The assembly first convened on November 29, 2007 in Montecristi, and was given six months to write a new constitution, with a possible two-month extension.
Montecristi is the birthplace of Eloy Alfaro Delgado (25 June 1842-28 January 1912), president of Ecuador from 1895 to 1901 and from 1906 to 1911 and the leader of the Ecuadorian Liberal Revolution.