Malcolm Rivera
The US Constitution, the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution, was signed on September 17, 1787, after being drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention that summer. 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. Article I, which establishes the legislative branch, consists of Congress, or a Senate and House of Representatives. Article I, Section 8, enumerates Congress's powers, including the power to lay and collect taxes, regulate commerce, and establish uniform rules of naturalization. Article I, Section 8, Clause 8, also known as the Intellectual Property Clause, addresses copyrights and patents, promoting the progress of science and the useful arts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Amendments | 27 |
| First 10 Amendments | Known as the Bill of Rights |
| Date of Ratification of First 10 Amendments | December 15, 1791 |
| Article 1, Section 8 Powers | Congress can lay and collect taxes, regulate commerce, establish uniform rules of naturalization, and promote the progress of science and useful arts by securing exclusive rights for authors and inventors |
| Article 1, Section 8 Additional Powers | Declare war, define and punish piracies and felonies on the high seas, and organize militias |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
The US Constitution, composed of the Preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments, was signed on September 17, 1787. The signing of this document laid the framework for the United States government. The first 10 amendments to the Constitution, also known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791.
The Constitution was signed by representatives from 12 of the 13 original states, with Rhode Island being the only state not in attendance. The signing took place at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, concluding the four-month-long convention that began on May 25, 1787. The Constitution was then ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to approve it, and it officially went into effect.
The Bill of Rights, consisting of the first 10 amendments, was proposed by the First Congress of the United States on September 25, 1789. These amendments were designed to safeguard individual liberties and prevent government overreach. On December 15, 1791, ten of the proposed 12 amendments were ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures, with Article 1 never being ratified and Article 2 being ratified 203 years later in 1992 as the 27th Amendment.
The US Constitution, with its subsequent amendments, stands as the supreme law of the land, outlining the structure and powers of the federal government, as well as the rights and freedoms of its citizens. It has endured as a living document, open to interpretation and amendment, to adapt to the evolving needs and values of American society.
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Article 1, Section 8: Congress's enumerated powers
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788. It consists of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights.
Article I, Section 8 of the US Constitution outlines the powers of Congress in great detail. These powers are limited to those listed and those that are "'necessary and proper' to carry them out." Section 8 grants Congress the power to make laws necessary and proper to carry out its enumerated powers and other powers vested in it.
The enumerated powers of Congress include the power to:
- Lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises to pay off debts and provide for the common defence and general welfare of the US
- Borrow money on the credit of the US
- Regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the states
- Establish a uniform rule of naturalization and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the US
- Coin money, regulate its value, and fix the standard of weights and measures
- Provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and current coin of the US
- Establish a federal district to serve as the national capital and administer that district
- Declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water
- Raise and support armies
- Provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions
- Make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers and all other powers vested by the Constitution in the government of the US
Section 8 also includes the Necessary and Proper Clause, which grants Congress broad powers to make laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution its enumerated powers. This clause has been interpreted broadly, allowing the federal government to exercise powers not expressly delegated to it by the states under the Constitution.
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Article 1 was never ratified
The US Constitution, composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments, was signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788.
On September 25, 1789, the First Congress of the United States proposed 12 amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights. Ten of these proposed amendments were ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures on December 15, 1791, and constitute the first 10 amendments of the Constitution, or the US Bill of Rights.
Article 1, also known as the Congressional Apportionment Amendment, was one of the two amendments that were not ratified with the other ten. The amendment addresses the number of seats in the House of Representatives, aiming to ensure that the number of seats continues to represent small constituencies as the population of the states grows. It states:
> After the first enumeration required by the first article of the Constitution, there shall be one Representative for every thirty thousand, until the number shall amount to one hundred, after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall be not less than one hundred Representatives, nor less than one Representative for every forty thousand persons, until the number of Representatives shall amount to two hundred; after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall not be less than two hundred Representatives, nor more than one Representative for every fifty thousand persons.
As Congress did not set a time limit for its ratification, the Congressional Apportionment Amendment is still pending before the states. With 50 states today, 27 additional ratifications are necessary for the amendment to become part of the Constitution.
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The first 10 amendments form the Bill of Rights
The US Constitution, composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments, was signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788. The first ten amendments to the Constitution, proposed by James Madison, form what is known as the Bill of Rights. These amendments were proposed by the First Congress of the United States on September 25, 1789, and ratified on December 15, 1791.
The Bill of Rights 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, the English Bill of Rights, and the Massachusetts Body of Liberties. The amendments were designed to limit government power and protect individual liberties.
The First Amendment prohibits Congress from making laws that establish a religion or restrict the free exercise thereof, abridge the freedom of speech or of the press, or impede the right of people to assemble peacefully and petition the government. The Second Amendment states that "a well-regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed." The Third Amendment prohibits the quartering of soldiers in civilian homes without the owner's consent.
The Fourth Amendment protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures, requiring warrants to be issued only with probable cause. The Fifth Amendment provides several protections for those accused of crimes, including the right to a grand jury, protection against double jeopardy, freedom from self-incrimination, and the right to due process. The Sixth Amendment provides additional protections for the accused, including the right to a speedy and public trial, an impartial jury, and the right to legal counsel.
The Seventh Amendment extends the right to a jury trial in Federal civil cases, while the Eighth Amendment prohibits 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 retained by the people. Finally, the Tenth Amendment affirms that the Federal Government only has the powers delegated to it by the Constitution, and all other powers are reserved to the states or the people.
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The US Constitution has 27 amendments
The US Constitution is composed of the Preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The first 10 amendments, beginning with the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791, and form what is known as the "Bill of Rights". The Bill of Rights includes the famous First Amendment, which protects the freedom of speech, religion, and the press, among other things.
The 15th Amendment, ratified on February 3, 1870, is another important amendment that stipulates that any citizen of the United States has the right to vote regardless of their race and colour. This amendment also mentions those with a "previous condition of servitude," granting voting rights to former slaves. The 16th Amendment, ratified on February 3, 1913, allowed Congress to start collecting income tax, while the 17th Amendment, ratified on April 8, 1913, laid out the terms for electing senators, giving the power to the people to choose their representatives.
The 18th Amendment, also known as the Prohibition Law, prohibited the manufacture, sale, or transportation of "intoxicating liquors," leading to the Prohibition Era of bootleg alcohol. On the other hand, the 22nd Amendment restricts the president to two terms in office. The 27th Amendment, which was ratified in 1992, 203 years after it was proposed, deals with laws governing compensation for Congress members.
Since the early 20th century, Congress has occasionally stipulated a ratification deadline for amendments, requiring ratification by the required number of states within seven years for an amendment to become part of the Constitution. This authority was affirmed by the Supreme Court in 1939.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788.
Article 1 of the US Constitution outlines the powers of Congress, including the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises, as well as the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the states.
Amendment 8 of Article 1 is not available in the sources provided. However, it is known that Article 1 consists of sections that outline Congress's enumerated powers.
