The Constitution of the United States
On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution in Philadelphia, PA. The
Constitution makes up one of three documents collectively known as the Charters of
Freedom. The other documents are the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights.
- The Declaration of Independence expresses the ideals on which the United States was founded and the reasons for separation
from Great Britain.
- The Constitution defines the framework of the Federal Government of the United States.
- The Bill of Rights is the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. It defines citizens' and states'
rights in relation to the Government.
In 2004, Congress established September 17 as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day and included provisions in the bill requiring public schools and governmental offices
to provide information to promote a better understanding of the Constitution.
