The ratification process started when the Congress turned the Constitution over to the state legislatures for consideration through specially elected state conventions of the people. ... This copy of the Constitution was used by delegates to the New York
What does ratifying the Constitution mean?
Ratify means to approve or enact a legally binding act that would not otherwise be binding in the absence of such approval. In the constitutional context, nations may ratify an amendment to an existing or adoption of a new constitution. ... The first amendments to the Constitution were the Bill of Rights, ratified in 1791.
What was the purpose of ratifying the Constitution?
The ratifying conventions served the necessary function of informing the public of the provisions of the proposed new government. They also served as forums for proponents and opponents to articulate their ideas before the citizenry. Significantly, state conventions, not Congress, were the agents of ratification.