The power of a democratic government should derive from the people, granted from the bottom up.

Yet among the original thirteen U.S. states, the remaining holdout states staunchly opposed ratifying the Constitution—proving extremely difficult to persuade. For James Madison, it was his fervent hope that his home state of Virginia would become the pivotal ninth state to ratify the Constitution—not only for personal honor but also because Virginia’s ratification was crucial to securing its decisive role in the future United States. The Thirteen Original States of the United States In Virginia at the time, however, Patrick Henry—the former governor and famed 'Orator of the American Revolution'—wielded immense influence and stood firmly against the Constitution. Consequently, Madison and Henry engaged in an extraordinary, fiercely contested series of debates over the Constitution, through which the public gained a thorough understanding of the principles governing the division of powers between central and state governments under the federal system. In their prior interactions, Henry had almost always been Madison’s adversary. Moreover, Henry harbored no goodwill toward Madison’s revolutionary mentor and U.S. Minister to France, Thomas Jefferson. He had previously obstructed passage of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom while Jefferson drafted Virginia’s constitution, and during the Revolutionary War, he had even led an impeachment effort against Jefferson when the latter served as Virginia’s governor. In both instances, Madison had defended Jefferson in debate—deepening the rift between himself and Henry. Faced with Henry’s relentless, forceful rhetoric, both Jefferson and Madison found themselves on the defensive, unable to mount effective counterarguments. Jefferson once confided to Madison: 'Unless we sincerely pray to God that he may die immediately.' 'Give me liberty, or give me death!' — Patrick Henry, the 'Orator of the American Revolution,' delivering a speech. Virginia’s press recognized that the state’s ratification convention would rank among the most consequential debates in American history; accordingly, they hired numerous stenographers to record every delegate’s remarks verbatim—making the Virginia Convention the best-documented of all the state ratification conventions. From the outset, supporters and opponents were evenly matched. When Governor Edmund Randolph—initially skeptical—was persuaded by Madison to endorse the Constitution, George Mason’s staunch opposition promptly restored the balance. Nonetheless, Henry and Madison remained the principal figures representing each side in Virginia. They debated repeatedly. Unlike Henry—who frequently spoke extemporaneously—Madison meticulously prepared for every debate. Though physically unimposing, Madison’s calm, composed demeanor consistently placed immense psychological pressure on his opponents—and inspired great confidence among his supporters…

Do U.S. state governors work under the Constitution?

U.S. state governors exercise their authority within the constitutional framework. Their conduct is governed not only by their respective state constitutions but also by the U.S. Constitution—a dual layer of constitutional constraint. For instance, governors may not exceed their authority by exercising powers expressly delegated to the federal government, nor may they infringe upon individual liberties protected by the Constitution. Governors are responsible for enforcing both state laws and those federal laws applicable within their states—implementation of the latter often requiring coordination with federal agencies. For example, President George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind Act required each state to administer standardized tests. In practice, governors delegated this responsibility to their respective state superintendents of education. Bush’s Help America Vote Act mandated that states discontinue use of punch-card ballots in federal elections and accept utility bills, bank statements, government checks, pay stubs, or other official government documents as valid identification for in-person and mail-in voting. Implementation involved state legislatures amending their election laws to comply with federal standards, after which governors delegated enforcement of those laws to their respective secretaries of state. President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act required states to establish health insurance exchanges to administer federally subsidized healthcare programs. In practice, governors delegated implementation to their respective state health commissioners.

Williams CEO Says Northeast Governors Support Constitution Pipeline

Apr 14, 2026

Williams Cos CEO Chad Zamarin confirmed New England governors support the Constitution natural gas pipeline, targeting winter 2027 operations following renewed federal reviews aligned with current administration energy policies.

bloomberg

2026-04-14

Williams CEO Says PA-NY Constitution Natural Gas Pipeline Could Be Online by 2027

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Williams CEO Says Northeast Governors Support Constitution Pipeline

Williams CEO Says Northeast Governors Support Constitution Pipeline

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