The Writing of the Constitution A constitution is the legal structure of our political system, establishing governmental bodies , determining how their members are selected , and prescribing the rules by which they make their decisions . The nation's founders , fifty-five men , met in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787 to write a new constitution and to form a new government. George Washington was elected chairman of the convention.The founders were all very well-educated. Over half the delegates had collage degrees, which was rare in the North American continent at that time. They also had experience in go