Jonah Patel
The U.S. Constitution, established in 1787, is the oldest written national constitution still in use today. It has served as a significant framework for the U.S. governance system and influenced all later constitutions worldwide. The drafting process, which took fewer than 100 working days, was marked by serious conflicts, especially between representatives of small and large states. While the Constitution can be amended, its framers intended for it to be a durable framework, not easily changed. So, which statement about drafting the Constitution is true?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Primary drafter | James Madison |
| Framers | James Madison, John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth, James Wilson, William Samuel Johnson, Alexander Hamilton, Gouverneur Morris, Rufus King |
| Longest-lived written plan for representative government in history | True |
| Created with the idea that it could be easily revised if it was ineffective | True |
| Modeled on the Magna Carta | True |
| Number of states that needed to ratify it | 9 |
| Time taken to draft | <100 working days |
| Date of first draft acceptance | 6 August 1787 |
| Date of final ratification | 1788 |
| Date of North Carolina's ratification | 1789 |
| Date of Rhode Island's ratification | 1790 |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution is the longest-lived written plan for representative government in history
The United States Constitution, established in 1787, is the oldest written national constitution still in use today. It has been in operation since 1789, making it the longest-lived written plan for a representative government in history. It has served as a significant framework for US governance and has endured for over 230 years.
The US Constitution's endurance is a result of its flexible structure, which allows it to adapt to changing conditions. The framers of the Constitution established a broad structure of government with separated and balanced powers. They wisely divided governmental powers to protect the interests of majority rule and minority rights, liberty and equality, and the federal and state governments.
The Constitution also did not specify qualifications for voting, leaving it to the individual states. This flexibility allowed for women's suffrage in New Jersey, for example, as women could vote if they met the same property requirements as men.
The US Constitution has survived civil war, economic depressions, assassinations, and terrorist attacks. It has been strengthened by amendments to meet the changing needs of a nation profoundly different from the 18th-century world in which it was created.
The US Constitution is a concise document of less than 6,000 words, which has contributed to its durability. Its endurance as a pivotal document in American governance solidifies its legacy as a well-balanced system of law, combining liberty with a strong national structure.
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It was drafted in fewer than 100 working days
The U.S. Constitution was drafted in fewer than 100 working days. The drafting process began on May 25, 1787, when General George Washington was unanimously elected president of the Philadelphia convention. The convention was held in the City of Brotherly Love, where delegates debated proposed plans until July 24, 1787, when a substantial agreement was reached. A Committee of Detail was then appointed, consisting of John Rutledge of South Carolina, Edmund Randolph of Virginia, Nathaniel Gorham of Massachusetts, Oliver Ellsworth of Connecticut, and James Wilson of Pennsylvania. On August 6, 1787, the committee reported a draft that included a preamble and twenty-three articles embodying fifty-seven sections. This first draft served as an article-by-article model for the final document, which was completed approximately five weeks later.
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention represented all 13 states and included notable figures such as Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, James Wilson of Pennsylvania, Alexander Hamilton of New York, and George Mason of Virginia. The delegates debated and negotiated various sections of the Constitution, with serious conflicts arising between those representing small and large states. The Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise, was a significant agreement reached during the convention. It safeguarded the rights of small states by granting each state two members in the Senate, while representation in the House was based on population.
The drafting process was not without controversy, and one of the most contentious issues was the regulation of commerce. The southern states, exporters of raw materials, rice, indigo, and tobacco, feared that a New England-dominated Congress might impose export taxes that could severely harm their economic interests. This debate became closely linked to another explosive issue: slavery. Despite the challenges and disagreements, the delegates worked diligently to draft the Constitution in less than 100 working days, demonstrating their dedication and commitment to establishing a strong framework for the governance of the United States.
The U.S. Constitution has endured as a pivotal document in American governance and is considered a well-balanced system of law, combining liberty with a strong national structure. It has been recognised as the oldest written national constitution still in use today, established in 1787, and serving as a significant framework for U.S. governance. The Constitution's endurance and influence extend beyond the United States, as it has been copied extensively throughout the world, influencing all later constitutions.
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It was primarily drafted by James Madison
James Madison is often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution" due to his pivotal role in drafting, promoting, and ratifying the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Born in 1751 into a prominent slave-owning planter family in Virginia, Madison joined the Patriots in 1774, dissatisfied with British taxation. He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates and the Continental Congress during and after the American Revolutionary War.
Madison was a key figure in the Constitutional Convention of 1787 in Philadelphia, which produced a new constitution designed to strengthen the republican government against democratic assembly. He was concerned with remedying the weaknesses of the federal government under the Articles of Confederation, as well as addressing internal injustices within the states. Madison's partnership with George Washington was instrumental in making the convention a reality.
In addition to his role in drafting the Constitution, Madison also played a crucial part in the creation of the Bill of Rights. He recognized that drafting a Bill of Rights was politically imperative, despite his belief that individual rights were already protected by the Constitution. Madison led the push for 12 amendments to the Constitution in its first year, 10 of which were ratified by the states and became the Bill of Rights.
Madison's contributions to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights were significant, earning him the title of "Father of the Constitution." His efforts helped shape the foundational document for the United States, which has endured as the longest-lived written plan for representative government in history.
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It was created with the idea that it could be easily revised if ineffective
The U.S. Constitution is the oldest and shortest written constitution of the modern era, established in 1787, and it has served as a significant framework for U.S. governance for over 230 years. This makes it the longest-lived written plan for representative government in history.
The U.S. Constitution was primarily drafted by James Madison and the framers at the convention. It was created with the idea that it could be easily revised if it was ineffective. The framers intended for the Constitution to be a durable framework, not one that could be easily changed. While the Constitution can be amended, the process for doing so is not necessarily easy.
The Constitution was drafted in fewer than 100 working days, and the literary authorship of any part of it is not definitively established in the records of the Constitutional Convention. A Committee of Detail was appointed on July 24, 1787, to draw up a draft constitution, which was accepted on August 6, 1787. This committee included John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth, and James Wilson. A Committee of Style, including William Samuel Johnson, Alexander Hamilton, Gouverneur Morris, James Madison, and Rufus King, reported the draft in approximately its final shape on September 8.
The Constitution has been influential, with all later Constitutions showing its influence, and it has been copied extensively throughout the world. The United States government possesses only those powers specifically granted to it by the Constitution, although it also exercises powers that flow from general provisions. For example, the Constitution gives the United States the right to coin money, and this would include the right to design coinage.
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It is modelled on the Magna Carta
The US Constitution, established in 1787, is the oldest written national constitution still in use today. It is the longest-lived written plan for representative government in history. The US Constitution was primarily drafted by James Madison, although Thomas Jefferson was also a contributor, though he was in France during the drafting of the Constitution.
The US Constitution is modelled on the Magna Carta, a 13th-century pact issued by King John of England in 1215. The Magna Carta is considered one of the most influential political documents ever written, shaping many of the governing laws of the West, including those of the United States. The Founding Fathers took great inspiration from this document as they wrote the nation's founding documents, including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
The influence of the Magna Carta on the US Constitution can be seen in the Bill of Rights, which is made up of the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution. The Bill of Rights includes several rights that are directly descended from those protected by the Magna Carta, such as freedom from unlawful searches and seizures, the right to a speedy trial, the right to a jury trial in both criminal and civil cases, and protection from loss of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.
The Magna Carta also introduced the idea of a government based on law and balanced by shared power, with the document establishing that all people, including the king, were equally subject to the law. This concept of a government based on the rule of law and a clear separation of powers is reflected in the US Constitution, which outlines the powers of the three branches of government: the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
In addition, the US Constitution includes broader constitutional principles that are rooted in the eighteenth-century interpretation of the Magna Carta, such as the theory of representative government, the idea of a supreme law, and judicial review. The phrase "by the law of the land," which is derived from the Magna Carta, was used in all American documents prior to the Constitution.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution, established in 1787, is the oldest written national constitution still in use today. It is the longest-lived written plan for representative government in history.
James Madison is considered the primary author of the US Constitution, along with the framers at the convention. There are no records of the literary authorship of any part of the Constitution. A Committee of Detail was appointed to draft the Constitution, including John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth, and James Wilson.
The US Constitution was drafted in fewer than 100 working days. The first draft was accepted on August 6, 1787, and the final document was produced around five weeks later.
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