Final answer:
The U.S. Constitution was ratified by special conventions held in each state. This approach ensured the consent of the people and allowed for the transfer of power from state legislatures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The U.S. Constitution was ratified by special conventions held in three-fourths of the states.
The unique ratification method of the U.S. Constitution involved special conventions instead of state legislatures. This approach facilitated a new framework where the people, through elected representatives, had a say in the ultimate acceptance of the Constitution. Such conventions supplied the necessary consent, thus legitimating the new government's power.
To set the new Constitution in motion, Article VII specified that the agreement of conventions from nine out of the thirteen states would suffice. However, for amendments according to Article V, the required consent is that of three-fourths of the states either through their legislatures or special conventions.