How many constitutional documents have been adopted by the USA throughout its history?

The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union was the first constitution of the United States. It was drafted by the Second Continental Congress from mid-1776 through late-1777, and ratification by all 13 states was completed by early 1781. The second constitution of the United States came into force in 1789, and it now has been amended twenty seven times. Accordingly, the United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. Thus, in the total history of America, it has only specifically adopted two (2) constitutions to govern the nation.

The U.S. Constitution of 1789, originally comprising seven articles, delineates the current national frame of government. Its first three articles entrench the doctrine of the separation of powers, whereby the federal government is divided into three branches: the legislative, the executive and the judicial branch. Articles Four, Five and Six entrench concepts of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments and of the states in relationship to the federal government. Article Seven establishes the procedure subsequently used by the thirteen States to ratify the Constitution.

The U.S. Constitution is interpreted, supplemented, and implemented by a large body of constitutional law. The Constitution of the United States is the first constitution in its present form, adopted by the people’s representatives for an expansive nation.

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51 Comments

Richard Nesdall

The articles of confederation are called just that and not the Constitution. Thje answer should be 1.

Bill Archie Manning

Someone should fact check the's questions before they're post. The articles of confederation where never called a constitutional. Until now.

Greg Sanza

Baloney!! Answer should be ONE!!!!!! Articles of Confederation are NOT considered Constitution 1.0, or any prequel thereof!!! The Articles is a document in and of itself that predates the ONE and ONLY Constitution!!!

Jack Buechner

This is absolutely incorrect. I and others understand that the Articles were just that Articles. People may now designate them as a Constitution but thats like calling a scale model the final production...when it is not. Not then . Not later. The correct answer in ONE. Contact the Library of Congress or the National Archives.

Danny Pinnell

"There is only one. There are numerous amendments and articles within the Constitution, but there is only one constitution of the United States. The Constitution has been amended 17 times since the original 10 amendments, this might be what the OP is confused about.Nov 6, 2015

Steven Miller

Ok first America is too general a term. Canada is also part of america. Also there is only one constitution. The articles of confederation were not concidered a constitution.

eculleeney

This answer is wrong. Who is fact checking this information. The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.

Chip Combs

Richard Nesdall, The Articles established the Government just like the Constitution did. The answer is TWO.

skrueger

jonbroberts, actually the original #2 of those first 12 amendments was never ratified by the states in the 18th or 19th century. However, this amendment had no time limit on it and it became our 27th Amendment in 1992. So, in reality only one of those first 12 amendments is in rejection status.

skrueger

I believe that the real answer to this question as written should be 19. The author asks how many constitutional documents have been adopted by the USA. An amendment to the constitution is a constitutional document because it changes the constitution, Therefore the original constitution, the Bill of Rights (first 10 amendments), and 17 more individual amendments have been adopted by the USA for a total of 19 documents. If you want to include the Articles of Confederation, then the answer would be 20.

Elsy O. Stromberg

Don't remember ever hearing about that.

Elsy O. Stromberg

Diane Herbert Wall, How did you avoid it? And why not?

John Greiner

As others have mentioned - the Articles of Confederation were NOT a Constitution.

Peter Paplawsky

The Bill of Rights was adopted separately and considered to be part of the Constitution but is a separate “constitutional document”. This is a poorly worded question.

Mark Ann Dubaz

We have only had one Constitution.

Carol McClellan

Richard Nesdall, The answer should be 2. Constitutional documents are those things that tell people how that entity (in this case the United States) is going to be governed and how things are going to be done. Therefore the Articles of Confederation, which ruled our country before the Constitution is just as much a constitutional document as the constitution is.

Johnny Rock

I thought it was 2 constitution and bill of rights.

stephan whitaker

that's what I thought they where talking about the Amendments.

Janice Fish

Wrong. The Constitution was put forth once, has 27 amendments. You are referring to the Articles of Confederation. Not The Constitution. One is correct.