United States Constitution - Facts and Figures

The United States Constitution is the oldest national constitution in the world. It has influenced the governments of an estimated 165 other nations as they wrote their constitutions.

Twelve states participated in the Constitutional Convention; Rhode Island resisted the idea of a central government that might interfere in the state's internal affairs.

A total of 74 delegates were selected by the states for the Constitutional Convention, but only 55 attended at one time or another. The average attendance was about 30 delegates; 39 signed the final document. Eight delegates had signed the Declaration of Independence. Three delegates refused to sign the final document: Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts,  George Mason and Edmund Randolph of Virginia.

The average age of the delegates was 44 years. All were white and all were men. About half were lawyers; about half were college graduates. Benjamin Franklin was the oldest at 81; Jonathan Dayton of New Jersey was the youngest at 26. Franklin, suffering from gout, was carried to the meetings on a sedan chair by 4 convicts.

Two delegates went on to become presidents of the United States - George Washington and James Madison.

George Washington was chosen unanimously to preside over the Constitutional Convention.

Benjamin Franklin was called  the "Sage of the Constitutional Convention"; James Madison was called the "Father of the Constitution"; and Governor Morris had the job of putting all the decisions in final form - or actually writing the Constitution.  The Constitution was "penned" by an assistant clerk from the Pennsylvania State Assembly.

The Constitution was drafted in less than 100 working days.

Amendments are not removed from the Constitution. They are repealed by adding another amendment which nullifies the first.

The original Constitution has had several homes. In 1814, it was moved to Leesburg, Virginia. During World War II it was kept at Fort Knox, Kentucky. In 1952 it was moved to the National Archives in Washington, D.C.