Introduction

Article 7 of the U.S Constitution is often overlooked in many discussions and debates about the founding document. However, its importance cannot be understated, as it facilitated the ratification of the Constitution by the states. Article 7 specifies the method and criteria for ratifying the Constitution and is essential to understanding the document’s legitimacy and significance. In this article, we will explore Article 7 of the U.S Constitution, its meaning, and its historical context in American history.

Background and Historical Context

The Constitution was created in the aftermath of the American Revolution, which saw the thirteen colonies break away from British rule. The Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the United States, had proven to be insufficient in governing the new nation. During the summer of 1787, the Founding Fathers, including George Washington, James Madison, and Benjamin Franklin, gathered in Philadelphia to draft a new constitution.

After several weeks of debate and compromise, the delegates produced a new constitution that celebrated the principles of liberty, democracy, and limited government. However, the document still faced opposition from many states who feared that a centralized government would infringe on individual liberties and state sovereignty.

The Ratification Process

The ratification process of the Constitution was complex and required the approval of nine of the thirteen states. After it was signed by the delegates in Philadelphia in 1787, the document was sent to the states for their consideration and approval. The ratification process took several months and was a subject of intense debate, with both supporters and critics of the Constitution voicing their opinions.

The Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, supported the Constitution and argued that it was necessary for the survival and success of the new nation. The Anti-Federalists, who opposed the Constitution, feared that it would create a centralized government with too much power and that it would infringe on individual liberties.

Article 7 of the Constitution

Article 7 of the Constitution outlines the process for ratifying the document. The article establishes that the Constitution would become effective once it had been ratified by nine of the thirteen states. It also specifies that the ratification process would take place through special state conventions, rather than through state legislatures.

The exact wording of Article 7 is as follows:

“The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.”

Meaning and Implications of Article 7

Article 7 of the Constitution is significant because it established the formal process for ratifying the Constitution. It ensured that the document would only become effective if approved by the necessary number of states, providing a framework for the new nation’s governance.

The ratification process was a delicate balance between maintaining the Constitution’s legitimacy while ensuring that it was adopted by enough states to become operational. Ratification by nine states allowed the Constitution to go into effect, but it did not ensure that the remaining four states would not continue to oppose it.

The process of ratification allowed citizens in each state to debate and consider the document’s merits and drawbacks, providing a forum for public discourse and political engagement. Many of the Anti-Federalist objections to the Constitution were ultimately addressed in the Bill of Rights, which was added to the document in 1791.

The success of the ratification process ensured that the United States became a centralized, constitutional republic, with a strong federal government. The Constitution has remained the foundation of American democracy and governance for over two centuries, and Article 7 played a crucial role in establishing its legitimacy and authority.

Article 7 of the Constitution established the process for ratifying the document and was essential to the founding of the United States as a constitutional republic. The article specified that the Constitution would become effective once it had been ratified by nine of the thirteen states, and that ratification would take place through special state conventions. The ratification process allowed citizens in each state to debate and consider the document’s merits and drawbacks, providing a forum for public discourse and political engagement. Today, Article 7 remains a testament to the durability and longevity of the U.S Constitution, which has remained the foundation of American democracy and governance for over two centuries.

What the Article 7 essentially means is that the very existence of the American Constitution, while predicated upon empowering the central government and diminishing the sovereignty of individual states, was sure to not diminish the core role all states play in mandating the dominant laws of the land.In many respects, Article 7 represents a continuation of Article 5, which mandated that all changes to the Constitution had to be ratified by the states before becoming Constitutional law.

In specifying that a majority of the existing states, specifically nine out of thirteen, had to ratify the Constitution for it to even exist, Article 7 showed that the State governments still played a vital role in the document that was, in essence, restricting their power.

At the time the Constitution was signed by the delegates of the Constitutional Convention on September 17,1787 (which is today observed as Constitution Day), the majority of the country’s power was in the hands of the states due to the Articles of Confederation.