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{{Short description|Body of representatives convened to draft or adopt a new constitution}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}{{About|the political meeting|customs or traditions relating to a Constitution|Constitutional convention (political custom)}}
[[File:Convención Constituyente Chile 4-julio-2021.jpg|thumb|400px|Opening session of the 2021 [[Constitutional Convention (Chile)|Chilean constitutional convention]]]]

A '''constituent assembly''' (also known as a '''constitutional convention''', '''constitutional congress''', or '''constitutional assembly''') is a body assembled for the purpose of drafting or revising a [[constitution]]. Members of a constituent assembly may be elected by [[Direct election|popular vote]], drawn by [[sortition]], appointed, or some combination of these methods.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Oloka-Onyango, Joseph.|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/849441803|title=Constitutionalism in Africa : creating opportunities, facing challenges|date=2001|publisher=Fountain Publishers|isbn=9970-02-271-7|oclc=849441803}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Ghai|first=Yash|title=The Role of Constituent Assemblies in Constitution Making|url=https://constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/2017-08/the_role_of_constituent_assemblies_-_final_yg_-_200606.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210328115417/https://constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/2017-08/the_role_of_constituent_assemblies_-_final_yg_-_200606.pdf |archive-date=2021-03-28 }}</ref> Assemblies are typically considered distinct from a regular [[legislature]], although members of the legislature may compose a significant number or all of its members.<ref>{{Cite web|title=3.1.2 Constitutional assemblies|url=https://constitutionmakingforpeace.org/cmp_handbook/3-1-2-constitutional-assemblies/|access-date=2021-10-31|website=Constitution Making for Peace|language=en-US}}</ref>  As the fundamental document constituting a state, a constitution cannot normally be modified or amended by the state's normal legislative procedures in some jurisdictions;<ref>{{Cite book|editor-last=Macfarlane|editor-first= Emmett |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1046612703|title=Constitutional Amendment in Canada|year=2016|isbn=978-1-4426-1900-5|oclc=1046612703}}</ref> instead a constitutional convention or a constituent assembly, the rules for which are normally laid down in the constitution, must be set up. A constituent assembly is usually set up for its specific purpose, which it carries out in a relatively short time, after which the assembly is dissolved. A constituent assembly is a form of [[representative democracy]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Newar Bdair.|url=https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3286293|title=Newar Bdair – The Constituent Power|date=2001|publisher=Fountain Publishers|ssrn = 3286293|isbn=9970-02-271-7|oclc=3286293}}</ref>

Unlike forms of constitution-making in which a constitution is unilaterally imposed by a sovereign lawmaker, the constituent assembly creates a constitution through "internally imposed" actions, in that members of the constituent assembly are themselves citizens, but not necessarily the political leaders, of the country for which they are creating a constitution.<ref>''Id''. at 125</ref> As described by Columbia University Social Sciences Professor [[Jon Elster]]:

"Constitutions arise in a number of different ways.  At the non-democratic extreme of the spectrum, we may imagine a sovereign lawgiver laying down the constitution for all later generations.  At the democratic extreme, we may imagine a constituent assembly elected by [[universal suffrage]] for the sole task of writing a new constitution.  And there are all sorts of intermediate arrangements."<ref>Axel Hadenius, ed., [http://www.cambridge.org/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780521573115 Democracy's Victory and Crisis], Ch 7: Ways of constitution-making by Jon Elster (p. 123); Cambridge University Press, 1997. 431 pp {{ISBN|9780521573115}}</ref>
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== By country ==
{{For|a full list of constituent assemblies|List of constituent assemblies}}

=== Australia ===
[[Constitutional Convention (Australia)|Australia]] held four constitutional conventions, one each in 1891, 1897, 1973, and [[Australian Constitutional Convention 1998|1998]].

=== Bangladesh ===
The [[Constituent Assembly of Bangladesh]] was the first and, to date, the only constitution-making body of [[Bangladesh]], convened in 1972 by the government of [[Sheikh Mujibur Rahman]] following the country's independence.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Islam |first=Kabedul |title=গণপরিষদের বিতর্কের আলোকে বাংলাদেশের সংবিধান জন্মকথা |date=September 2023 |publisher=Mowla Brothers |isbn=978-984-97686-5-4 |location=Dhaka |pages=7 |language=bn |trans-title=The Birth Story of Bangladesh's Constitution in Light of the Constituent Assembly Debates}}</ref> It comprised representatives elected in the national and provincial council elections of [[Pakistan]] held in 1970. As the assembly was formed with representatives elected under the [[Legal Framework Order, 1970]], issued by Pakistan's then-military ruler and President [[Yahya Khan]], several political parties and political leaders, including [[Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani|Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani]], [[Badruddin Umar]], [[A. S. M. Abdur Rab|A.S.M. Abdur Rab]], [[Farhad Mazhar]], and others, have labeled this assembly as illegitimate.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ahmed |first=Firoz |date=May 2015 |editor-last=Muhammad |editor-first=Anu |editor-link=Anu Muhammad |title=বাংলাদেশের সংবিধান ও রাষ্ট্রের গতিমুখ: সূচনাকাল |trans-title=The Constitution of Bangladesh and the Trajectory of the State: The Early Years |url=https://sarbojonkotha.info/pdf/bangladesh-sanbidhan-3.pdf |journal=Sarbojonkotha |pages=86-98 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520093704/https://sarbojonkotha.info/pdf/bangladesh-sanbidhan-3.pdf |archive-date=May 20, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Mazhar |first=Farhad |title=গণঅভ্যুত্থান ও গঠন: বাংলাদেশে গণরাজনৈতিক ধারার বিকাশ প্রসঙ্গে |publisher=Rastrochinta |year=2023 |isbn=978-984-97818-0-6 |location=Dhaka |publication-date=August 2023 |pages=148-180 |language=bn |trans-title=Mass Uprising and Constitution: On the Development of People's Political Consciousness in Bangladesh |chapter=গঠন ও গঠনতন্ত্র}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Umar |first=Badruddin |title=সমাজ রাষ্ট্র বিবর্তন: জ্ঞানতাপস আব্দুর রাজ্জাক গুণিজন বক্তৃতামালা (২০১৭-২০১৮) |publisher=Bengal Publications |year=2019 |isbn=978-984-93718-7-8 |editor-last=Ahmad |editor-first=Ahrar |location=Dhaka |pages=156-182 |language=bn |chapter=আর্থ-সামাজিক-রাজনৈতিক পরিবর্তনের ধারা}}</ref> However, despite the controversies and opposition, Sheikh Mujib's uncompromising leadership enabled the Constituent Assembly to draft and enact the [[Constitution of Bangladesh|Constitution]] in less than a year. However, from the time of its drafting until today, the constitution has been often labelled as "[[Fascism|fascist]]"<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-08-07 |title=Interview: Situation In Bangladesh Challenging, But Happy That A Fascist Rule Has Ended, Cultural Icon Farhad Mazhar To ETV Bharat |url=https://www.etvbharat.com/en/!international/situation-in-bangladesh-challenging-but-happy-that-a-fascist-rule-has-ended-says-bangladesh-intellectual-farhad-mazher-enn24080703442 |access-date=2024-09-28 |website=ETV Bharat News |language=en}}</ref> and criticized for fostering [[autocracy]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-16 |title=Constitution needs rewriting to bar autocracy |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/constitution-needs-rewriting-bar-autocracy-3704011 |access-date=2024-09-28 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> and failing to adequately safeguard [[human rights]].

In the aftermath of [[Non-cooperation movement (2024)]], the [[Yunus Ministry|Interim government of Bangladesh]] is mulling over convening a new constituent assembly to draft a new inclusive democratic constitution, ensuring the inviolability of human dignity.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Constituent assembly to be convened for charter reform: Nahid |url=https://www.jagonews24.com/en/national/news/76602 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240924185219/https://www.jagonews24.com/en/national/news/76602 |archive-date=September 24, 2024 |access-date=}}</ref>

=== Chile ===
{{main|Constitutional Convention (Chile)}}

As of May 2021 Chile is the most recently elected constitutional assembly. The 155 members of this assembly were [[2021 Chilean Constitutional Convention election|elected between 15 and 16 May 2021]]. The assembly has gender parity (50% females and 50% males) and has 17 seats reserved for people belonging to indigenous peoples. The assembly is granted 12 months to draft a new constitution, which has to be ratified by referendum once written, with [[compulsory voting]].

=== Costa Rica ===
{{main|Constituent Assembly of Costa Rica}}

Immediately after the [[Costa Rican Civil War|1948 Costa Rican Civil War]] that overthrew the [[Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia|Rafael Angel Calderón]] Government, the leaders of the victorious side called for the [[1948 Costa Rican Constitutional Assembly election|election of a Constituent Assembly]] in the same year. The Assembly successfully drafted and approved the current [[Costa Rican Constitution]].

===Denmark===
[[Image:Grundlovgivende rigsforsamling - Constantin Hansen.jpg|thumb|''[[The Danish Constituent Assembly]]''. Painting by [[Constantin Hansen]] (1864).]]
The [[Danish Constituent Assembly]] ({{Langx|da|Den Grundlovgivende Rigsforsamling}}; lit. ''The Constitution giving Assembly of the Realm'') of 1848 established the [[Constitution of Denmark]] in 1849 ({{langx|da|Danmarks Riges Grundlov}}; lit. ''The [[Constitution of Denmark|Constitutional Act of the Realm of Denmark]]'') and formalized the transition from [[absolute monarchy]] to [[constitutional monarchy]]. The assembly consisted of members of which 114 were directly elected in October 1848, 38 were appointed by the king and the rest were government ministers.<ref name="Demokratiets etablering">{{cite web|url=https://danmarkshistorien.dk/perioder/det-unge-demokrati-1848-1901/demokratiets-etablering-den-grundlovgivende-forsamling/|title=Demokratiets etablering: Den Grundlovgivende Forsamling|language=da|website=danmarkshistorien.dk|access-date=8 February 2019|archive-date=24 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924022131/https://danmarkshistorien.dk/perioder/det-unge-demokrati-1848-1901/demokratiets-etablering-den-grundlovgivende-forsamling/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The constituent assembly met at [[Christiansborg Palace (2nd)|Christiansborg Palace]] in [[Copenhagen]] and first met on 23 October 1848.<ref name="Den Grundlovgivende Rigsforsamling">{{cite web|url=http://denstoredanske.dk/Danmarks_geografi_og_historie/Danmarks_historie/Danmark_1536-1849/Den_Grundlovgivende_Rigsforsamling|title=Den Grundlovgivende Rigsforsamling {{!}} Gyldendal – Den Store Danske|language=da|website=denstoredanske.dk|access-date=8 February 2019}}</ref> The assembly was overall split in three different groupings: the [[National liberalism|National liberals]], the Friends of Peasants, and the [[conservatism|Conservatives]]. A key topic for discussion was the political system, and the rules governing elections.<ref name="Den Grundlovgivende Rigsforsamling"/><ref name="Demokratiets etablering"/> On 25 May 1849, the constituent assembly approved the new constitution, and on 5 June 1849 it was signed by [[Frederick VII of Denmark|King Frederick VII]]. For this reason, it is also known as the ''June constitution''.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://danmarkshistorien.dk/leksikon-og-kilder/vis/materiale/danmarks-riges-grundlov-af-5-juni-1849-junigrundloven/|title=Danmarks Riges Grundlov, 5. juni 1849 (Junigrundloven)|website=danmarkshistorien.dk|language=da|access-date=2018-12-10}}</ref> Today, 5 June is known as [[Constitution Day (Denmark)|Constitution Day]] in [[Denmark]].

=== European Union ===
The [[Convention on the Future of Europe|European Convention]] (2001)  drafted the [[Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe|Constitution for Europe]] for approval by the [[European Council]] and ratification by the [[List of European Union member states|member states]]. This constitution was abandoned after being rejected in [[2005 French European Constitution referendum|French]] and [[2005 Dutch European Constitution referendum|Dutch referendums]], and was replaced by the [[Treaty of Lisbon]] in 2007.

=== France ===
{{main|National Constituent Assembly (France)}}

During the [[French Revolution]] (from July 1789 to September 1791) a [[National Constituent Assembly (France)|National Constituent Assembly]] ({{lang|fr|Assemblée nationale constituante}}) was formed when representatives assembled at the only location available – a tennis court – and swore the [[Tennis Court Oath]] on June 20, 1789, promising that they would not adjourn until they had drafted a new constitution for France. [[Louis XVI]] recognized the validity of the National Constituent Assembly on June 27, 1789.<ref>Paul R. Hanson, ''The A to Z of the French Revolution'' (2013) pp 85–86</ref>

See also [[1848 French Constituent Assembly election]].

=== Germany ===
[[Parlamentarischer Rat]] (Parliamentary Council) (1948) – Drafted the [[Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany|Basic Law of the Federal Republic]] for ratification by the ''[[States of Germany|Länder]]''. This council was not recognized as legitimate by Soviet-occupied [[East Germany]], which drafted its own constitution in 1949 and would not accept the Basic Law until [[German reunification]] in 1990.

=== Iceland ===
On 27 November 2010, Iceland held an election for a [[Icelandic Constitutional Assembly|constitutional assembly]], with 522 people competing for 25 delegate seats. The assembly, in session for four months from early April until late July 2011, drafted a new constitution and passed it unanimously with 25 votes and no abstentions. On 20 October 2012 the parliament put the bill to a national referendum, in which 67% of the voters supported the bill. Further, 67% of the voters supported equal voting rights (one person, one vote) and 83% supported national ownership of natural resources, two key provisions of the bill. Parliament has failed to ratify the bill, however, inviting accusations that the political class is trying to thwart the will of the people by disrespecting the result of the 2012 constitutional referendum.

=== Ireland ===
In September 1922 the  [[Third Dáil]] enacted the [[Irish Free State Constitution]] while "sitting as a Constituent Assembly in this Provisional Parliament".<ref>{{cite web |title=Constitution of the Irish Free State (Saorstát Eireann) Act, 1922 |url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1922/act/1/enacted/en/html |website=electronic Irish Statute Book (eISB) |pages=Preamble |no-pp=y |language=en}}</ref> The Dáil had been elected [[1922 Irish general election|in June 1922]] as a provisional parliament to which the [[Provisional Government of Ireland (1922)|Provisional Government]] established in January 1922 was [[Responsible government|responsible]]. When the Free State Constitution [[came into force]] in December 1922, the Third Dáil continued as [[Free State Dáil|the lower house]] of the [[Oireachtas (Irish Free State)|Free State Oireachtas]] (parliament). Whether the Oireachtas had unlimited power to amend the Constituent Assembly's enactment became a matter of legal and political controversy in the 1930s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Introduction |work=The Origins of the Irish Constitution |publisher=RIA |url=https://www.ria.ie/sites/default/files/introduction-to-the-origins-of-the-irish-constitution.pdf}}</ref> 

The [[8th Dáil]], elected [[1933 Irish general election|in 1933]], finalised the draft [[Constitution of Ireland]] in 1937, although the Dáil was seldom described in this context as a "constituent assembly". [[Éamon de Valera]], the instigator of the 1937 Constitution, stated, "The only way in which you can get a Constitution is to get the people themselves to enact it or get them to elect a Constituent Assembly to enact it".<ref>{{cite web |first1=Éamon |last1=de Valera |title=Bunreacht na hEireann (Dréacht)—Dara Céim |trans-title=Constitution of Ireland (Draft)—Second Stage |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1937-05-11/29/#para_477 |website=Dáil Éireann (8th Dáil) debates |publisher=Houses of the Oireachtas |access-date=6 December 2025 |language=en-ie |date=11 May 1937}}</ref> In his view, "the people themselves" enacted the constitution when the Dáil's draft was [[Irish constitutional plebiscite, 1937|approved by a plebiscite]] on 1 July 1937. 

[[List of Irish constitutional conventions|Other Irish constitutional conventions]] have met. The 2012–2014 [[Constitutional Convention (Ireland)|Constitutional Convention]] was a quasi [[citizens' assembly]] which proposed various changes to law; of those involving [[Amendments to the Constitution of Ireland|amending the constitution]], the [[Government of the 31st Dáil|then government]] accepted six,<ref>{{cite web |title=2013-2014 Convention on the Constitution |url=https://citizensassembly.ie/previous-assemblies/2013-2014-convention-on-the-constitution/ |website=Citizens' Assembly |access-date=6 December 2025}}</ref> three of which were put to referendum, of which two passed.{{#tag:ref|The successes were [[Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland|same-sex marriage]] and [[Thirty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland|abolishing blasphemy]]; the failure was [[Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2015|reducing the presidential minimum age]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Ireland’s Previous Referendums |url=https://www.electoralcommission.ie/referendums-info/previous-referendums/ |website=Electoral Commission |access-date=6 December 2025 |date=8 March 2024}}</ref>}}

=== India ===
{{Main|Constituent Assembly of India}}

The Constituent Assembly of [[India]] was elected to write the [[Constitution of India]], and served as its first [[Parliament]] as an independent nation. It was set up as a result of negotiations between the leaders of the [[Indian independence movement]] and members of the British [[Cabinet Mission]]. The constituent assembly was elected indirectly by the members of the Provincial legislative assembly, which existed under the [[British Raj]]. It first met on December 9, 1946, in [[Delhi]]. On August 15, 1947, India became an independent nation, and the Constituent Assembly started functioning as India's Parliament.  [[B. R. Ambedkar|Dr. B.R. Ambedkar]] drafted the Constitution of India in conjunction with the requisite deliberations and debates in the Constituent Assembly. The Assembly approved the Constitution on November 26, 1949 (celebrated as [[Constitution Day (India)|Constitution Day]]), and it took effect on January 26, 1950 — a day now commemorated as [[Republic Day]] in India. Once the Constitution took effect, the Constituent Assembly became the Provisional Parliament of India.

=== Indonesia ===
{{Main|Constitutional Assembly of Indonesia}}

The Constitutional Assembly of Indonesia was established to draw up a permanent constitution. Its membership was elected in November 1955, and it met for the first time in November 1956. After four sessions, it failed to agree on the fundamental basis for the state. It was dissolved in 1959, and the original constitution imposed by presidential decree.(OTP)

===Italy===
{{main|Constituent Assembly of Italy}}

The Constituent Assembly of Italy was established in 1946 in the wake of [[Fascism in Italy|Fascist Italy]]'s defeat during World War II. It was elected with universal suffrage, simultaneously with a [[referendum]] about the adoption of Republic or the continuation of monarchy. Voters chose Republic, and the new assembly had the task to approve the new republic governments, as well as to write a new constitution. This was approved on 22 December 1947.

It was dissolved on 31 January 1948, to be replaced by the new [[Parliament of Italy]].

=== Mexico ===
The [[New Spain|Viceroyalty of New Spain]] sent deputies to the [[Cortes of Cádiz|Cortes of Cadiz]], which enacted the [[Spanish Constitution of 1812|1812 Constitution]]. By the time this Constitution was enacted, an insurgency [[Mexican War of Independence|fighting for independence]] from Spain was already established.

The first Constituent Congress of independent Mexico, known as the [[Congress of Chilpancingo|Congress of Anahuac]], was first gathered in [[Chilpancingo]] whilst the war of independence was still ongoing. During the opening of Congress, [[José María Morelos]] outlined its program in a document called ''[[Sentimientos de la Nación]]'' (Feelings of the Nation), which was the first antecedent of the various Constitutions of Mexico. Being persecuted by [[Royalist (Spanish American independence)|royalist]] troops, the Congress fled Chilpancingo and gathered in [[Apatzingán]].

On October 22, 1814, the Congress enacted the Constitutional Decree for the Liberty of Mexican America (''Decreto Constitucional para la Libertad de la América Mexicana''), known as the [[Constitution of Apatzingán]]. The 1814 Constitution entered into force in the territories dominated by the insurgents, but as the war continued and the first insurgent leaders (like Morelos) were defeated, it was largely forgotten.

After independence was consummated on September 27, 1821, and based on the ''[[Plan of Iguala|Plan de Iguala]]'' and the [[Treaty of Córdoba]], the [[Provisional Government Junta|Provisional Governing Junta]] was stablished. The Junta proclaimed the [[Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire|Act of Independence of the Mexican Empire]] and acted as a ''de facto'' legislative assembly until February 24, 1822, when the Constituent Congress was gathered. On May 19, 1822, the Constituent Congress proclaimed [[Agustín de Iturbide]] as Emperor. The relations between Emperor and Congress were always problematic, a situation that led to the dissolution of Congress by Iturbide on October 31, 1822, without a formal Constitution being enacted.

After the dissolution of Congress, Iturbide created the [[National Institutional Junta|National Instituent Junta]], which enacted the [[Provisional Political Bylaws of the Mexican Empire]] on December 18, 1822. The dissolution of Congress had resulted in an armed revolution under the ''Plan de Casa Mata'', which called for the establishment of a Federal Republic and for the restoration of the Constituent Congress. Iturbide was forced to abdicate and he reinstalled the Constituent Congress.

The Congress then created a provisional government, called the [[Provisional Government of Mexico|Triumvirate]], and enacted the Constituent Act of the Mexican Federation, by which the former Provinces of Mexico were transformed into free and sovereign States. After this, a Constituent Congress was formed with the participation of the States and it enacted the [[1824 Constitution of Mexico|1824 Constitution]].

Many disputes aroused between federalists and centralists, which resulted in political instability and in 1836 the ''[[Siete Leyes]]'' (Seven Laws) were enacted. The ''Siete Leyes'' dissolved the federation and created a unitary republic, but that ended in 1846 when the Constitutive and Reforms Act was enacted and the 1824 Constitution, and thus the federation, was restored.

On October 16, 1854, President [[Juan Álvarez]], under the ''[[Plan of Ayutla|Plan de Ayutla]]'', decreed the formation of another Constituent Congress, which met in 1856. During the presidency of [[Ignacio Comonfort]], the Constituent Congress enacted the [[Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1857|1857 Constitution]], which was liberal in character. The Constitution was not well received by the church and Mexican conservatives, and the [[Plan of Tacubaya|''Plan de Tacubaya'']] called for its derogation. This events led to the [[Reform War]], which the liberals won, then restoring the 1857 Constitution and adding to it the [[Reform laws|Reform Laws]].

After the [[Porfiriato]], and whilst the [[Mexican Revolution]] was still being fought, President [[Venustiano Carranza]] formed a Constituent Congress, which met in [[Querétaro City|Querétaro]] and enacted the still-current [[Constitution of Mexico|Political Constitution of the United Mexican States]] of 1917.

=== Nepal ===
{{main|2nd Nepalese Constituent Assembly}}

Nepal had two [[2nd Nepalese Constituent Assembly|Constituent assemblies]], the last one being elected after its [[1st Nepalese Constituent Assembly|predecessor]] failed to deliver a constitution, despite multiple extensions. It also served as the country's parliament.
Finally Nepal had made constitution with 89% majority. Nepal has adopted [[federalism]] since.

=== Poland ===
[[Great Sejm|The Great Sejm]] (also known as ''Four-Year Sejm'') was held between 1788 and 1792. Its principal aim became to restore sovereignty to, and reform, the [[Federation|federative]] [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth|Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth]] politically and economically. These attempts were made by writing [[Constitution of 3 May 1791]] that was designed to redress long-standing political defects of the Commonwealth and its system of [[Golden Liberty|Golden Liberties]]. The constitution lasted for merely a year because of the [[Polish–Russian War of 1792|Polish-Russian War of 1792]] and the [[Third Partition of Poland]].

=== Philippines ===
[[Philippines|The Philippines]] has had several conventions:

* 1898 – drafted the 1898 [[Malolos Constitution]], the basic law of the [[First Philippine Republic]], the first constitutional republic in Asia.  The drafted constitution was written by [[Felipe Calderón y Roca]] and Felipe Buencamino as an alternative to a pair of proposals to the [[Malolos Congress]] by [[Apolinario Mabini]] and [[Pedro Paterno]]. After a lengthy debate in the latter part of 1898, it was enacted on 21 January 1899.
* 1935 – to draft a constitution to create the autonomous [[Commonwealth of the Philippines]] under the U.S. [[Tydings–McDuffie Act]]. The constitution was also used in the 3rd Republic (1946) until the passage of the 1973 constitution. Members were elected through the [[1934 Philippine Constitutional Convention election]]
* 1971 – to draft a revised constitution to replace the old U.S. [[1935 Philippine Constitution|1935 Philippine constitution]]. Members were elected through the [[1970 Philippine Constitutional Convention election]]. The system of government changed from presidential to parliamentary to presidential-parliamentary (in 1984 amendment). 
* 1986 – The ex-constitution lasted until the downfall of [[Ferdinand Marcos]] in 1986 and [[Corazon Aquino]] appointed members to draft the 1987 Constitution through the [[Philippine Constitutional Commission of 1986|1986 Commission]].

=== Russia ===
{{main|Russian Constituent Assembly}}

The [[Russian Constituent Assembly]] was established in [[Russia]] in the wake of the [[October Revolution]] of 1917 to form a new constitution after the overthrow of the [[Russian Provisional Government]].

===Sri Lanka===
The Sri Lankan Parliament approved the creation of a [[Sri Lanka Constitutional Assembly]] on March 9, 2016, proposed by [[Prime Minister]] [[Ranil Wickramasinghe]]. The assembly will draft a new constitution for [[Sri Lanka]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adaderana.lk/news/34501/resolution-on-constitutional-assembly-passed-in-parliament|title=Resolution on Constitutional Assembly passed in Parliament|website=www.adaderana.lk|access-date=19 March 2018}}</ref>

===Turkey===
[[Constituent Assembly of Turkey]] was established in 1961 after the [[1960 Turkish coup d'état]] to prepare a democratic [[Turkish Constitution of 1961|constitution]]. The constitution was prepared and approved by the voters in a referendum of 1961.

=== United States ===

====Federal====
{{Main|Constitutional Convention (United States)}}

[[File:Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States.jpg|thumb|''[[Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States]]'', by [[Howard Chandler Christy]] (1940)]]
The [[Philadelphia Convention|U.S. Constitutional Convention]]  drafted the still-current [[United States Constitution]] in 1787.  Its delegates were appointed by the states, not directly elected, and not all states sent delegates; moreover, the convention was originally charged with drafting amendments to the [[Articles of Confederation]] rather than a new constitution.<ref>See ''The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787'' (Edited by Max Farrand; revised edition in Four Volumes, Yale University Press, 1966).</ref>

The US Constitution contains no provision for its own replacement (and because of the presence of [[entrenched clauses]] it cannot be revoked through an amendment). [[Article Five of the United States Constitution|Article V]] of the Constitution does permit Congress to appoint a [[Convention to propose amendments to the United States Constitution|national constitutional convention]] to propose amendments but it has never done so. While Congress has the option to submit both its own proposals for amendments and those of a national convention to [[State ratifying conventions|state conventions]] rather than the state legislatures for ratification; this process has been used only once (for the [[Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution|Twenty-first Amendment]]).

====States====
[[File:1830VAConstConv01.jpg|thumb|left|''The Virginia Constitutional Convention, 1830'' (George Catlin, {{circa|1830}}). Many state constituent assemblies, like the 1830 Virginia Constitutional Convention, were highly formalized but the legitimacy of the constitution they drafted depended on whether it was authorized by the people, not whether a particular procedure was followed.]]

A long tradition in the use of constituent assemblies exists at the state level of [[Constitutionalism]]. In fact, constituent assemblies met in the states before the formation of the Federal Constitution in 1787 as well as after its ratification. Since 1776 nearly 150 state constitutional conventions have met to draft or revise state constitutions.<ref>Albert L. Sturm, "The Development of American State Constitutions," 12 ''Publius'' (1982), 57–98.</ref>

These early state constitutional conventions frequently did not use procedural steps like popular ratification that became commonplace in the mid-19th century.  Yet they were considered to be constituent assemblies that exercised their authority as that of the people.<ref>Marc W. Kruman, ''Between Authority and Liberty:  State Constitution Making in Revolutionary America'' (Univ. of North Carolina Press, 1997), 1–33; Christian G. Fritz, "Alternative Visions of American Constitutionalism: Popular Sovereignty and the Early American Constitutional Debate," 24 ''Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly'' (1997), 322–29; Christian G. Fritz, ''American Sovereigns: The People and America's Constitutional Tradition Before the Civil War'' (Cambridge University Press, 2008) at pp. 31–35 {{ISBN|978-0-521-88188-3}}</ref> As ''American Sovereigns: The People and America's Constitutional Tradition Before the Civil War'' by Christian G. Fritz notes:.
<blockquote>"A legitimate constitution depended on whether the sovereign people authorized it, not whether a particular procedure was used or whether revolutionary conventions were free of other responsibilities, such as passing ordinary legislation. It was the people as the sovereign who authorized drafting those first [state] constitutions that gave them their legitimacy, not whether they used procedures that matched what was later understood to be necessary to create fundamental law."<ref>Fritz, ''American Sovereigns: The People and America's Constitutional Tradition Before the Civil War'' (Cambridge University Press, 2008) at p. 33 {{ISBN|978-0-521-88188-3}} For more on the role of the requirement of complying with specific procedures and processes, see Christian G. Fritz, [http://www.common-place.dreamhost.com/pasley/?page_id=491 "America's Unknown Constitutional World,"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511193704/http://www.common-place.dreamhost.com/pasley/?page_id=491 |date=2011-05-11 }} Bonus Article, ''Common-Place'', Vol. 9, No. 1 (Oct. 2008)</ref> </blockquote>

American state constituent assemblies in the 19th and 20th centuries reflected many qualities of a citizen's movement.<ref>Laura J. Scalia, ''The Remaking of State Constitutions:  The Uses of Liberalism in Designing Electoral Laws'', 1820–1850 (Northern Illinois Univ. Press, 1999); John J. Dinan, ''The American State Constitutional Tradition'' (Univ. Press of Kansas, 2006).</ref>  From the start of state American constitution-making, delegates to constitutional conventions studied earlier state models of constitutions.  They often self-consciously "borrow[ed]" constitutional text and provisions from other states.  They often used in their drafting and debates compact and pocket-sized compilations of all the existing American constitutions, so that the constituent's assembly could draw upon the latest in constitutional design.<ref>Marsha L. Baum and Christian G. Fritz, "American Constitution-Making: The Neglected State Constitutional Sources," 27 ''Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly'' (2000), 199–242.</ref> The powers of these state constituent assemblies were also highly contested, with some claiming that they had unlimited legal power and others claiming that they must operate within the pre-existing legal landscape.<ref name="papers.ssrn.com">{{Citation |title=The American Tradition of Constituent Power|date = 16 December 2014|ssrn = 2538970|url=https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2538970|last1 = Partlett|first1 = William| doi=10.2139/ssrn.2538970 |url-access = subscription}}</ref>  In the end, a common law of constituent power emerged which held that elected constituent assemblies had limited powers.<ref name="papers.ssrn.com"/>

Several [[U.S. state]]s have held multiple conventions over the years to change their particular [[State constitution (United States)|state's constitutions]].

* [[Missouri]] has held six,<ref>{{cite web |date=April 15, 2024 |title=MISSOURI STATE ARCHIVES - Missouri Constitutions, 1820-1945 |url=https://cdm16795.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16795coll1 |website=Missouri State Archives}}</ref> in 1820, 1845, 1865, 1875, 1922, and 1945.
* [[Michigan]] has held four,<ref>{{cite web|title=CONSTITUTION OF MICHIGAN|url=http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/historical/miconstitution1835.htm|website=www.legislature.mi.gov}}</ref> in 1835,<ref>[[Michigan#19th century|19th Century Michigan History]]</ref> 1850, 1908 and 1963.<ref>{{cite web|title=Michigan Legislature – CONSTITUTION OF MICHIGAN OF 1963|url=http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(5ninlvjzbx2fckfdnyncleek))/mileg.aspx?page=GetObject&objectname=mcl-Constitution|website=www.legislature.mi.gov}}</ref>
* [[Massachusetts]] has held six, in [[Massachusetts Constitutional Convention of 1778|1778]], [[Massachusetts Constitutional Convention of 1779–1780|1779–80]], 1820–21, [[Massachusetts Constitutional Convention of 1853|1853]], 1917–18, and most recently 2016.
* The [[Constitution of New York]] has been amended, or re-established de novo, through nine Constitutional Conventions: in 1776–1777, 1801, 1821, 1846, 1867–1868, 1894, 1915, 1938, and 1967; a Constitutional Commission in 1872–1873; and a Judicial Convention in 1921.
* [[Vermont]]'s [[Constitution of Vermont (1777)|first constitution]] was drafted by a convention that met in July 1777 and revised by a convention that met in 1786, both of these conventions occurring when Vermont was still independent of the United States. Vermont was [[Admission to the Union|admitted]] into the United States in 1791 and its government continued to function under the 1786 constitution. Two years later in 1793 held another convention to bring some provisions of its constitution into line with the Constitution of the United States.
* [[Virginia Conventions]] have included six unlimited meetings. Constitutions were promulgated by fiat in 1776, 1864 and 1901–02, and ratified by referendum in 1829–30, 1850, and 1868. Limited Conventions and Constitutional Commissions resulting in revisions were held in 1927, 1945, 1956 and 1968. Subsequently, the state legislature proposes amendments that are ratified in popular referendum.<ref>Dinan, John. "The Virginia State Constitution: a reference guide", {{ISBN|0-313-33208-8}}, 2006, pp. 8–24.</ref>

==== State constitutional conventions ====
All 50 states have had at least one Constitutional Convention, numbering over 233. 11 were illegal and defeated by arms ([[Confederate States of America|Confederacy]] and [[Dorr Rebellion|Dorr's Rebellion]]). 12 were illegal and won through arms ([[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]], [[Republic of Texas]], and [[Vermont Republic]]). 37 were made in accordance with a Federal enabling law.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sturm|first=Albert L.|date=1982|title=The Development of American State Constitutions|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3329673|journal=Publius|volume=12|issue=1|pages=57–98|doi=10.2307/3329673|jstor=3329673|issn=0048-5950|doi-access=free}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!State
! colspan="17" |Constitutional conventions
|-
!Alabama
|[[Constitution_of_Alabama#History|1819]]
|[[Alabama_in_the_American_Civil_War#Secession|1861]]
|[[Constitution_of_Alabama#History|1865]]
|[[Constitution_of_Alabama#History|1867]]
|[[Constitution_of_Alabama#History|1875]]
|[[Alabama_Constitution_of_1901|1901]]
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|-
!Alaska
|[[Constitution_of_Alaska#Constitutional_convention|1955–56]]
|
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|-
!Arizona
|[[Constitution_of_Arizona#History|1910]]
|
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|-
!Arkansas
|[[Constitution_of_Arkansas#1836_Constitution|1836]]
|[[Constitution_of_Arkansas#1861_Constitution|1861]]
|[[Constitution_of_Arkansas#1864_Constitution|1864]]
|[[Constitution_of_Arkansas#1868_Constitution|1868]]
|[[Constitution_of_Arkansas#1874_Constitution|1874]]
|[[Constitution_of_Arkansas#History|1917–18]]
|[[Constitution_of_Arkansas#History|1969–70]]
|[[Constitution_of_Arkansas#History|1978–80]]
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|-
!California
|[[California Constitutional Conventions#Monterey Convention of 1849|1849]]
|[[California Constitutional Conventions#Sacramento Convention of 1878–79|1878–79]]
|
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|-
!Colorado
|[[Constitution of Colorado#1864Convention|1864]]
|[[Constitution of Colorado#1865Convention|1865]]
|[[Constitution of Colorado#1875Convention|1875–76]]
|
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|-
!Connecticut
|[[History_of_the_Connecticut_Constitution#1818Convention|1818]]
|[[History_of_the_Connecticut_Constitution#1902Convention|1902]]
|[[History_of_the_Connecticut_Constitution#Constitution_of_1965|1965]]
|
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|-
!Delaware
|[[Delaware_Constitution_of_1776#Background|1776]]
|[[Delaware_Constitution_of_1792|1792]]
|[[Delaware_Constitution_of_1831|1831]]
|[[Constitution_of_Delaware#History|1853]]
|[[Constitution_of_Delaware|1897]]
|
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|-
!Florida
|[[Florida Constitutional Convention of 1838|1838–39]]
|[[Constitution_of_Florida#Ordinance_of_Secession_and_the_1861_Constitution_of_Florida|1861]]
|[[Constitution_of_Florida#The_1865_Florida_Constitution_(not_approved)|1865]]
|[[Constitution_of_Florida#The_1868_Florida_Constitution|1868]]
|[[Florida Constitution of 1885|1885]]
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|-
!Georgia
|[[Constitution_of_Georgia_(U.S._state)#Antebellum_constitutions_(1776,_1777,_1790,_1798,_and_1861)|1777]]
|[[Constitution_of_Georgia_(U.S._state)#Antebellum_constitutions_(1776,_1777,_1790,_1798,_and_1861)|1788]]
|[[Constitution_of_Georgia_(U.S._state)#1789Conventions|1789]]
|[[Constitution_of_Georgia_(U.S._state)#1789Conventions|1789]]
|[[Constitution_of_Georgia_(U.S._state)#1789Conventions|1789]]
|[[Constitution_of_Georgia_(U.S._state)#1795Convention|1795]]
|[[Constitution_of_Georgia_(U.S._state)#1795Convention|1798]]
|[[Constitution_of_Georgia_(U.S._state)#1795Convention|1833]]
|[[Constitution_of_Georgia_(U.S._state)#1795Convention|1839]]
|[[Georgia Constitutional Convention of 1861|1861]]
|[[Constitution_of_Georgia_(U.S._state)#Post-bellum_constitutions_(1865,_1868,_and_1877)|1865]]
|[[Georgia Constitutional Convention of 1867–1868|1868]]
|[[Constitution_of_Georgia_(U.S._state)#1877Convention|1877]]
|
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|-
!Hawaii
|[[Constitution_of_Hawaii#History|1950]]
|[[Constitution_of_Hawaii#1968Convention|1968]]
|[[1978 Hawaii State Constitutional Convention|1978]]
|
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|-
!Idaho
|[[Idaho Constitutional Convention|1889]]
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|-
!Illinois
|[[First Illinois Constitutional Convention|1818]]
|[[Constitution_of_Illinois#Subsequent_conventions|1847]]
|[[Constitution_of_Illinois#1862Convention|1862]]
|[[Constitution_of_Illinois#Subsequent_conventions|1869–70]]
|[[Constitution_of_Illinois#1862Convention|1920–22]]
|[[Sixth Illinois Constitutional Convention|1969–70]]
|
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|-
!Indiana
|[[Constitution_of_Indiana#Constitutional_Convention|1815]]
|[[Constitution_of_Indiana#1850Convention|1850–51]]
|
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|-
!Iowa
|[[Constitution_of_Iowa#Conventions|1844]]
|[[Constitution_of_Iowa#Conventions|1846]]
|[[Constitution_of_Iowa#Conventions|1857]]
|
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|-
!Kansas
|[[Topeka_Constitution|1855]]
|[[Lecompton_Constitution|1857]]
|[[Leavenworth_Constitution|1858]]
|[[Wyandotte_Constitution#Duelling_constitutions|1859]]
|
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|-
!Kentucky
|[[Constitution_of_Kentucky#The_1792_Constitution|1792]]
|[[Constitution_of_Kentucky#The_1799_Constitution|1799]]
|[[Constitution_of_Kentucky#The_1850_Constitution|1849–50]]
|[[Constitution_of_Kentucky#The_1891_Constitution|1890–91]]
|
||
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|-
!Louisiana
|[[Constitution_of_Louisiana#Louisiana_Constitution_of_1812|1812]]
|[[Constitution_of_Louisiana#Louisiana_Constitution_of_1845|1845]]
|[[Constitution_of_Louisiana#Louisiana_Constitution_of_1852|1852]]
|[[Constitution_of_Louisiana#%22Louisiana_Constitution_of_1861%22|1861]]
|[[Constitution_of_Louisiana#Louisiana_Constitution_of_1864|1864]]
|[[Constitution_of_Louisiana#Louisiana_Constitution_of_1868|1868]]
|[[Constitution_of_Louisiana#Louisiana_Constitution_of_1879|1879]]
|[[Constitution_of_Louisiana#Louisiana_Constitution_of_1898|1898]]
|[[Constitution_of_Louisiana#Louisiana_Constitution_of_1913|1913]]
|[[Constitution_of_Louisiana#Louisiana_Constitution_of_1921|1921]]
|[[Constitution of Louisiana|1973–74]]
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|-
!Maine
|[[Constitution_of_Maine#History|1819]]
|
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|-
!Maryland
|[[Constitution_of_Maryland#Background,_drafting,_and_ratification|1776]]
|[[Constitution_of_Maryland#Background,_drafting,_and_ratification|1850–51]]
|[[Maryland_Constitution_of_1864#Ratification|1864]]
|[[Constitution_of_Maryland#1867Convention|1867]]
|[[Constitution_of_Maryland#1967Convention|1967–68]]
|
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|-
!Massachusetts
|[[Massachusetts Constitutional Convention of 1779–1780|1779–80]]
|[[Massachusetts Constitutional Convention of 1820–1821|1820]]
|[[Massachusetts Constitutional Convention of 1853|1853]]
|[[Constitution_of_Massachusetts#Constitutional_conventions|1917–19]]
|
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|-
!Michigan
|[[Constitution_of_Michigan#1835_Constitution|1835]]
|[[Constitution_of_Michigan#1850_Constitution|1850]]
|[[Constitution_of_Michigan#1867Convention|1867]]
|[[Constitution_of_Michigan#1908_Constitution|1907–08]]
|[[Constitution_of_Michigan|1961–62]]
|
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|-
!Minnesota
|[[Minnesota_Constitution#The_Enabling_Act|1857]]
|
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|-
!Mississippi
|[[Constitution_of_Mississippi|1817]]
|[[Constitution_of_Mississippi#1832_Constitution|1832]]
|[[Constitution_of_Mississippi#Background|1851]]
|[[Constitution_of_Mississippi#Background|1861]]
|[[Constitution_of_Mississippi#1865Convention|1865]]
|[[Constitution_of_Mississippi#1868_Constitution|1868]]
|[[Constitution_of_Mississippi#1890Convention|1890]]
|
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|-
!Missouri
|[[Constitution of Missouri#1820ConstitutionalConvention|1820]]
|[[Constitution of Missouri#1845ConstitutionalConvention|1845-6]]
|[[Missouri Constitutional Convention of 1861–1863|1861–63]]
|[[Constitution of Missouri#1865ConstitutionalConvention|1865]]
|[[Constitution of Missouri#1875ConstitutionalConvention|1875]]
|[[Constitution of Missouri#1922ConstitutionalConvention|1922–23]]
|[[Constitution of Missouri#1943ConstitutionalConvention|1943–44]]
|
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|-
!Montana
|[[Constitution_of_Montana#History|1866]]
|[[Constitution_of_Montana#1884Convention|1884]]
|[[Constitution_of_Montana#1889Convention|1889]]
|[[Constitution_of_Montana#1972Convention|1971–72]]
|
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|-
!Nebraska
|[[Constitution_of_Nebraska#Conventions|1871]]
|[[Constitution_of_Nebraska#Conventions|1875]]
|[[Constitution_of_Nebraska#1919Convention|1919–20]]
|
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|-
!Nevada
|[[Constitution_of_Nevada#History|1863]]
|[[Constitution_of_Nevada#History|1864]]
|
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|-
!New Hampshire
|[[Constitution_of_New_Hampshire#1776_Constitution|1776]]
|[[Constitution_of_New_Hampshire#History|1778–79]]
|[[Constitution_of_New_Hampshire|1781–83]]
|[[Constitution_of_New_Hampshire#History|1791–92]]
|[[Constitution_of_New_Hampshire#History|1850–51]]
|[[Constitution_of_New_Hampshire#History|1876]]
|[[Constitution_of_New_Hampshire#History|1889]]
|[[Constitution_of_New_Hampshire#History|1902]]
|[[Constitution_of_New_Hampshire#History|1912]]
|[[Constitution_of_New_Hampshire#History|1918–23]]
|[[Constitution_of_New_Hampshire#History|1930]]
|[[Constitution_of_New_Hampshire#History|1938–41]]
|[[Constitution_of_New_Hampshire#History|1948]]
|[[Constitution_of_New_Hampshire#History|1956–59]]
|[[Constitution_of_New_Hampshire#History|1964]]
|[[Constitution_of_New_Hampshire#History|1974]]
|[[Constitution_of_New_Hampshire#History|1984]]
|-
!New Jersey
|[[History_of_the_New_Jersey_State_Constitution#Constitution_of_1844|1844]]
|[[History_of_the_New_Jersey_State_Constitution#Drafting|1947]]
|[[History_of_the_New_Jersey_State_Constitution#Subsequent_amendments|1966]]
|
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|-
!New Mexico
|[[Constitution_of_New_Mexico#1910_Constitutional_Convention|1848]]
|[[Constitution_of_New_Mexico#1910_Constitutional_Convention|1849]]
|[[Constitution_of_New_Mexico#1850Convention|1850]]
|[[Constitution_of_New_Mexico#1910_Constitutional_Convention|1889–90]]
|[[Constitution_of_New_Mexico#1910_Constitutional_Convention|1907]]
|[[Constitution_of_New_Mexico#1910_Constitutional_Convention|1910]]
|[[Constitution_of_New_Mexico#1969_Constitutional_Convention|1969]]
|
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|-
!New York
|[[Constitution_of_New_York#Constitution_of_New_York,_1777|1776–77]]
|[[Constitution_of_New_York#Constitutional_Convention_of_1801|1801]]
|[[Constitution_of_New_York#Constitutional_Convention_of_1821|1821]]
|[[Constitution_of_New_York#Constitutional_Convention_of_1846|1846]]
|[[Constitution_of_New_York#Constitutional_Convention_of_1867%E2%80%931868|1867]]
|[[Constitution_of_New_York#Constitutional_Convention_of_1894|1894]]
|[[Constitution_of_New_York#Constitutional_Convention_of_1915|1915]]
|[[Constitution_of_New_York#Constitutional_Convention_of_1938|1938]]
|[[Constitution_of_New_York#Constitutional_Convention_of_1967|1967]]
|
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|-
!North Carolina
|[[Constitution_of_North_Carolina#Constitution_of_1776|1776]]
|[[North_Carolina_Constitutional_Convention_of_1835|1835]]
|[[Constitution_of_North_Carolina#Convention_of_1861%E2%80%931862|1861–62]]
|[[Constitution_of_North_Carolina#Constitution_of_1868|1865–66]]
|[[Constitution_of_North_Carolina#Constitution_of_1868|1868]]
|[[Constitution_of_North_Carolina#Convention_of_1875|1875]]
|
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|-
!North Dakota
|[[Constitution_of_North_Dakota#1889Convention|1889]]
|[[Constitution_of_North_Dakota#1971Convention|1971–72]]
|
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|-
!Ohio
|[[Ohio Constitutional Convention (1802)|1802]]
|[[Constitution_of_Ohio#1851_Constitution|1850–51]]
|[[Constitution_of_Ohio#1873_Constitutional_Convention|1873]]
|[[Ohio_Constitutional_Convention_(1912)|1912]]
|
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|-
!Oklahoma
|[[Constitution_of_Oklahoma#1906Convention|1906–07]]
|
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!Oregon
|[[Oregon Constitutional Convention|1857]]
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!Pennsylvania
|[[Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776|1776]]
|[[Pennsylvania_Constitution|1789–90]]
|[[Pennsylvania_Constitution|1837–38]]
|[[Pennsylvania_Constitution|1872–73]]
|[[Pennsylvania_Constitution|1967–68]]
|
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|-
!Rhode Island
|[[Constitution_of_Rhode_Island#Constitutional_Convention|1841]]
|[[Constitution_of_Rhode_Island#Constitutional_Convention|1842]]
|[[Constitution_of_Rhode_Island#Conventions|1944]]
|[[Constitution_of_Rhode_Island#Conventions|1951]]
|[[Constitution_of_Rhode_Island#Conventions|1955]]
|[[Constitution_of_Rhode_Island#Conventions|1958]]
|[[Constitution_of_Rhode_Island#Conventions|1964–69]]
|[[Constitution_of_Rhode_Island#Conventions|1973]]
|[[Constitution_of_Rhode_Island#1984_Constitutional_Convention|1986]]
|
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|-
!South Carolina
|[[Constitution_of_South_Carolina#Constitution_of_1790|1790]]
|[[Constitution_of_South_Carolina#1861Convention|1861]]
|[[Constitution_of_South_Carolina#Constitution_of_1865|1865]]
|[[Constitution_of_South_Carolina#1868Convention|1868]]
|[[Constitution_of_South_Carolina#Constitution_of_1895|1895]]
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|-
!South Dakota
|[[South_Dakota#Conventions|1883]]
|[[South_Dakota#Conventions|1885]]
|[[South_Dakota#Conventions|1889]]
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!Tennessee
|[[Constitution_of_Tennessee#1796_constitution|1796]]
|[[Constitution_of_Tennessee#1835_constitution|1834]]
|[[Constitution_of_Tennessee#1870_constitution|1870]]
|[[Constitution_of_Tennessee#Conventions|1953]]
|[[Constitution_of_Tennessee#Conventions|1959]]
|[[Constitution_of_Tennessee#Conventions|1965]]
|[[Constitution_of_Tennessee#Conventions|1971]]
|[[Constitution_of_Tennessee#Conventions|1977]]
|
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!Texas
|[[Constitution_of_the_Republic_of_Texas#Constitutional_Convention_and_ratification|1836]]
|[[Constitution_of_the_Republic_of_Texas#Statehood|1845]]
|[[Constitution_of_Texas#Conventions|1861]]
|[[Constitution_of_Texas#Conventions|1866]]
|[[Constitution_of_Texas#Conventions|1868–69]]
|[[Constitution_of_Texas#Conventions|1876]]
|[[Constitution_of_Texas#Attempts_at_revision|1974]]
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!Utah
|[[Utah Constitutional Convention of 1895|1895]]
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!Vermont
|[[Constitution_of_Vermont#Conventions|1777]]
|[[Constitution_of_Vermont#1786Convention|1786]]
|[[Constitution_of_Vermont#1793Convention|1793]]
|[[Constitution_of_Vermont#Conventions|1814]]
|[[Constitution_of_Vermont#Conventions|1822]]
|[[Constitution_of_Vermont#Conventions|1828]]
|[[Constitution_of_Vermont#Conventions|1836]]
|[[Constitution_of_Vermont#Conventions|1843]]
|[[Constitution_of_Vermont#Conventions|1850]]
|[[Constitution_of_Vermont#Conventions|1857]]
|[[Constitution_of_Vermont#1870Convention|1870]]
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!Virginia
|[[Fifth Virginia Convention|1776]]
|[[Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1829–1830|1829–30]]
|[[Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1850|1850–51]]
|[[Wheeling Convention|1861]]
|[[Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1864|1864]]
|[[Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1868|1867–68]]
|[[Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1902|1901–02]]
|[[Virginia_Conventions#Limited_Constitutional_Convention_of_1945|1945]]
|[[Virginia_Conventions#Limited_Constitutional_Convention_of_1956|1956]]
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!Washington
|[[Constitution_of_Washington#1878_constitution|1878]]
|[[Constitution_of_Washington#1889_constitution|1889]]
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!West Virginia
|[[Constitution_of_West_Virginia#History|1861–63]]
|[[Constitution_of_West_Virginia#1872Convention|1872]]
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!Wisconsin
|[[Constitution_of_Wisconsin#Creation_of_the_Wisconsin_Constitution|1846]]
|[[Constitution_of_Wisconsin|1847–48]]
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!Wyoming
|[[Wyoming_Constitution|1889]]
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==== Legislative restrictions surpassed ====
State legislatures put restrictions on conventions that were not followed in these cases.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hoar |first=Roger Sherman |url=http://archive.org/details/constitutionalco00hoaruoft |title=Constitutional conventions, their nature, powers, and limitations |date=1917 |publisher=Boston, Little |others=Robarts - University of Toronto |pages=111}}</ref>

* Georgia 1789 proposed alternatives instead of accepting or rejecting a constitution.
* Illinois 1862 and 1869 disregarded a requirement for an oath.
* New York 1867 worked past its deadline and submitted its work later.
* Pennsylvania 1872 against restriction altered the Bill of Rights.
* Alabama 1901 increase delegate pay above limit.
* Michigan 1908 submitted its work in November not April.

== Countries without an entrenched constitution ==
A few countries do not have an [[Constitution#Entrenchment|entrenched constitution]], which can thus be amended by normal legislative procedures; the [[Constitution of the United Kingdom|United Kingdom]], [[Constitution of New Zealand|New Zealand]] and [[Basic Laws of Israel|Israel]] are examples. In these countries there is no need to call constituent assemblies, and no provision to do so, as the legislature can effectively modify the constitution.

Although it lacks a written constitution, the United Kingdom has had several conventions at the subnational level including:

* [[Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention]] (1975–1976) – a failed attempt to find a solution to the status of [[Northern Ireland]].
* [[Scottish Constitutional Convention]] (1989) – produced a plan for Scottish [[Devolution in the United Kingdom|devolution]].

The constitution of New Zealand consists of a collection of statutes (Acts of Parliament), Treaties, Orders-in-Council, Letters Patent, decisions of the Courts and unwritten constitutional conventions. Because it is not supreme law, the constitution is comparatively easy to reform, requiring only a majority of Members of Parliament to amend it.

The constitutional law of Israel is determined by the [[Knesset]] which, since 1949, serves as the country's ongoing constituent assembly. The Knesset has the power to create [[Basic Laws of Israel]], laws which are entrenched legislation and will become part of a "future" constitution of Israel, as well as "regular" statutory legislation.

==See also==

*[[List of constituent assemblies]]
*[[Constitutional Commission]]
*[[Convention Parliament (England)|Convention parliament]]
*[[Constituent Cortes]]
*[[National Constituent Assembly (disambiguation)]]
*[[Third Dáil]], also called the Constituent Assembly

==Presentation==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

<br />

[[Category:Constituent assemblies| ]]
[[Category:American constitutional conventions]]