Today is Constitution Day, a day in which all federally-funded educational institutions must provide education on the United States Constitution.
As such, here are some facts about the U.S. Constitution:
- The constitution was signed on Sept. 17, 1787, at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pa.
- George Washington, the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War, was elected the president of the convention.
- During the convention, the delegates were divided over the issue of state representation in Congress, with smaller states wanting equal representation and more populous states wanting proportional representation.
- The delegates eventually agreed to the “Connecticut Compromise,” a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation of the states in the Senate.
- Much of the constitution was written by Gouverneur Morris, one of the leading figures at the convention, who lost a leg in a carriage accident early in life and graduated from college at the age of 16.
- Although approximately 55 delegates attended the convention, only 39 men actually signed the U.S. Constitution.
- Some of those who would not sign wanted the constitution to include a Bill of Rights to protect the rights of the people.
- As set forth in the last Article of the Constitution, the document would not become binding until it was ratified by nine of the 13 states.
- Some states ratified the constitution quickly but other states remained opposed the document, stating that it lacked the protection of basic political rights, such as freedom of speech, religion and the press.
- Ultimately another compromise was reached, where additional states would ratify the constitution with the assurance that amendments would soon be proposed.
- New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify the constitution, and it became effective on June 21, 1788.
- In 1789, in light of the states’ compromise, the first Congress adopted a Bill of Rights, which contained 12 amendments to the constitution.
- In 1791, ten of the 12 amendments were ratified by the states, and became what we now know as the Bill of Rights.
- Today’s constitution contains a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments.
- The last amendment to the constitution, which limits changes to congressional pay, was ratified in 1992.
- This year marks the 225th anniversary of the signing of the constitution.