Constitution

Category: American Government Date: October 31, 2024

What is the Constitution?

The Constitution serves as the main set of rules for the United States. It explains how the government operates, what it can do, and what rights people have. It outlines how the federal and state governments work together and stands as the highest law in the country.

Who wrote the Constitution?

A group of delegates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 primarily drafted the U.S. Constitution. The delegates worked collaboratively, but key contributors included:

  1. People call James Madison the “Father of the Constitution” because he helped write and shape it. He created the Virginia Plan, which influenced how the government is organized. Madison also played a key role in leading important debates and making compromises that completed the Constitution.
  2. Alexander Hamilton wanted a strong federal government and believed in giving power to the national leaders. He shared his ideas at the convention but left early. Later, he helped convince people to support the Constitution by writing the Federalist Papers.
  3. Gouverneur Morris wrote much of the final version of the Constitution, including the famous beginning, “We the People.” His clear writing helped explain what the Constitution is for and how it should work.
  4. Benjamin Franklin at 81 was the oldest delegate and provided wisdom, diplomacy, and influence, helping the delegates reach compromises.
  5. George Washington led the Constitutional Convention, which helped people trust the meeting. His leadership brought together delegates from different states and backgrounds to work as a team.

The final draft was completed and signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 of the 55 delegates. Each state then held its own convention to debate and ultimately ratify the document, formally establishing the Constitution as the foundation of American government.

History of the Constitution

The history of the U.S. Constitution began in the 18th century as the newly independent United States sought to establish a stable national government. Here’s an overview of its development:

  1. The Articles of Confederation (1781): After the United States gained independence from Britain, the country was first governed by the Articles of Confederation. This system created a weak central government and gave most of the power to the individual states. The federal government had very limited authority and could not do important things, like collect taxes or control trade between states.
  2. The Constitutional Convention (1787): Seeing that the old rules, called the Articles of Confederation, weren’t working well, leaders from 12 of the 13 states (all except Rhode Island) met in Philadelphia in May 1787 to fix them. But soon, they realized they needed to make a whole new plan for the government. Important people like George Washington, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, and Alexander Hamilton worked together from May to September 1787, discussing ideas. Their hard work led to the creation of the Constitution, which became the new set of rules for the country.
  3. Drafting and Compromise: Key compromises were necessary to draft the Constitution. The Great Compromise (or Connecticut Compromise) established a bicameral legislature with the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate with equal representation for each state. The Three-Fifths Compromise allowed states to count three-fifths of their enslaved population for both representation and taxation purposes. Additionally, debates over federal versus state power, executive authority, and the judiciary helped shape the structure of the government.
  4. Ratification (1787–1788): After the Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, it needed ratification by nine of the 13 states to take effect. This led to intense debates between Federalists, who supported the new Constitution, and Anti-Federalists, who feared a powerful central government and demanded protections for individual rights. The Federalist Papers, written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, helped argue in favor of ratification.
  5. The Bill of Rights (1791): In response to Anti-Federalist concerns, the first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were added to the Constitution shortly after its ratification. These amendments guaranteed fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press, and provided protections like due process and fair trials.
  6. Implementation and Growth: The Constitution took effect in 1789, establishing a framework that would evolve over time. It has been amended 27 times to address issues such as voting rights, slavery, and presidential terms, adapting to the country’s growth and changing values.

Preamble of the Constitution

The Preamble of the U.S. Constitution is the introductory statement that outlines the fundamental purposes and guiding principles of the document. It reads:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.


The Preamble is the introduction to the U.S. Constitution. It explains the main goals of the government. These goals include bringing people together, ensuring fairness, and keeping peace. It also focuses on protecting the country, helping people, and keeping freedom for everyone.

The Preamble also reminds us where the government gets its power. It shows that the power comes from the people. The Constitution exists to protect people’s rights and to make life better for everyone. This introduction sets the purpose for everything in the Constitution.