State Historical Society of Iowa

U.S. Constitution, 1787

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Courtesy of Library of Congress, "We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union..." Constitutional Convention, 1787

Description

The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. The Constitution was originally created with seven articles, and it is the national frame of government. Its first three articles embody the principle of the separation of powers, where the federal government is divided into three branches: the legislative, executive and judicial.

Full Transcript of the U.S. Constitution

Transcribed Excerpts from the U.S. Constitution

Source-Dependent Questions

  • What was the purpose for writing the U.S. Constitution?
  • How would you summarize each article?

Citation Information

"We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union..." Constitutional Convention, September 1787. Courtesy of Library of Congress