RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE CONSTITUTION
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 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 assigned; 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
G. WASHINGTON, President
W. Jackson, Secretary.
Dates of Ratification by States
The Constitution was ratified by the thirteen original states in the following
order:
- DELAWARE, December 7, 1787
- PENNSYLVANIA, December 12, 1787
- NEW JERSEY, December 18, 1787
- GEORGIA, January 2, 1788
- CONNECTICUT, January 9, 1788
- MASSACHUSETTS, February 6, 1788
- MARYLAND, April 28, 1788
- SOUTH CAROLINA, May 23, 1788
- NEW HAMPSHIRE, June 21, 1788
- VIRGINIA, June 25, 1788
- NEW YORK, July 26, 1788
- NORTH CAROLINA, November 21, 1789
- RHODE ISLAND, May 29, 1790
VERMONT, by convention, ratified January 10, 1791; and Congress, February 18,
1791, admitted that State into the Union.
