e the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
The National Constitution Center owns a rare, original copy of the first public printing of the Constitution. The Constitutional Convention was conducted under an oath of secrecy, so this printing represents the first time that “We the People” saw the Constitution. The original signed, handwritten Constitution is at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
Download and view the text and high-resolution images of the Constitution and other historical documents.
The U.S. Constitution is the oldest and shortest written constitution of any national government in the world.
There are 4,543 words in the original, unamended Constitution, including the signatures.
More than 11,000 amendments have been introduced in Congress, but only 33 have gone to the states to be ratified, and 27 have actually become amendments to the Constitution.
The Constitutional Convention began on May 25, 1787, and lasted until the day the finished document was signed on September 17, 1787.
The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787. The Center is the best place to celebrate Constitution Day on that date.