In this short game in the Norton Flashpoints series, students sit as delegates to the New York State Ratifying Convention. The time is June-July 1788; the place is the Poughkeepsie courthouse in the Hudson River Valley. Eight states have ratified to date, but a ninth is needed to give effect to the Constitution. The central issue of the game is democratic representation, presented in three phases of debate and organized around three large questions: What are the qualities and obligations of a representative? How are representatives of the preferred type identified and elected? And by what constitutional measures are representatives kept true to their trust, or speedily removed in the event of corruption? Students divide into Federalists (supporters of the Constitution), Antifederalists (opponents of the Constitution), and Moderates. Besides these three faction roles, delegate roles for 35 players are provided, though their use is optional. After examining all aspects of the representation issue, delegates vote to accept or reject the Constitution drafted in Philadelphia the previous summer--assuming, of course, that ideological divisions do not first blow apart the convention. Core-text readings include selections from The Federalist, "Federal Farmer," "Brutus," and the debates of the New York convention. The game is designed as a Reacting to the Past sampler; accordingly, ease of adoption is its distinguishing feature and primary objective.