Jonah Patel
The United States Constitution, written and signed in 1787, is the supreme law of the United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789, and has been amended 27 times since its ratification. The Constitution's main provisions include seven articles that define the basic framework of the federal government, including the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The US Constitution was influenced by British rule, with the Fourth Amendment (1791) protecting people against unreasonable searches and seizures of self or property by government officials, a response to the Quartering Acts passed by the British Parliament during the Revolutionary War. The US Constitution has never been under the British Constitution, but the British government has previously intervened in the operation of the US Constitution, such as in the case of the Declaratory Act.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| The US Constitution superseded | The Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution |
| Date the US Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation | March 4, 1789 |
| Date the US Constitution was written and signed | 1787 |
| Date the US Constitution became law | June 21, 1788 |
| Number of amendments to the US Constitution | 27 |
| Number of articles in the US Constitution | 7 |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was written and signed in 1787
The US Constitution, written and signed in 1787, is the supreme law of the United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Constitution was written and signed in Philadelphia in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. This was the same place the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. The Constitution was unanimously agreed upon by delegates at the Constitutional Convention, also known as the Philadelphia Convention, which began on May 25, 1787. General George Washington was elected president of the convention. The delegates took an oath of secrecy, so the printing of the Constitution represented the first time Americans saw it.
The Constitution is a charter of government that establishes a federal government with 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 legislative branch is further divided into the Senate and the House of Representatives, with representatives needing to meet certain requirements, such as being at least 25 years old, a US citizen for seven years, and living in the state they represent.
The Constitution was not immediately effective upon being signed by the delegates. It needed to be ratified by the states, with Article VII establishing that ratification by the conventions of nine states would be sufficient for its establishment. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify, and the Confederation Congress set March 4, 1789, as the date to begin operating a new government under the Constitution.
The Constitution is considered a living document as it can be amended. Since its ratification, it has been changed 27 times, with the basic framework remaining intact. The process of amending the Constitution involves two steps: adoption and ratification. Proposals must be adopted by either a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives or by a national convention requested by two-thirds of the state legislatures. The proposal is then ratified by obtaining the approval of three-fourths of the states (38 out of 50).
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The Constitution became law in 1788
The United States Constitution, which includes seven articles that outline the framework of the federal government, was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to approve it. The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, which was the nation's first constitution.
The Constitution was drafted in 1787, and the process began with the Philadelphia Convention on May 25, 1787. The convention was led by General George Washington, who was unanimously elected president. The delegates at the convention debated various issues, including the form of government and the protection of individual rights. Some delegates, known as anti-Federalists, opposed the Constitution due to the lack of a bill of rights and concerns about the centralization of power.
By January 9, 1788, five states had ratified the Constitution: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. However, the outcome in pivotal states like Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia remained uncertain. On February 6, 1788, Massachusetts ratified the Constitution after a close vote, influenced by the promise of a bill of rights.
The Federalists, who supported the Constitution, faced opposition from anti-Federalists, who argued that the document represented the interests of aristocratic politicians. Despite this opposition, Virginia and New York also ratified the Constitution by the summer of 1788, with New York's ratification influenced by Alexander Hamilton's efforts.
The Constitution became the official framework of the US government in 1788, and the first federal elections were held from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789. The new government under the Constitution began on March 4, 1789, marking a significant shift towards a stronger and more centralized government for the nation.
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The US Constitution is the supreme law of the US
The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Constitution's main provisions include seven articles that define the basic framework of the federal government. The Constitution's first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, in which the federal government is divided 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 IV, Article V, and Article VI embody concepts of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments, the states in relationship to the federal government, and the shared process.
The Constitution is a powerful document that outlines the rights and responsibilities of the government and its citizens. It is the source of all government powers and provides important limitations on the government, protecting the fundamental rights of United States citizens. One of the key aims of the Constitution was to create a government with enough power to act on a national level, while also ensuring that fundamental rights were not at risk. This was achieved through the separation of powers and a system of checks and balances, which prevented any one branch of government from gaining too much power.
The process of amending the Constitution is deliberately onerous to prevent arbitrary changes. Amendments must be proposed by a two-thirds vote of both Houses of Congress or, if requested by two-thirds of the states, by a national convention. To date, the convention method of proposal has never been used. Once proposed, an amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the states (38 out of 50) through either the consent of state legislatures or state ratifying conventions. The ratification method is chosen by Congress for each amendment.
The Constitution has been amended 27 times since its ratification, with the first 10 amendments forming what is now known as the Bill of Rights. These amendments were introduced in response to concerns raised by several states during the ratification debates, particularly regarding the lack of a bill of rights. The Fourth Amendment, for example, protects people against unreasonable searches and seizures of self or property by government officials, reflecting resentment over the Quartering Acts passed by the British Parliament during the Revolutionary War.
In conclusion, the US Constitution is the supreme law of the land, establishing the framework of the federal government and protecting the rights of citizens. It has been amended over time to ensure it remains a relevant and effective governing document.
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The Constitution's seven articles define the federal government
The United States Constitution, the country's supreme law, superseded the Articles of Confederation, its first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The US Constitution, which was formed on September 17, 1787, comprises a preamble and seven articles that outline the structure and operation of the government.
The first three articles embody the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial. The legislative branch, as described in Article I, is made up of a bicameral Congress, with a Senate and a House of Representatives. Section 1 of Article I reads:
> All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.
The legislative branch is responsible for taxation, borrowing money, paying debts, providing for the common defence and general welfare, regulating commerce, regulating internal affairs, and more. The executive branch, as outlined in Article II, consists of the President and subordinate officers. The judicial branch, as described in Article III, is made up of the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
Articles IV, V, and VI outline concepts of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments, the relationship between states, and the shared process of constitutional amendment. Article IV outlines states' powers in relation to each other, with each state having the authority to create and enforce its own laws while also having to respect and help enforce the laws of other states. Article V explains the process of amending the Constitution, which is more difficult than the process of making laws. Article VI states that federal law takes precedence over state and local laws. Article VII describes the ratification process for the Constitution, which required special state ratifying conventions from nine states.
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The Constitution's ratification process
The United States Constitution, which superseded the Articles of Confederation, was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it. The Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States of America.
The journey to ratification was long and arduous. The Constitution was drafted during a four-month convention held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, commencing on May 25, 1787. The convention was initially called to amend the Articles of Confederation, but the delegates proposed a completely new form of government. The convention was led by General George Washington, who was unanimously elected president.
The new Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 of the 41 delegates present. It was then sent to the states for debate and ratification votes. The document would only become binding once it was ratified by nine of the 13 states, per Article VII. The first state to ratify was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, and South Carolina.
The ratification process was contentious, with Anti-Federalists attacking the Constitution on several fronts, including the lack of a bill of rights and discrimination against southern states in navigation legislation. The terms of the Massachusetts Compromise, reached in February 1788, stipulated that amendments would be proposed to address these concerns, which ultimately became the Bill of Rights.
The Constitution was officially ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire cast the ninth vote in favor of ratification. All 13 states eventually ratified the Constitution by May 29, 1790.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was written and signed in 1787 and became law on June 21, 1788, when two-thirds of the states ratified it.
The US Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, which was the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Constitution was a charter of government that was ratified by the states and became the supreme law of the land.
The US Constitution was created to justify separation from British rule. The Declaration of Independence, written in 1776, was a list of grievances against the King of England.
The core argument was that, as British subjects, colonists were entitled to the same privileges as their fellow subjects in Britain. They could not be taxed without their consent, which they could not give as they were unrepresented in the Parliament that voted on taxes.
