RATIFICATION PROCESS:

ARTICLE VII

· RATIFICATION IS A PROCESS THAT ONLY TAKES PLACE ONCE.

· ARTICLE VII CALLS FOR THE RATIFICATION BY “THE CONVENTIONS OF NINE STATES”

· PREAMBLE: “WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES…” --NOT: WE THE STATES

· STATE CONVENTION WOULD ALLOW VOTERS TO ELECT DELEGATES BASED ON THE SOLE ISSUE OF RATIFICATION

· ALTERNATIVE: REFERENDUM

o PERHAPS NOT POSSIBLE THEN

o NO COMPROMISE POSSIBLE: FOR EXAMPLE, MAJORITY OF NY VOTERS OPPOSED RATIFICATION BUT NY CONVENTION APPROVED IT

§ ß AFTER 9 STATES RATIFIED NY DID NOT WANT TO BE LEFT OUT OF UNION

§ ß THREAT BY NY MERCHANTS TO SECEDE