Initially, Quintana Roo was elected to Vice President of the congress, but when José María Murguía y Galardi couldn't fulfill his duties, Quintana Roo assumed the presidency in his stead. The primary end of the congress was the drafting of a constitution. On the first day, Morelos read the "Sentimientos de la Nación" (Feelings of the Nation), an outline of his ideas on how an independent Mexico should be governed. Then, on November 6 the congress signed the "Acta Solemne de la Declaración de la Independencia de la América Septentrional" (Solemn Act of the Declaration of Independence of North America) which was written in part by Quintana Roo.