Alternative meaning: Constitutional convention (political custom)

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.

Examples of constitutional conventions include the:

• United States: Annapolis Convention (1786), Philadelphia Convention (1787) - Drafted the United States Constitution for ratification by the states. Article V of the US constitution sets forth a mechanism whereby future constitutional conventions can be held.
• Canada: Charlottetown Conference (1864), Quebec Conference, 1864, and London Conference of 1866 (1866).
• Australian constitutional conventions - 1891, 1897, 1973 and 1998.
• Germany: Parlamentarischer Rat (Parliamentary Council) (1948) - Drafted the Basic Law of the Federal Republic for ratification by the Länder.
• 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.
• 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.

See also

• Constituent assembly
• Convention parliament
• Constitutional commission
• Independence Convention

Constitutional law | Political history | Convenção constitucional