" 'There are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them...' (I accept this Constitution), 'because I expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best.' " --Benjamin Franklin, one of the 39 signatories of the Constitution, September, 1787The Constitution of the United States, signed by the members of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787, replaced the Articles of Confederation on June 21, 1788. One of the most influential works of political philosophy and practicality ever written, it is the oldest national constitution still in use today and continues to inspire freedom-loving peoples around the world. Its three-pronged system of government-balancing power among legislative, judicial, and executive branches was groundbreaking.This handy edition includes the Bill of Rights and the twenty-seven amendments.