How much do you know about the creation, history, and content of the Constitution? Here’s a list of the 10 most surprising facts about the blueprint for the Federal Government.
1. The Speaker of The House is the second in line to the Presidency, after the Vice President, under the Presidential Succession Act of 1947. Even more surprising, the President pro tempore of the Senate is next!
2. Two Founding Fathers and future Presidents were not at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and did not sign the Constitution. They were, 1) John Adams (Second President). He was ambassador to Great Britain and not present for the Convention; and 2) Thomas Jefferson (Third President). He was ambassador to France and not present when the signing occurred. Even more interesting is that both Adams and Jefferson died on the same day July 4, 1826 – 50 years to the day after signing the Declaration of Independence.
3. The Constitution provides for two senators from each state, but it does not set the size of the House. That is set by law. It has been 435 since 1929. The original first amendment to the Constitution sought to deal with this issue, but it was never ratified by enough states to become part of the Constitution. Even more interesting is the Census which is constitutionally mandated every ten years – provides the data for the number of representatives in each State – which has and does fluctuate over time based on population concentration.
4. The Constitution was placed with the Department of State in 1789 and stayed in its custody until 1921, when it was transferred to the Library of Congress. It was exhibited there from 1924 until 1954, when it came to the National Archives. In addition to housing the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, the National Archives also houses military records, naturalization records and even the canceled check from the purchase of Alaska.
5. Amendments to the Constitution are repealed by adding another amendment. Further two-thirds (2/3) of Congress must agree on the language and then the Amendment must be ratified (approved) by three quarters (3/4) of the States to become law.
6. Only one Amendment to the Constitution has been repealed—the 18th (Prohibition). Based on the fact listed above, repealing the 18th Amendment with the 21st Amendment, clearly indicates the people of the United States REALLY wanted a drink!
7. The last time the Constitution was moved (to return it after preservation treatment to the renovated Rotunda in 2003), it was transported by a convey of guarded trucks. In 1921, however, “Librarian of Congress Herbert Putnam went to the State Department, signed a receipt, placed the Declaration and Constitution on a pile of leather U.S. mail sacks and a cushion in a Model-T Ford truck, returned with them to the Library of Congress, and placed them in a safe in his office.”
8. Only, six men signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution: George Read, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris, George Clymer, and James Wilson.
9. The Constitution does not require that the Speaker of the House of Representatives be a member of the House, although a nonmember has never been chosen Speaker.
10. The four pages of the Constitution are on permanent display at the National Archives. But there is a fifth page. It is the Letter of Transmittal of the newly written Constitution to the Congress that existed under the Articles of Confederation. The letter, which briefly describes the Constitution, is signed by George Washington, president of the Constitutional Convention. It is dated September 17, 1787, the anniversary of which we celebrate each year as Constitution Day.
At Jones Law Firm we believe strongly in doing all we can to uphold and defend the constitution and all of our country’s great citizens. If you or someone you know is need of any legal help contact us today to set up a free consultation. Please contact us by text or phone at (414) 775-7445 or email at laura@jlfwisconsin.com anytime.
*Any articles in the Libra or posted by Jones Law Firm LLC are not legal advice for a particular client or situation. Further no attorney-client relationship is intended or created with this post.*
