The original United States Constitution contained seven articles.
The articles established the structure and powers of the new federal government. Article I created Congress, Article II established the presidency, and Article III created the federal judiciary. The remaining articles addressed relations among states, the amendment process, federal supremacy, ratification, and the Constitution’s operation.
The document was drafted at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. It was signed on September 17 and became effective after the required number of states ratified it. The Constitution began operating on March 4, 1789, replacing the Articles of Confederation.
The seven original articles should not be confused with the amendments added later. The first ten amendments, known collectively as the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791. Today, the Constitution has seven original articles and 27 amendments. The articles provide the framework, while amendments modify or add to that framework.