The literature on the Constitution of the Federative Republic of Brazil, 1988 is wide and rich, but with some remaining gaps when referring to the constitutional process, including interests from actors and institutions. The aim of this paper is to present an institutional approach as an appropriate tool for examining the constitutional process. Therefore, the main discussions on the institutional arrangements of the National Constituent Assembly were mapped (ANC), focusing Afonso Arinos Provisional Committee and decentralized work of the committees. To conclude, I present the regimental procedures made in the constitutional process of 1987-88 were important to build new consensus and the sovereignty of the ANC.A literatura sobre a Constituição de 1988 é ampla e rica, porém limitada quando se trata do processo constituinte. O objetivo deste artigo é definir o instrumental analítico apropriado ao exame do processo constituinte. Para tanto, foram mapeadas as principais discussões sobre os mecanismos institucionais da Assembleia Nacional Constituinte (ANC). Neste trabalho, apresento os trâmites regimentais assumidos no processo constituinte de 1987-88 como reflexo da construção de um novo consenso e da soberania da ANC.