15 JUNE 2002, Page 32

When nine was enough

From Mr Mathew Lu Sir: Daniel Hannan (`Stop the superstate', 8 June) wrote, The US Constitution did not come into force until each of the 13 member states had ratified it through a specially convened assembly.' The actual text of the Constitution of the United States reads:

Article VII.

The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.

Mathew Lu

New York