The US Constitution is the foundational legal document of the United States, establishing the framework for the federal government and outlining the rights of its citizens.
Hours of research by our editors, distilled into minutes of clarity.
Alexander Hamilton played a large role in creating the federal system of government we still use today. From 1787 to 1788, Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay anonymously published a collection of essays known as “The Federalist” to promote the new Constitution. Of the 85 essays that proved pivotal to the eventual ratification of the document, Hamilton wrote 51. Explore Hamilton’s role in the creation of the Constitution here.
Initially, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention merely convened to amend the Articles of Confederation. Within a month, they had agreed to completely redesign the government. This led to months of intense debates over issues relating to the structures of the government and representation, resulting in compromises that shaped the final document. Learn the full story with this explanation of the process.
While the 1789 US Constitution is revered as one of the most influential governing documents in the world, there are other active, written constitutions that predate it. Monaco's constitution is even older, and if you include the 1215 Magna Carta, the UK has a pretty old one, too. See their locations and ages with this visualization.
The framers of the Constitution established a process for amending the constitution, requiring a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress to propose changes, followed by ratification from three-fourths of states legislatures. This rigorous procedure ensures that any changes made to the document reflect a broad consensus and support.
The Constitution text had been ratified by several states when the idea of adding a specific set of rights for all citizens was suggested. To avoid confusion, the Founders opted to have the core Constitution ratified by the states and then to add what would become known as the Bill of Rights. Find out the history of this quirk of US history in this video.
This article offers intriguing and lesser known insights into the creation and content of the US Constitution. Examples include that Rhode Island disliked the Constitution so much that it almost started a civil war and that Ben Franklin was so ill he needed to be carried into the Constitutional Convention in a sedan chair.
The US Constitution has been amended 27 different times since its ratification. Dive deeper into each amendment with resources provided by the National Constitution Center. This website includes podcasts, videos, and other web resources for each of the amendments, exploring their creation and impact on today’s political and social landscape.
The Congressional Research Service is a nonpartisan group dedicated solely to responding to questions and providing deeply researched explanations to members of Congress and their staff. The overview lays out the establishment of the US Agency for International Development in 1961, legal restrictions on its elimination, and options to restructure or fold USAID into other departments.
The US Constitution has only been amended 27 times in over 230 years. If the framers intended for the document to be updated and relevant to the times, why is this the case? This animated video from Ted-Ed examines the difficulties associated with amending the constitution and its consequences.
The separation of powers is a pivotal component of the American system of government. Explore how the three branches of government interact and exercise their authority through an example relating to military honors. The US v. Alvarez case exemplifies this interaction: the Supreme declared a law unconstitutional and the Executive and Legislative Branches promoted revised legislation to address the issues identified by the Judicial Branch.