The United States Constitution contains seven articles. These articles establish the structure and powers of the federal government and explain how the states and national government relate to one another.
Article I creates Congress and describes the legislative branch. Article II establishes the presidency and executive branch, while Article III establishes the federal judiciary and Supreme Court. Together, these first three articles reflect the Constitution’s separation of powers.
Articles IV through VII address federalism, constitutional amendments, federal law and treaties, and ratification. Article V sets out the amendment process, and Article VII required ratification by nine of the thirteen states for the Constitution to take effect.
The Constitution was drafted at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. Delegates signed it on September 17, 1787, and the new federal government began operating under it on March 4, 1789. The original document also includes a preamble and a closing endorsement, but those are not counted as articles.