Updated: Sep 13
Resolutions of the Constitutional Convention
September 17, 1787
In Convention Monday September 17th. 1787
Present
The States of
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Mr. Hamilton from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
Resolved,
That the preceding Constitution be laid before the United States in Congress assembled, and that it is the Opinion of this Convention, that it should afterwards be submitted to a Convention of Delegates, chosen in each State by the People thereof, under the Recommendation of its Legislature, for their Assent and Ratification; and that each Convention assenting to, and ratifying the Same, should give Notice thereof to the United States in Congress assembled.
Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Convention, that as soon as the Conventions of nine States shall have ratified this Constitution, the United States in Congress assembled should fix a Day on which Electors should be appointed by the States which shall have ratified the same, and a Day on which the Electors should assemble to vote for the President, and the Time and place for commencing Proceedings under this Constitution. That after such Publication the Electors should be appointed, and the Senators and Representatives elected: That the Electors should meet on the Day fixed for the Election of the President, and should transmit their votes certified signed, sealed and directed, as the Constitution requires, to the Secretary of the United States in Congress assembled, that the Senators and Representatives should convene at the Time and Place asigned; that the Senators should appoint a President of the Senate, for the sole Purpose of receiving, opening and counting the Votes for President; and, that after he shall be chosen, the Congress, together with the President, should, without Delay, proceed to execute this Constitution.
By the Unanimous Order of the Convention
Go: Washington Presidt.
W. Jackson Secretary
September 17, 1787
This document appears in the Compendium: Chapter 6
Annotation:
The Resolutions of the Constitutional Convention established the process by which the proposed Constitution would be laid before Congress and then submitted, through the state legislatures, to conventions of delegates chosen by the people for their assent and ratification, with nine states sufficient to establish the new government. On September 28, 1787, Congress unanimously resolved to transmit the Convention's Report, Resolutions, and accompanying letter to the several state legislatures for this purpose, providing the necessary congressional authorization for the Constitution to proceed to the states. Congress's unanimous assent to the Convention's proposed course of action was essential to the Constitution's legal transmission for ratification and is often overlooked in claims that the Constitution was adopted without lawful authority.
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