Simone Lawson
Constitution Day, celebrated on September 17, commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787. It is a day to recognize the adoption of the United States Constitution and those who have become U.S. citizens. The Constitution is a vital and living document that has endured for over two centuries, evolving through amendments to meet the changing needs of the nation. It establishes three branches of government – Legislative, Executive, and Judicial – and safeguards the interests of majority rule, minority rights, liberty, equality, and federal and state governments. Constitution Day provides an opportunity for Americans to learn about the nation's history, the principles outlined in the Constitution, and the importance of civic engagement.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date Written | 1787 |
| Date Signed | 1787-09-17 |
| Date Ratified | 1788 |
| Date in Operation | 1789 |
| Number of Words | N/A |
| Number of Articles | 7 |
| Number of Amendments | 27 |
| Number of Parts | N/A |
| Number of Schedules | N/A |
| First Three Words | We the People |
| Number of Times Amended | 17 |
| Last Amended | 1992 |
| Minimum Number of Congress Meetings per Year | 1 |
| Minimum Number to Constitute a Quorum | Majority of Each House |
| Amendment Proposal Requirement | 2/3 of Both Houses |
| Amendment Ratification Requirement | 3/4 of State Legislatures |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution's creation and signing
The US Constitution was created and signed on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia. The signing took place during the Convention's final session, bringing an end to a three-month process that began on May 25, 1787. The Convention was convened to amend the Articles of Confederation, but the delegates ultimately proposed and created a new form of government.
The final draft of the Constitution was presented to the convention on September 12, 1787, and it contained seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement. The document was engrossed (hand-copied) by Jacob Shallus, the assistant clerk for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Shallus was paid $30 for his work, which took about 40 hours to complete.
On September 17, the members met for the last time, and Benjamin Franklin, one of the key figures in the Constitution's creation, delivered a speech appealing for unity. Thirty-nine of the 42 men present signed the Constitution, including George Washington, who signed first. The three men who refused to sign—George Mason, Elbridge Gerry, and Edmund Randolph—did so because the Constitution lacked a bill of rights.
Within three days of its signing, the Constitution was submitted to the Congress of the Confederation, then sitting in the nation's temporary capital, New York City. The process of ratification then began, with Delaware becoming the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787. By January 9, 1788, five states had approved the Constitution, and on February 6, Massachusetts became the sixth state to ratify, following the agreement to recommend a list of amendments (the future Bill of Rights). On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth and final state needed to ratify the Constitution.
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Amendments to the Constitution
The United States Constitution, written in 1787, ratified in 1788, and in operation since 1789, is the world's longest-surviving written charter of government. Its first three words, "We the People," affirm that the government of the United States exists to serve its citizens. The Constitution has been amended several times throughout history to adapt to the changing needs of the nation.
Amending the Constitution is a two-step process outlined in Article Five. First, an amendment must be properly proposed and sent to the states for ratification. This can be done by either a two-thirds majority vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives or a national convention called by Congress on the application of two-thirds of state legislatures. The second step is ratification by three-fourths of the states, or 38 states, through their legislatures or state ratifying conventions.
Since the Constitution was put into operation, 33 amendments have been proposed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification. Twenty-seven of these proposals have been ratified by the requisite number of states and are now part of the Constitution. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified simultaneously on December 15, 1791. The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments are collectively referred to as the Reconstruction Amendments.
The process of amending the Constitution is deliberately designed to be challenging, striking a balance between the need for change and stability. While approximately 11,848 proposals to amend the Constitution have been introduced in Congress since 1789, the last successful proposal was in 1978, with none in recent decades becoming part of the Constitution. This highlights the importance of achieving the required supermajorities in both the proposal and ratification stages.
Constitution Day, observed on September 17, commemorates the signing of the Constitution in 1787. Established by Congress in 1956 as Constitution Week, it aims to encourage all Americans to learn about and understand the governing principles of their nation set forth in the Constitution.
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The Constitution's three branches of government
The US Constitution divides the federal government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. This separation of powers ensures that no individual or group has too much power and that each branch can limit the power of the others if needed.
The legislative branch is responsible for making laws. Congress, which is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives, has the power to approve presidential nominations, control the budget, and impeach the president. The legislative branch can also override a presidential veto with enough votes.
The executive branch is responsible for enforcing the laws made by the legislative branch. This branch includes the President and about 5,000,000 workers. The President is the head of state, leader of the federal government, and Commander-in-Chief of the US armed forces. The executive branch can also declare Executive Orders, which have the force of law, but these can be declared unconstitutional by the judicial branch.
The judicial branch is responsible for interpreting the laws. It includes the Supreme Court, with nine Justices, and other federal courts. The Justices interpret laws according to the Constitution and hear cases that pertain to issues related to the Constitution. The President nominates Supreme Court justices, who are then confirmed by the Senate.
The three branches work together through a system of checks and balances. For example, the legislative branch makes laws, but the President in the executive branch can veto those laws. The legislative branch can also declare laws made by the executive branch unconstitutional.
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The Constitution's role in US citizenship
The United States Constitution, written in 1787, ratified in 1788, and in operation since 1789, is the world's longest-surviving written charter of government. Its first three words, "We the People," affirm that the government of the United States exists to serve its citizens. The Constitution has played a significant role in defining and shaping the concept of US citizenship over the years.
While the original Constitution did not lay down a clear and comprehensive rule about citizenship, it assumed the existence of citizenship of the United States and of the individual states. The Fourteenth Amendment, added after the Civil War, explicitly defines who is a citizen of the United States. It states, "All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." This amendment repudiated the Supreme Court's decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857), which misinterpreted the Constitution as excluding people of African descent from US citizenship based solely on their race.
The Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment is considered one of the most significant sentences in the Constitution. It establishes the priority of national citizenship, requiring states to recognize any American residing within their borders as a full and equal citizen. This clause also offers a way around the "state action doctrine," a challenge in constitutional law, by ensuring that the amendment's protections, such as equal protection of the laws and due process, apply not only to state governments but also to private actors.
Constitution Day, observed annually on September 17, commemorates the signing of the Constitution. This day serves as a reminder for Americans to learn about and understand the governing principles of their nation, as outlined in the Constitution.
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The Constitution's influence on other nations' governing documents
The United States Constitution, written in 1787, ratified in 1788, and in operation since 1789, is the world's longest-surviving written charter of government. Its principles and provisions have influenced the governing documents of many other nations.
The US Constitution's impact is evident in similarities of phrasing and borrowed passages in other constitutions. It introduced novel concepts such as checks and balances, separation of powers, and recognition of individual rights, which have inspired constitutionalists worldwide. The idea of a written constitution itself is an American innovation, with its genesis in the fundamental orders of Connecticut in 1639, which influenced the state constitutions of Virginia and Pennsylvania and, in turn, the French Declaration of the Rights of Man.
The US Constitution's influence is particularly notable in the histories of other nations that transitioned from colonial rule to self-governance. For example, nationalists such as Jose Rizal of the Philippines and Sun Yat-sen of China drew inspiration from the US Constitution in their calls for political reform and the establishment of republican governments. Similarly, the US Constitution influenced Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War and his contemporary and ally Benito Juarez of Mexico.
The US Constitution's principles have also spread through foreign translations, exchanges between Americans and their international counterparts, and conferences among national legislators. Its influence has been described as "profound" by American historian George Athan Billias, who identified six waves of influence, including on northwestern Europe and its colonial connections from 1776 to 1811.
The US Constitution's impact on the concept of constitutionalism and the adoption of one-document constitutions by most nations cannot be overstated. Its endurance and adaptability, through amendments with enough support from the people and ratification by the states, have made it a living document that continues to shape the world's understanding of governance.
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Frequently asked questions
Constitution Day commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787.
Constitution Day is a chance for Americans to learn about the Constitution, the framework of their government, and the rights and freedoms that it outlines.
The first three articles of the Constitution establish the three branches of government: the Legislative Branch (Congress), the Executive Branch (office of the President), and the Judicial Branch (Federal court system).
Article I of the Constitution grants Congress the powers to collect taxes, coin money, raise and support an army, declare war, establish post offices, create patent laws, and establish a federal judicial system.
Article VI of the Constitution states that Federal law is supreme, or higher than, state and local laws. This means that if a state law conflicts with a Federal law, Federal law takes precedence.
