THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION - 1787
The exact measurements of the originals of the Constitution of the United States are: four sheets, approximately 28 3/4 in. by 23 5/8 in. each.

You can read the full text of the United States Constitution here (Provided by The US National Archives and Records Administration).

Here you can download high resolution images of the Constitution.

If you wish to see the Constitution with your own eyes, you are welcome to visit it at Washington D.C. And the best thing is, admission is free. And here CNN tells you how you can watch your buck AND have a good meal in Washington DC.

WHAT IS A CONSTITUTION?
According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a constitution defines the basic principles and laws of a nation.

WHEN WAS THE CONSTITUTION CREATED?
The deputies of the Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia, in the State House where the Declaration of Independence was signed. The meeting was called for May 14, 1787, but it took until May 25 for everybody to arrive. The Constitution was drafted in fewer than one hundred working days.

George Washington, chosen unanimously, presided over the Constitutional Convention.

The average age of the deputies to the Constitutional Convention was about 44 years of age. Benjamin Franklin, of Philadelphia, was the oldest member of the Constitutional Convention with his 81 years. Jonathan Dayton, of New Jersey, was the youngest member, being 26 years old. There were probably 34, out of 55, who had at least made a study of the law.

Back then, Philadelphia had approx. a population of 28,000; including its suburbs, about 42,000.

The Constitution was finally signed on September 17, 1787. It was ratified by the required number of states (nine) by June 21, 1788.

The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration explains:
On March 3, 1789, the old Confederation went out of existence and on March 4 the new government of the United States began legally to function, according to a decision of the Supreme Court of the United States (wings v. Speed, 5 Wheat. 420); however, it had no practical existence until April 6, when first the presence of quorums in both Houses permitted organization of Congress. On April 30, 1789, George Washington was inaugurated as President of the United States, so on that date the executive branch of the government under the Constitution became operative. But it was not until February 2, 1790, that the Supreme Court, as head of the third branch of the government, organized and, held its first session; so that is the date when the US government under the Constitution became fully operative.

BEFORE THIS CONSTITUTION
The country's first constitution was the Articles of Confederation. The Articles were in effect from March 1, 1781, until March 4, 1789.

CONTENTS OF THE CONSTITUTION
There are seven articles and a preamble; 27 amendments have been adopted. The first 10 amendments, which constitute the Bill of Rights, were added within two years of the signing of the federal Constitution in order to ensure sufficient guarantees of individual liberties.

Thomas Jefferson, although absent from the Constitutional Convention and during the period of ratification, Jefferson rendered no inconsiderable service to the cause of Constitutional Government, for it was partly through his insistence that the Bill of Rights, consisting of the first ten amendments, was adopted.
 

JAMES MADISON
James was called the "Father of the Constitution". He was the delegate from Virginia. Because in point of erudition and actual contributions to the formation of the Constitution he was preeminent.


THE OLDEST WRITTEN CONSTITUTION
The United States has the oldest written constitution among the major nations of the world. All later Constitutions show its influence; it has been copied extensively throughout the world.