Representatives Ratified The Constitution: How Were They Chosen?

The ratification of the US Constitution was a complex process that involved delegates, state legislatures, and the public. The delegates who signed the Constitution on September 17, 1787, were chosen by popular vote and represented a wide range of interests and views. They were tasked with revising the existing government but ended up creating a powerful central government. The ratification conventions served as a forum for proponents and opponents to articulate their ideas, and the delegates were not asked to give up their power but to place limits on the power of state legislators. This approach ensured that the Constitution's authority came from representatives of the people specifically elected to approve or disapprove of the charter, reflecting the will of the electorate.

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Delegates were chosen by popular vote

The Constitution was ratified by delegates who were chosen by popular vote. These delegates were elected by their neighbours to represent their interests. They were not being asked to give up their power, but to place limits on the power of their state legislators.

The delegates were tasked with revising the existing government, but instead came up with a completely new one. They were wary of centralised power and loyal to their states, so they created a powerful central government.

The state conventions served the purpose of informing the public of the provisions of the proposed new government. They also served as forums for proponents and opponents to articulate their ideas before the citizenry.

The founders set the terms for ratifying the Constitution. They bypassed the state legislatures, reasoning that their members would be reluctant to give up power to a national government.

Delegates were elected by their neighbours

The delegates who ratified the Constitution were elected by their neighbours to represent their interests. They were not being asked to give up their power, but to place limits on the power of their state legislators, whom they may not have elected in the first place. The new nation was to be a republic in which power was held by the people through their elected representatives, so it was considered appropriate to leave the ultimate acceptance or rejection of the Constitution to the nation's citizens.

The delegates were chosen by popular vote, so the new government could rightly claim that it ruled with the consent of the people. The delegates were tasked with revising the existing government, but they came up with a completely new one. Wary about centralised power and loyal to their states, they created a powerful central government. Representing wildly different interests and views, they crafted compromises.

The state conventions served the necessary function of informing the public of the provisions of the proposed new government. They also served as forums for proponents and opponents to articulate their ideas before the citizenry. Significantly, state conventions, not Congress, were the agents of ratification. This approach insured that the Constitution's authority came from representatives of the people specifically elected for the purpose of approving or disapproving the charter, resulting in a more accurate reflection of the will of the electorate.

The new government ruled with the consent of the people

The Constitution was produced in secrecy during the Philadelphia convention. The ratifying conventions served to inform the public of the provisions of the proposed new government. They also served as forums for proponents and opponents to articulate their ideas before the citizenry. Significantly, state conventions, not Congress, were the agents of ratification. This approach insured that the Constitution's authority came from representatives of the people specifically elected for the purpose of approving or disapproving the charter, resulting in a more accurate reflection of the will of the electorate.

The founders set the terms for ratifying the Constitution. They bypassed the state legislatures, reasoning that their members would be reluctant to give up power to a national government. Instead, they called upon state legislatures to hold ratification conventions to approve the Constitution. The men attending the ratification conventions were delegates elected by their neighbours to represent their interests.

On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution. George Reed signed for John Dickinson of Delaware, who was absent, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. The delegates were tasked with revising the existing government, but they came up with a completely new one. Representing wildly different interests and views, they crafted compromises.

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The state conventions informed the public of the provisions of the proposed new government

The Constitution was ratified by 38 delegates on 17 September 1787. These delegates were chosen by popular vote, and were tasked with revising the existing government. They were wary of centralised power and loyal to their states, so they created a powerful central government.

The state conventions served as forums for proponents and opponents to articulate their ideas

The Constitution was ratified by delegates at state conventions, who were chosen by popular vote. These conventions served as forums for proponents and opponents to articulate their ideas before the citizenry. The delegates were not being asked to give up their power, but to place limits on the power of their state legislators. This approach ensured that the Constitution's authority came from representatives of the people specifically elected for the purpose of approving or disapproving the charter, resulting in a more accurate reflection of the will of the electorate. The state conventions also served the function of informing the public of the provisions of the proposed new government.

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