James Madison wanted to have the Constitution ratified by delegates to state conventions elected directly by the people because he believed that this approach would ensure that the Constitution would have the broadest possible support among the American people. By having the Constitution ratified by state conventions, Madison and the other framers of the Constitution were able to ensure that the Constitution would be ratified by individuals who were elected specifically to consider the Constitution and to make a decision about whether to ratify it. This approach also ensured that the Constitution would be ratified by individuals who were representative of the people, rather than by state legislatures, which might be more responsive to special interests or political considerations. Additionally, the framers of the Constitution believed that this approach would be more democratic and would help to build a sense of buy-in and ownership among the American people for the new government.