Missouri First Member,
The Ratification Clause of the U.S. Constitution is only 24 words long, but it may be the single best indicator of the intended nature of the Union formed so many years ago.
That simple sentence also explains, all by itself, why the Founding Fathers continually referred to the new Constitution as a “compact”.
The Ratification Clause is the second to last clause of the Constitution, right before the Subscription Clause in Article VII. It sets out the criteria for replacing the Articles of Confederation. It simply says:
"The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same."
Here's what we learn from the Ratification Clause:
Nine of the thirteen states had to concur to setting up the new Constitution.
Any state not concurring would not be obligated to the new Constitution. Presumably, they would have continued under the Articles of Confederation.
The new Constitution was an agreement between the states which ratified it.
The states created the Constitution and the resulting Federal Government.
Each state is a party to an agreement "between" itself and the other states – not between itself and the Federal Government.
The Federal Government is an agent of the states. It is an intermediary for the constituent parties to a compact between those parties.
In sum, the Federal Government did not create the states – it is supposed to be the tail, not the dog!
It's time to put an end to the tail wagging the dog! Come to the Nullify Now! conference and learn about one of the most important tools the Founders used to maintain the Republic.
From Ron Calzone, Missouri First http://www.mofirst.org/
