'The United States Constitution is the shortest of its kind.'
Drafted in 1787, the U.S. Constitution is the oldest written constitution still in effect. At 4,000 words long, it is also the shortest, with a mere 400 words dedicated to the Judicial Branch. By comparison, the 1950 Constitution of India runs well over 100,000 words in its English translation. The Constitution of the State of Alabama is over three times that length, at 350,000 words, although much of that is attributable to its amendments (not included in the length of the original U.S. document).