Constitutional text · 1787

The Constitution of the United States

Signed by 39 delegates at the close of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, the Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation with a federal government of enumerated powers divided among a bicameral Congress, a President and a federal judiciary, with authority shared between the nation and the states. It took effect after New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify on June 21, 1788, and the new government began operating in 1789.

“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.”

Constitutional Convention, September 17, 1787

Why it matters

Its separation of powers, checks and balances and federal structure remain the framework of American government, and it has been amended only 27 times since ratification.

Read the full text at archives.gov

Primary Source

The original record, reproduced or linked from the institution that holds it. Primary sources show what people said and did in their own words.

Subjects

founding constitution separation of powers federalism

From the library

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