Constitutional convention (political meeting)

:Alternative meaning: Constitutional convention (political custom)

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A constitutional convention is a gathering of delegates for the purpose of writing a new constitution or revising an existing constitution. A general constitutional convention is called to create the first constitution of a political unit or to entirely replace an existing constitution. An unlimited constitutional convention is called to revise an existing constitution.

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Examples of constitutional conventions include the:

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• United States Constitutional Convention (1787) - Drafted the United States Constitution for ratification by the states.
• Canada - Charlottetown Conference and Quebec Conference (1864), London Conference (1866).
• Australian constitutional conventions - 1891, 1897, 1973 and 1998.
• German Parliamentary Council (1948) - Drafted the Basic Law of the Federal Republic for ratification by the Länder.
• Scottish Constitutional Convention (1989) - produced a plan for Scottish devolution.
• European Convention (2001) - Drafted the Constitution for Europe for approval by the European Council and ratification by the member states.

Constitutional conventions have also been used by subnational units of federal states—such as the individual states of the United States—to create, replace, or revise their own constitutions.

Related Topics:
State - United States

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Constitutional convention (political meeting): See also ►