The Constitution: Law And Legacy

The US Constitution became law on June 21, 1788, when two-thirds of the states ratified it. The Constitution was drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787. It was signed on September 17, 1787, and established the government of the United States. The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789.

The Constitution was written and signed in 1787

The Constitution of the United States was written and signed in 1787. It was drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787. The Federal Convention convened in the State House (now known as Independence Hall) in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787, to revise the Articles of Confederation. The convention was conducted under an oath of secrecy.

The Constitutional Convention was called to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, which established a "firm league of friendship" between the States but vested most power in a Congress of the Confederation. This power was extremely limited—the central government conducted diplomacy and made war, set weights and measures, and was the final arbiter of disputes between the States. Crucially, it could not raise any funds itself, and was entirely dependent on the States themselves for the money necessary to operate. Each State sent a delegation of between two and seven members to the Congress, and they voted as a bloc with each State getting one vote. However, any decision of consequence required a unanimous vote, which led to a government that was paralyzed and ineffectual.

The Constitutional Convention was attended by delegates from 12 of the 13 States (Rhode Island did not send any representatives). The delegates debated and redrafted the articles of the new Constitution throughout the summer. The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 of the 55 delegates. The document was then submitted to the Congress of the Confederation, then sitting in New York City, the nation's temporary capital.

The Constitution established a government that puts the power in the hands of the people. It separates the powers of government into three branches: the legislative branch, which makes the laws; the executive branch, which executes the laws; and the judicial branch, which interprets the laws. It sets up a system of checks and balances to ensure no one branch has too much power. It also divides power between the states and the federal government, describes the purposes and duties of the government, defines the scope and limit of government power, prescribes the system for electing representatives, establishes the process for the document’s ratification and amendment, and outlines many rights and freedoms of the people.

It was ratified in 1788 and became law on June 21

The US Constitution was ratified in 1788 and became law on June 21. This was a significant moment in American history, as it established the framework of the country's system of government. The Constitution was the result of months of passionate and thoughtful deliberation among the delegates, with many individuals making important contributions.

The Constitution was drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787. The convention was convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, which had established a "firm league of friendship" between the states but had vested most power in a Congress of the Confederation. However, it became clear by mid-June that the Convention would draft an entirely new form of government. The delegates debated and redrafted the articles of the new Constitution throughout the summer in closed sessions.

The Constitution establishes a government that puts the power in the hands of the people. It separates the powers of government into three branches: the legislative branch, which makes the laws; the executive branch, which executes the laws; and the judicial branch, which interprets the laws. It also sets up a system of checks and balances to ensure no one branch has too much power and divides power between the states and the federal government.

The process of ratification was outlined in Article VII of the proposed Constitution, which stated that ratification by conventions in nine of the thirteen states would be sufficient for the establishment of the Constitution. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify, and the Confederation Congress established March 4, 1789, as the date to begin operating under the new government. By this time, all states except North Carolina and Rhode Island had ratified the Constitution.

The Constitution is considered a living document because it can be changed or amended. Since its ratification, it has been amended 27 times to expand individual civil rights protections, address issues related to federal authority, and modify government processes and procedures. The process for amending the Constitution is outlined in Article V, which requires a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives to propose an amendment and ratification by three-fourths of the states.

It superseded the Articles of Confederation

The United States Constitution became the supreme law of the land in 1789, superseding the Articles of Confederation that had been in place since 1781. The Articles of Confederation

It establishes a federal government with three branches

The US Constitution establishes a federal government with three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

The legislative branch consists of a bicameral Congress, with the House of Representatives representing the people as apportioned by population, and the Senate representing the states with equal representation.

The executive branch consists of the President and subordinate officers.

The judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court and other federal courts.

The separation of powers into these three branches, along with checks and balances on those powers, was intended to ensure that no one branch of government gained supremacy. This was largely due to the delegates' experience with the King of England and his powerful Parliament, and their desire to protect fundamental rights.

The legislative branch makes the laws, the executive branch executes the laws, and the judicial branch interprets the laws.

It outlines many rights and freedoms of the people

The US Constitution outlines many rights and freedoms of the people. The first ten amendments to the Constitution, known collectively as the Bill of Rights, offer protections of individual liberty and justice and place restrictions on the powers of government within US states. The majority of the 17 later amendments expand individual civil rights protections.

The First Amendment provides that Congress make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting its free exercise. It protects freedom of speech, the press, assembly, and the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

The Second Amendment gives citizens the right to bear arms.

The Third Amendment prohibits the government from quartering troops in private homes, a major grievance during the American Revolution.

The Fourth Amendment protects citizens from unreasonable search and seizure. The government may not conduct any searches without a warrant, and such warrants must be issued by a judge and based on probable cause.

The Fifth Amendment provides that citizens not be subject to criminal prosecution and punishment without due process. Citizens may not be tried on the same set of facts twice and are protected from self-incrimination (the right to remain silent). The amendment also establishes the power of eminent domain, ensuring that private property is not seized for public use without just compensation.

The Sixth Amendment assures the right to a speedy trial by a jury of one’s peers, to be informed of the crimes with which one is charged, and to confront the witnesses brought forward by the government. The amendment also provides the accused the right to compel testimony from witnesses, as well as the right to legal representation.

The Seventh Amendment provides that civil cases preserve the right to trial by jury.

The Eighth Amendment prohibits excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishments.

The Ninth Amendment states that the list of rights enumerated in the Constitution is not exhaustive, and that the people retain all rights not enumerated.

The Tenth Amendment assigns all powers not delegated to the United States, or prohibited to the States, to either the States or to the people.

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