United States Constitution

United States Constitution‏‎

The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States. It was signed on September 17, 1787, by delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, making it one of the oldest written national constitutions still in use.

Background

The Constitution was drafted to replace the Articles of Confederation, which had been the country's first constitution. The Articles had proven to be weak and ineffective, leading to a call for a new constitution that would create a stronger federal government with more powers.

Structure

The Constitution is divided into seven articles and has been amended 27 times. The first three articles establish the three branches of the federal government: the legislative branch, the executive branch, and the judicial branch. The fourth and fifth articles outline the relationship between the states and the federal government, while the sixth article establishes the Constitution as the supreme law of the land. The seventh article outlines the process for ratifying the Constitution.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution, known collectively as the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and guarantee many fundamental civil liberties. These include freedom of speech, religion, and the press, the right to bear arms, the right to a fair trial, and protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Amendments

Since the Bill of Rights, there have been 17 additional amendments to the Constitution. These have further expanded civil rights and liberties, reformed the electoral process, and clarified the powers of the federal government.

Impact

The Constitution has had a profound impact on the development of the United States and has served as a model for other countries' constitutions. It has been interpreted and applied in a wide variety of contexts, from civil rights to commerce, and continues to shape American law and society.

See also

• Founding Fathers of the United States
• United States Bill of Rights
• Federalism in the United States
• History of the United States Constitution