U.S. Constitution Signed

The U.S. Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787 by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, PA by the delegates in the building named, Philadelphia's Pennsylvania State House. Historically, the building became known as Independence Hall. The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the U.S. Government for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens and all people of the U.S. After intense debate, the delegates devised a brilliant federal organization characterized by an intricate system of checks and balances. The convention was divided over the issue of state representation in Congress and the problem was resolved by the Connecticut Compromise, the bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the lower house (House of Representatives) and equal representation of the states in the upper house (Senate). Nine of thirteen states finally ratified the U.S. Constitution on June 21, 1788, it became official when the state of New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify.

The U.S. Constitution is the second oldest written Constitution still in effective use by any nation in the world after the 1600 Statutes of San Marino (Italy). (San Marino, Italy is the oldest surviving sovereign state and constitutional republic in the world.)