The original United States Constitution contained seven articles, making seven the answer to this America250 question about the nation’s founding document.
The articles established the legislative, executive, and judicial branches; described relations among the states; addressed the amendment process; set rules for federal supremacy and state obligations; and established ratification. Article I created Congress, Article II the presidency, and Article III the federal judiciary.
The Constitution’s seven original articles remain in force, although the document has been changed by amendments. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were added in 1791 and are not additional articles. The Constitution is therefore different from the Declaration of Independence, which announced the colonies’ break from Britain but did not create the federal government.