constitutional convention

(noun)

The Constitutional Convention took place from May 14 to September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to address problems in governing the United States of America, which had been operating under the Articles of Confederation following independence from Great Britain.

Related Terms

Examples of constitutional convention in the following topics:

  • The Constitutional Convention

    • The Constitutional Convention was established in 1787 to replace the Articles of Confederation with a national constitution for all states.
    • The Constitutional Convention took place from May 14 to September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
    • The result of the convention was the United States Constitution, placing the convention among the most significant events in the history of the United States .
    • At the Convention, several plans were introduced.
    • Discuss the circumstances leading to the Constitutional Convention and the replacement of the Articles of Confederation

  • Federalists and Antifederalists

    • While the Constitutional Convention was held to revise the Articles of Confederation, an entirely new constitution was drafted.
    • However, many delegates intended to use this convention to draft a new constitution.
    • At the Convention, the primary issue was representation of the states.
    • The Constitution was to be ratified by special ratifying conventions, not by state legislature.
    • Constitution

  • Drafting the Final Document

    • The report from the Committee on Detail at the Constitutional Convention constituted the first draft of the United States Constitution.
    • The Constitutional Convention took place in 1787, from May to September, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
    • For three days, the Convention compared this final version with the proceedings of the Convention.
    • Constitutional Convention of 1787, as published in Farrand's Records, Volume 1 (1911).
    • The Constitutional Convention adjourned to await the report of the Committee of Detail, which was to produce a first draft of the Constitution.

  • Amending the Constitution

    • There are two ways to propose amendments: First, states may call for a convention.
    • Alternatively, an amendment can be ratified by three-fourths of specially convoked state convention.
    • On December 5, 1933, these so-called "wets" asked for specially called state conventions and ratified repeal.
    • The amendment process originally came with restrictions protecting some agreements that the Great Compromise had settled during the Constitutional Convention.
    • The Great Compromise (also called the Connecticut Compromise) was an agreement that large and small states reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787.

  • The Annapolis Convention

    • The Annapolis Convention, led by Alexander Hamilton, was one of two conventions that met to amend the Articles of Confederation.
    • Long dissatisfied with the weak Articles of Confederation, Alexander Hamilton of New York played a major leadership role in drafting a resolution for a constitutional convention, which was later to be called the Annapolis Convention.
    • At the resulting Philadelphia Convention of 1787, delegates produced the United States Constitution.
    • Hamilton called the Annapolis Convention together and played a prominent role in the Philadelphia Convention the following year.
    • Constitution

  • Formal Methods of Amending the Constitution

    • The formal processes of amending the constitution are the processes articulated in Article V of the Constitution.
    • These are the Congressional method and the Constitutional Convention methods.
    • After being officially proposed, a constitutional amendment must then be ratified either by the legislatures of at least three-fourths of the states, or by conventions in the same proportion of states.
    • Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution that have been ratified, Congress has specified the method of ratification through state conventions for only one: the 21st Amendment, which became part of the Constitution in 1933.
    • Most states hold elections specifically for the purpose of choosing delegates to such conventions.

  • Article VII

    • Article Seven of the United States Constitution provides how many state ratifications were necessary in order for the Constitution to take effect and how a state could ratify it.
    • The ratification of the conventions of nine states, shall be sufficient for the establishment of this Constitution between the states so ratifying the same.

  • Article V

    • Article Five of the United States Constitution describes the process whereby the Constitution may be altered; altering the Constitution consists of proposing an amendment or amendments and subsequent ratification.
    • The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress; provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate.

  • Hosting Conventions

    • Nominating conventions also carry significance beyond their formal purposes.
    • The Democratic National Committee administers the Democratic National Convention while the Republican National Committee administers the Republican National Convention.
    • The conventions also generate positive publicity towards each respective party.
    • Examples of such minor parties include the Green Party, Socialist Party USA, Libertarian Party, Constitution Party, and Reform Party USA.
    • Presidential nominating conventions, like the Democratic National Convention, host influential speakers to increase party unity.

  • National Convention

    • A United States presidential nominating convention is a political convention held every four years in the United States.
    • The 2004 Republican National Convention had 2,509 delegates and 2,344 alternates.
    • Generally, usage of "presidential nominating convention" refers to the two major parties' quadrennial events: the Democratic National Convention and the Republican National Convention .
    • Some minor parties also select their nominees by convention, including the Green Party, Socialist Party USA, Libertarian Party, Constitution Party, and Reform Party USA.
    • From the point of view of the parties, the convention cycle begins with the Call to Convention.