of the government within US states.
The process of amending the Constitution is deliberately difficult and time-consuming. A proposed amendment must be passed by a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, or by a national convention called by two-thirds of state legislatures. The second step requires ratification by three-fourths of the states, either through the consent of state legislatures or state ratifying conventions.
The majority of the 17 later amendments expand individual civil rights protections. For example, amendments in the 20th century gave women the right to vote, abolished poll taxes, and lowered the minimum voting age. Other amendments address federal authority or modify government processes and procedures.
Amendments to the US Constitution are appended to the original document, which was handwritten on five pages of parchment by Jacob Shallus. The permanent constitution has been interpreted, supplemented, and implemented by a large body of federal constitutional law and has influenced the constitutions of other nations.
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The Great Compromise: a bicameral legislature with a Senate and House of Representatives
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and became operational in 1789. It has been amended 27 times since then.
The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise or the Sherman Compromise, was a critical component of the US Constitution. It addressed the contentious issue of congressional representation and resolved differences among the states. The Great Compromise established a bicameral legislature, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives, with each chamber having distinct representation rules.
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 were faced with the challenging task of determining how to represent the states in Congress equitably. The Virginia Plan, proposed by James Madison and introduced by Edmund Randolph, advocated for a bicameral legislature with representation in both houses proportional to the size of the state. This proposal was opposed by delegates from smaller states, who argued that larger states already contributed more financially and defensively, and thus should not have a disproportionate influence on the central government.
To address these concerns, a compromise committee was formed, leading to the development of the Great Compromise. The plan retained the bicameral legislature but incorporated different representation rules for each chamber. The House of Representatives would have proportional representation, with each state having one representative for every 40,000 inhabitants, including three-fifths of the state's enslaved population. This chamber was responsible for initiating legislation related to the federal budget, revenues, and taxation, reflecting its focus on popular representation. On the other hand, the Senate provided for equal state representation, with each state having an equal vote, regardless of its population.
The Great Compromise was a pivotal moment in the drafting of the US Constitution, as it balanced the interests of large and small states. It ensured that the legislative power was divided between two chambers, the House of Representatives, reflecting the population-based representation, and the Senate, providing equal representation for the states. This compromise laid the foundation for the legislative structure and representation that continues to shape American politics today.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788.
Since the Constitution became operational in 1789, it has been amended 27 times.
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution are known collectively as the Bill of Rights. They were ratified on December 15, 1791.
