The Constitution of the United States of America, with all of the Amendments; The Declaration of Independence; and The Articles of Confederation
Primary Author: James Madison (Drafted the Virginia Plan) Origins: Proposed, Debated and Drafted at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in the Summer of 1787. The meetings of the Convention took place at Independence Hall. The Constitutional Convention began its deliberations on May 25, 1787. All of the delegates were convinced that an effective central government with a wide range of enforceable powers must replace the weaker Congress established by the Articles of Confederation.