<P> Article Seven describes the process for establishing the proposed new frame of government . Anticipating that the influence of many state politicians would be Antifederalist , delegates to the Philadelphia Convention provided for ratification of the Constitution by popularly elected ratifying conventions in each state . The convention method also made it possible that judges , ministers and others ineligible to serve in state legislatures , could be elected to a convention . Suspecting that Rhode Island , at least , might not ratify , delegates decided that the Constitution would go into effect as soon as nine states ( two - thirds rounded up ) ratified . Once ratified by this minimum number of states , it was anticipated that the proposed Constitution would become this Constitution between the nine or more that signed . It would not cover the four or fewer states that might not have signed . </P>
how many states had to ratify the constitution for the new government to go into effect
nine