The 222nd Anniversary of the U.S. Constitution

September 17, 2009 marked the 222nd anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution. The signing of this famous document took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 17, 1787. 42 of the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention held their final meeting that day. One important item of business was to sign the U.S. Constitution. Since May 25, 1787, the 55 delegates had gathered almost daily in the State House (Independence Hall) in Philadelphia to revise the ineffective Articles of Confederation. It became apparent by the middle of June to the delegates in attendance that amending the Articles of Confederation wouldn't be sufficient. The Articles was too inept. The federal government didn't possess the power necessary to enforce laws. So an entirely new document was designed to clearly define and separate the powers of the central government, the powers of the states, the rights of the people and how the representatives of the people should be elected.

After the Constitution was signed, Congress sent printed copies of the Constitution to the state legislatures for ratification. All twelve state delegates approved the Constitution. 39 delegates signed it. From the period of September 28, 1787 to June 21, 1788, nine states ratified the Constitution which made it effective. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution and New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify it which was sufficient to make the new Constitution effective. In the following months following the signing James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay would write the Federalist Papers supporting the Constitution while Patrick Henry, Elbridge Gerry, and George Mason would organize the opposition to the Constitution. One of Patrick Henry's earlier objection to the new Constitution was that it didn't include the Bill of Rights. So a Bill of Rights was eventually incorporated into the new Constitution.

The U.S. Constitution contains the Preamble, seven articles, and the signatures of the delegates. Here's the words to the Preamble. 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 U.S. Consitution gives an outline of the different branches of government and what their roles and limits are. There are seven articles in the Constitution. Article I is about the Legislative Branch. Section 1 of Article 1 is about the legislature. Section 2 is about the House. Section 3 deals with the Senate. Section 4 contains the information about elections and meetings.
Article II deals with the subject of the Executive Branch (the presidency). Article 2 Section 1 is about the presidency, Section 2 is about civilian power over military, Section 3 is about the State of the Union Address given annually, and Section 4 is about the disqualifications of a president. Article III is about the Judicial Branch. Section1 is about the judicial powers, Section 2 is about trial by jury, jury trials, etc. and Section 3 is about treason. Article IV is about the states of the Union. Article 5 discusses the amendment process. Article VI deals with debts, and the supremacy oaths. And article seven lists those states that ratified the new Constitution.

Following the Articles that were included in the Constitution you will find the signatures of the delegates and all the states that ratified the Constitution. Then you will find the 27 amendments to the Constitution that have been added over the years. The most recent was the 27th amendment which was ratified on May 5, 1992. The first 10 amendments to the Constitution are the Bill of Rights which states the rights of the citizens that the federal government can't remove from them. We have an amazing Constitution that has lasted well over 220 years. Our Founding Fathers were very wise and they knew too much power given to the federal government could result in tyranny. We are very unique and blessed as a country to have a Constitution that has endured for so many years.