Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

America’s Constitution has been in effect for more than 200 years. Yet some critics say that it was adopted illegally. Join Mike Farris as he examines these claims today on Home School Heartbeat.

Michael Farris:
From the time the Constitutional Convention concluded up until today, there has been a whispering campaign that the Constitution was illegally adopted by a runaway convention. These charges are very serious because they suggest that under the law that was in place at the time, the Constitution was not properly adopted.

We can summarize the allegations against the Constitution in two ways. First, a new document was written rather than merely making changes to the Articles of Confederation. And secondly, that the Constitution required ratification by 9 states, whereas the Articles of Confederation required all 13 states to approve any changes.

To answer these questions, we have to look very closely at the process that was actually used, and not do a superficial analysis, as most historians have done. The most important thing to remember in answering this charge is that the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia simply had the power to make recommendations, and the incredibly important question is to whom did they make their recommendation, and did they follow the process of law from the point in time after receiving the recommendation from the Constitutional Convention?