On September 17, 1787, delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia signed the final draft of the United States Constitution. The document replaced the Articles of Confederation and created a stronger federal government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches. It included mechanisms such as checks and balances and a system of federalism that divided powers between national and state governments. Ratification by the states required intense public debate and resulted in the addition of the Bill of Rights. The Constitution remains the foundation of U.S. government and has influenced constitutional design in other countries.
