-- By The Founding Fathers --
The newly founded nation was held together by stitches, under the Articles of Confederation, until the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1788.
Representatives from the states argued for months over the terms in the Constitution. James Madison had a pivotal role in the writing with his introduction of the Virginia Plan, which included the structure of the three branch government, therein: their structure and functions.
After the Constitutional Convention closed, the drafted Constitution was sent to all 13 states (the former 13 British Colonies) for ratification. In his final remarks, Benjamin Franklin endorsed the document by saying, "There are several parts of this Constitution which I don not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them...I expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best."
The U.S. Constitution has become the longest standing written document of government structure at this time.
