Constitution of the United States

The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.

The first three Articles of the Constitution establish the three branches of the national government: a legislature, the bicameral Congress; an executive branch led by the President; and a judicial branch headed by the Supreme Court. They also specify the powers and duties of each branch. All unenumerated powers are reserved to the respective states and the people, thereby establishing the federal system of government.

The Constitution was adopted on September 17, 1787, by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and ratified by conventions in each U.S. state in the name of "The People". It has been amended twenty-seven times; the first ten amendments are known as the Bill of Rights.[1][2]

The United States Constitution is the second oldest written constitution still in use by any nation in the world[3] after the 1600 Statutes of San Marino[4] [5][6]. It holds a central place in United States law and political culture.[7] The handwritten original document penned by Jacob Shallus is on display at the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, D.C.

The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union were the first constitution of the United States of America.[9] The problem with the United States government under the Articles of Confederation was, in the words of George Washington, "no money".[10]

Congress could print money, but by 1786, the money was useless. Congress could borrow money, but could not pay it back.[11] Under the Articles, Congress requisitioned money from the states. But no state paid all of their requisition; Georgia paid nothing. A few states paid the U.S. an amount equal to interest on the national debt owed to their citizens, but no more.[11] Nothing was paid toward the interest on debt owed to foreign governments. By 1786 the United States was about to default on its contractual obligations when the principal came due.[12]

Most of the U.S. troops in the 625-man U.S. Army were deployed facing British forts on American soil. The troops had not been paid; some were deserting and the remainder threatened mutiny.[13] Spain closed New Orleans to American commerce. The U.S. protested, to no effect. The Barbary Pirates began seizing American commercial ships. The U.S. had no funds to pay the pirates' extortion demands.[14] States such as New York and South Carolina violated the peace treaty with Britain by prosecuting Loyalists for wartime activity. The U.S. had no more credit if another military crisis had required action.[14] In Massachusetts during Shays' Rebellion, Congress had no money; General Benjamin Lincoln had to raise funds among Boston