Thirty-nine delegates approved the Constitution on September 17, 1787. The final product of the convention is a short document that lays the foundation for a new government.

The American Constitution is divided into seven parts called articles, each dealing with a specific issue. The bulk of the document—Articles I, II, and III—describe the structures and powers of the three branches of the federal government. The table on the following page summarizes the structure of the Constitution.

 
ARTICLES OF THE CONSTITUTION

Article

Focus

IThe Legislative Branch
IIThe Executive Branch
IIIThe Judicial Branch
IVThe States and the People
VChanging the Constitution
VIThe Supremacy of the Constitution
VIIRatifying the Constitution

Popular pages: The Founding and the Constitution