The Constitution of the United States of America was completed on September 17, 1787, when it was adopted by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Constitution was later ratified by special conventions in each state. It took effect on March 4, 1789. The Constitution creates a federal union of sovereign states, and a federal government to operate that union. The Constitution was the second of the three Charters of Freedom. The other Charters of Freedom include the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. All three Charters of Freedom are included in this edition, along with the later amendments to the Constitution.