The United States Constitution was drafted by delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, when many of the nation's leaders realized that the Articles of Confederation, the entire laws that the country followed until then, created more problems than solutions. Once drafted, approved and signed by the delegates in 1787, it was sent to the 13 states for ratification. But many states saw flaws in the document and refused to accept it until changes were made. The framers of the Constitution and its critics played an invaluable role in crafting the final document. Some of the major flaws pointed out by critics were the lack of a Bill of Rights, the improbability of a government governing such a large nation while remaining democratic, and the doubt that such diverse people could exist under the same government. without constant agitation. Proponents of the consensus were that a single government with so much power would prove too strong a temptation for power-hungry men, and that power could be easily seized by forces who did not necessarily have in mind the best interests of the nation. . Many people believed that government officials could behave as they wished without consequences. At the Virginia Ratification Convention, many delegates raised objections, saying it was impossible for a single government to govern such a large nation without corruption and that the system of checks and balances was not strong enough , leaving many senior officials with little to lose if they behaved dishonorably. Supporters of the Constitution countered these objections by emphasizing the three-chamber system of checks and balances and limiting the presidency to 2, 4-year terms, plus the possibility of