Omar Bennett
The US Constitution, the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force, was drafted in 1787 and ratified in 1788. It was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 of 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, also known as the Philadelphia Convention, which was conducted in secret. The Constitution was a charter of government that superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789, establishing the government of the United States. It consists of the Preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments, the first 10 of which are known as the Bill of Rights.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date written | Summer of 1787 |
| Date signed | September 17, 1787 |
| Date ratified | June 21, 1788 |
| Number of articles | 7 |
| Number of amendments | 27 |
| First 10 amendments known as | The Bill of Rights |
| Date the Bill of Rights was ratified | December 15, 1791 |
| Date the US Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation | March 4, 1789 |
| Date the Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress | November 15, 1777 |
| Date the Articles of Confederation went into effect | March 1, 1781 |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was written in 1787
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. The Constitution's first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial. The legislative branch consists of a bicameral Congress, the executive branch consists of the President and subordinate officers, and the judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
Articles IV, V, and VI of the US Constitution describe the rights and responsibilities of state governments, the relationship between the states and 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 The Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, and it superseded the Articles of Confederation on March 4, 1789, becoming the supreme law of the United States of America.
The US Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world. It is a model of cooperative statesmanship and the art of compromise, and it has successfully guided the US government, safeguarded the rights of the states and the American people, and ensured the nation's evolution.
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It superseded the Articles of Confederation
The US Constitution was written and signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, which was the nation's first constitution. The Articles of Confederation came into effect on March 1, 1781 and established a "league of friendship" between the 13 independent states. However, the Articles of Confederation led to a weak federal government that was unable to effectively regulate commerce, levy taxes, control the printing of money, settle disputes between states, or conduct foreign policy.
The US Constitution aimed to address these issues by creating a stronger federal government with three branches: the legislative, consisting of the bicameral Congress; the executive, consisting of the President and subordinate officers; and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts. This doctrine of separation of powers is embodied in the first three articles of the Constitution.
The process of drafting the US Constitution began with the calling of a convention of state delegates in Philadelphia on February 21, 1787, to propose revisions to the Articles of Confederation. The convention was intended to "render the federal constitution adequate to the exigencies of government and the preservation of the Union". However, it soon became clear that rather than amending the existing Articles, a completely new form of government would be established.
The US Constitution was drafted in secret during the Constitutional Convention, which convened from May 25 to September 17, 1787. The final document was signed by 39 of the 55 delegates present, although notable figures such as Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were absent as they were on diplomatic missions in Europe. The Constitution was then submitted to the Congress of the Confederation in New York City, which voted unanimously to forward the proposal to the thirteen states for their ratification.
The US Constitution has been revised and amended over time, with 27 amendments in total as of 2023. The first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791. The US Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world. It has successfully guided the US government, safeguarded the rights of the states and citizens, and ensured the nation's evolution as society changed.
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The Constitution was ratified in 1788
The United States Constitution, the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force, was signed on September 17, 1787. However, it was ratified on June 21, 1788, and came into effect on March 4, 1789, superseding the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution. The Constitution was drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787. The Federal Convention first convened in the State House (now known as Independence Hall) in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787, with the intention of revising the Articles of Confederation. However, it soon became clear that a new frame of government was required.
The Constitution was signed by 39 of the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, including Alexander Hamilton, the lone remaining delegate from New York. Thomas Jefferson's ideas were also included in the final document, but he did not sign it as he was on a diplomatic mission in Europe. The original, handwritten Constitution can be found in the National Archives in Washington, D.C. The Constitution is composed of the Preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments, with the first 10 amendments known as the Bill of Rights.
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 (Article IV, Article V, and Article VI) embody concepts of federalism, outlining the rights and responsibilities of state governments, their relationship 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 ratification of the Constitution in 1788 was a significant moment in American history, as it provided a framework for the government of the United States, safeguarded the rights of the states and the American people, and ensured the nation could evolve with changing society. The constitutionally-mandated censuses have played a crucial role in this evolution, aiding in the apportionment of the U.S. House of Representatives and recording the nation's demographic and economic changes.
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It has 27 amendments
The US Constitution, written in 1787, is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world. It is a charter of government that came to be ratified by the states, and it continues to be the supreme law of the land. The Constitution is composed of the Preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments, with the first 10 amendments known as the Bill of Rights.
The 27 amendments to the US Constitution reflect the changing nature of American society and values over time. The first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and include fundamental rights and freedoms such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly, as well as the right to keep and bear arms. These amendments also protect citizens against unreasonable searches and seizures and guarantee the right to a speedy trial and due process of law.
Subsequent amendments address a range of issues, including voting rights, civil rights, and the powers of the federal government. For example, the 12th amendment, ratified in 1804, outlines the procedure for electing the President and Vice President, while the 15th amendment, ratified in 1870, prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on race, colour, or previous servitude.
The most recent amendment to the Constitution is the 27th amendment, which was ratified in 1992. This amendment addresses congressional compensation and stipulates that any change in the salary of members of Congress will only take effect after the next election for representatives. This amendment is unique in that it was proposed in 1789 but took over 200 years to be ratified by the required number of states.
The process of amending the Constitution is outlined in Article V, which states that amendments can be proposed by a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress or by a national convention called by Congress at the request of two-thirds of the state legislatures. Ratification requires approval by three-fourths of the state legislatures or by ratifying conventions in three-fourths of the states. This process ensures that any changes to the Constitution reflect the will of the people and are supported by a broad consensus.
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The first 10 amendments are the Bill of Rights
The US Constitution was drafted in secret during the summer of 1787 and signed on September 17, 1787. It was intended to revise the Articles of Confederation, but instead, it introduced an entirely new form of government. The Constitution delineates the frame of the federal government, which is divided into three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial.
The first ten amendments to the Constitution make up the Bill of Rights. James Madison wrote these amendments to limit government power and protect individual liberties. The first of these amendments includes the freedom of speech and the freedom of religion, as well as prohibiting Congress from making laws establishing a religion. The Fourth Amendment protects citizens' right to be free from unreasonable government intrusion in their homes, requiring a warrant for searches and arrests. The Second Amendment guarantees the right to keep and bear arms.
The Bill of Rights also ensures protections such as due process and trial by jury. It was strongly influenced by the Virginia Declaration of Rights, written by George Mason, as well as English documents such as the Magna Carta, the Petition of Right, and the English Bill of Rights. The concepts codified in these amendments are built upon those in earlier documents, such as the Northwest Ordinance and the Massachusetts Body of Liberties.
The Bill of Rights became law on December 15, 1791, when Virginia's legislature ratified the amendments. The twelve articles of amendment had been officially submitted to the Legislatures of the several States for consideration on September 28, 1789. However, the process of ratification took time, with some states ratifying only some of the amendments and others ratifying none at all. For example, New Jersey ratified Articles One and Three through Twelve on November 20, 1789, but did not ratify Article Two until May 7, 1992.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was written in 1787.
The US Constitution was revised in 1788.
The US Constitution was written in Philadelphia, in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall.
The US Constitution was written to establish a new form of government, with the federal government divided into three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial.
There have been 27 amendments to the US Constitution, with the first 10 being known as the Bill of Rights.
