Omar Bennett
The United States Constitution, the oldest written national framework of government in the world, has served as a model for freedom-loving people worldwide. The Constitution came into existence in 1787, two years after America won its independence from Great Britain. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution. The Constitution established America's national government and guaranteed certain basic rights for its citizens. It also delineates the frame of the federal government, which is divided into three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial. The Constitution has faced various criticisms since its inception, including the lack of a clear definition of who was eligible to vote and the absence of a specific prohibition on discrimination in voting on the basis of sex.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of inception | 1787 |
| Date of signing | September 17, 1787 |
| Date of ratification | June 21, 1788 |
| Number of amendments | 27 |
| Date the Bill of Rights became part of the Constitution | 1791 |
| Date of the first 10 amendments | December 15, 1791 |
| Date of the Nineteenth Amendment | 1920 |
| Date of the American Revolution | 1783 |
| Date of the first constitution, the Articles of Confederation | 1781 |
| Date of the Constitutional Convention | May 25, 1787 |
| Number of delegates at the Constitutional Convention | 55 |
| Number of committees and subcommittees in Congress | 290 |
| Number of people working for members of Congress | 10,000 |
| Number of national constitutions in the world at the end of the 20th century | 159 |
| Number of national constitutions adopted since 1970 | 101 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The US Constitution's creation
The creation of the US Constitution was a significant event in the country's history, and it came about as a result of concerns about the Articles of Confederation, which was the nation's first constitution. In the years following the Revolutionary War, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington feared that their young country was on the brink of collapse due to the limitations of the Articles. While the Articles of Confederation provided the framework for America's first national government, it had no enforcement powers and could not regulate commerce or print money.
The Constitutional Convention, also known as the Philadelphia Convention, assembled in May 1787 with the initial goal of revising the Articles of Confederation. General George Washington was unanimously elected president of the convention. The delegates met in secrecy, shuttering the windows of the State House so they could speak freely. However, they soon realised that a complete redesign of the government was necessary.
By mid-June, the convention was moving towards the creation of a new government, which was met with dismay by many small-state delegates. The nationalists, led by Madison, persuaded the members that any new constitution should be ratified by the people and not by Congress or state legislatures. On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with George Read signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total to 39 signatures.
The US Constitution, which came into force on March 4, 1789, consists of seven articles that define the framework of the federal government. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, uniting the states with different interests, laws, and cultures under a single document. The Constitution also established concepts of federalism, outlining the rights and responsibilities of state governments and their relationship to the federal government.
Effective Communication: Elements for Workplace Success
You may want to see also
The Articles of Confederation
The Articles were a flawed compromise, but most delegates believed that it was better than an absence of formal national government. On December 16, 1777, Virginia was the first state to ratify the Articles. Other states ratified during the early months of 1778. However, Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey refused to ratify, with New Jersey and Delaware eventually agreeing to the conditions of the Articles in late 1778 and early 1779, respectively.
Voting Requirements: What the Constitution Says
You may want to see also
The Constitution's amendments
The Constitution of the United States 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 has been amended 27 times, with the first ten amendments being ratified on December 15, 1791, and known as the Bill of Rights.
The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, with delegates gathering to revise the Articles of Confederation. However, they soon decided to completely redesign the government. The delegates faced fierce arguments over congressional representation, slavery, and the slave trade. They compromised by agreeing to count enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person and allowing the slave trade to continue until 1808.
During the Constitutional ratification debates, Anti-Federalists argued for the inclusion of a Bill of Rights, while Federalists opposed it, concerned that any list would necessarily be incomplete and could enlarge the power of the federal government. The Anti-Federalists persisted, and several state ratification conventions refused to ratify without a more specific list of protections. As a compromise, the First Congress added the Ninth Amendment, which protects unenumerated rights such as the right to travel, vote, privacy, and make important decisions about one's health.
The Constitution did not originally define who was eligible to vote, leaving this to the states. In the early history of the U.S., most states allowed only white male adult property owners to vote. The Reconstruction Amendments, adopted between 1865 and 1870 after the Civil War, abolished slavery and granted citizenship and voting rights to former slaves. However, it took another amendment, the Nineteenth Amendment ratified in 1920, to explicitly prohibit denying any citizen the right to vote based on sex.
Early Voting Sites: What Makes the Cut in New Jersey?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Constitution's influence
The United States Constitution, the oldest written national framework of government in the world, has had a profound and lasting influence on the country's history and that of the world. It has served as a model for freedom-loving people and nations worldwide, shaping the trajectory of governance and democracy.
The Constitution came into being in 1787, a time when the young American republic was in need of a stronger central government to ensure stability and unity. The Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution, had proven inadequate, with a weak national government and states operating like independent countries. The Constitutional Convention of 1787, comprising 55 delegates representing 12 states, assembled in Philadelphia to address these concerns and ended up drafting a new constitution.
The Constitution established a federal government with three independent branches—executive, legislative, and judicial—and a system of checks and balances to prevent any single branch from holding too much power. It superseded the Articles of Confederation on March 4, 1789, becoming the supreme law of the land. The Constitution's influence was such that it transformed the structure of governance, providing a framework that has endured for over two centuries despite America's radical transformation in other respects.
The influence of the Constitution extended beyond the structure of government. It guaranteed certain basic rights and freedoms for citizens, such as freedom of speech and religion, through the Bill of Rights, which became part of the Constitution in 1791. The Constitution also addressed voting rights, though it did not originally define who was eligible, leaving it to the states to determine. This resulted in early voting restrictions, with most states limiting voting rights to white male adult property owners. It was not until the Reconstruction Amendments (1865-1870) and the Nineteenth Amendment (1920) that former slaves and women, respectively, gained the right to vote.
The process of amending the Constitution, requiring national proposal and state ratification, has allowed it to evolve and adapt to the changing needs of the nation. The influence of the Constitution's framers, such as James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington, is evident in the enduring principles of American constitutionalism, including the separation of powers, a bicameral legislature, and a presidential form of government. The Constitution's impact extends beyond the legal and political realms, shaping the cultural and social fabric of the nation and influencing how Americans understand their rights, freedoms, and responsibilities.
Exploring Trifluoroethane's Surprising Number of Isomers
You may want to see also
The Constitution's critics
The United States Constitution has faced various criticisms since its inception in 1787. The Constitution did not originally define who was eligible to vote, leaving this up to individual states. In the early history of the U.S., most states allowed only white male adult property owners to vote. The Constitution also failed to abolish slavery or give citizenship and voting rights to former slaves until the Reconstruction Amendments were adopted between 1865 and 1870.
The Constitution has also been criticised for its anti-majoritarian devices, which some argue are fatal flaws in the American constitutional system. Critics have also targeted the separation of powers and checks and balances, claiming that they are manifestations of a simplistic, "mechanistic" conception of politics.
During the Constitutional ratification debates, Anti-Federalists argued for the inclusion of a Bill of Rights, which the Federalists opposed, claiming that any list would necessarily be incomplete and could be used to enlarge the power of the federal government. Despite these criticisms, the Constitution has endured and remains one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions in the world.
Aziz Rana, a professor at Boston College Law School, has written a book titled "The Constitutional Bind: How Americans Came to Idolize a Document That Fails Them," which offers a detailed look at the history of the Constitution's critics and how, despite their efforts, reverence for the Constitution has become a feature of American life. Rana contends that the Constitution is to blame for America's political difficulties and that its flaws could lead to the consolidation of power by the Right. However, critics have noted that Rana's arguments often appear wedded to policy goals and that he fails to make a substantive argument for why the anti-democratic elements in the Constitution are failures.
In conclusion, while the United States Constitution has faced a range of criticisms over the years, it has also had many defenders, and its longevity and influence are testament to its enduring significance in American governance.
Exploring the NYS Constitution's Repealed Sections
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was written in 1787.
The US Constitution established America's national government and guaranteed certain basic rights for its citizens. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution.
The US Constitution outlines the frame of the federal government, which is divided into three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial. It also includes a system of checks and balances to ensure no single branch has too much power.
One criticism of the US Constitution is that it did not originally define who was eligible to vote, allowing each state to make that determination. As a result, in the early history of the US, most states only allowed white male adult property owners to vote. Another criticism is that the Constitution did not initially abolish slavery or give citizenship and voting rights to former slaves.
The US Constitution was created in the aftermath of the American Revolution, as it became evident that a stronger central government was needed to ensure the stability of the young republic. The Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia in 1787, and the final document was signed by 38 delegates (39 including George Reed, who signed for John Dickinson of Delaware).
