What is the United States Constitution?

by Jules Da Costa, age 16

The United States Constitution is a document that outlines the structure of the U.S. government and the values of the nation. Furthermore, the first three words of this document – “We The People” – emphasize a core value of serving citizens and asserting the powers of the government.

The Constitution was drafted in 1787 by delegates from the original 13 states, including James Madison, Hamilton, and John Jay. It replaced the Articles of Confederation, which were essentially America’s first constitution. The Articles of Confederation were outdated and didn’t give enforcement powers to the government. Due to this, Alexander Hamilton called a convention to revise the Articles of Confederation, however, they ended up deciding to redesign the government.

The Constitution has a preamble, or introduction, and seven articles that describe how the government works. The first three articles establish the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government and what they do. The articles do not allow any one branch to be too powerful, and so a system of checks and balances is implemented. Articles four through seven explain how the states interact with the federal government, establish the Constitution as “the supreme law of the land,” and outline how the amendment and ratification processes work.

Delegates sent the Constitution to the states for approval in September 1787. For the document to become effective, nine of the 13 states had to ratify it. Many debates among the states arose, but in June 1788, the ninth state ratified the document. After the Constitution’s ratification, the Bill of Rights was added, which were the first ten amendments to the Constitution. Seventeen other amendments were later added, the latest being in 1992.

The Constitution officially went into effect in 1789. It remains vital today, as it contains the framework for the entire U.S. government. Its ability to adapt through amendments makes it a document that continues to guide and reflect the nation today.

[Sources: Bill of Rights Institute; National Archives; Senate; White House]