The Constitution of Rhodesia, commonly called just the Constitution, is the supreme law under which the Government of Rhodesia operates. The constitution was first drafted by Gordon Overton at the Preliminary Congress of the Parliament of the Rhodesian King, better known as the February Congress, held in the city of Salisbury, on February 1st, 1705. Fifty members of the Preliminary Council represented the collective peoples of Rhodesia, which included the famous Thomas Northmere and William Rightman, whom, with Overton, are considered to be the founding fathers of the Rhodesian parliamentary system. After the document was ratified by the Preliminary Council, it was given royal assent by King Edward I, the constitution was implemented on May 1st, 1705, and came into full effect with the ele