In 2305, we will walk through this each week.
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Monday May 14 Date fixed for start of Convention.
Only eight delegates are present.
Friday May 25
1. Convened and elected officers. (Washington as President, William Jackson as Secretary).
2. Chose a committee to prepare rules. (Wythe, Hamilton, and C. Pinckney)
Monday May 28
1. Committee on Rules reported. 16 rules were adopted and additional suggested rules referred to the committee.
Tuesday May 29
1. Committee on Rules reported and 5 additional rules, including secrecy, were adopted.
2. Randolph submitted and defended a set of Fifteen Resolutions, known as The Virginia Plan.
3. The Convention agreed to meet the following day as a Committee of The Whole.
Wednesday May 30
1. The Convention resolves itself into Committee of the Whole; Gorham in the Chair.
2. Discussed Virginia Plan Resolutions:
Resolution 1: After discussion, agreed (6 – 1 – 1) that a national government consisting of a supreme legislature, judiciary, and executive should be formed (Connecticut voting against, New York divided).
Resolution 2: Discussed whether representation should be based on population or the amount of each State’s financial contribution.
Thursday May 31 1. Discussed Virginia Plan Resolutions:
Resolution 3: Decided on a bicameral legislature.
Resolution 4a: Agreed (6 – 2 – 2) on election of First Branch by the people.
Resolution 5a: Defeated (7 – 3) Second Branch elected by the First Branch.
— Madison’s reaction: “a chasm (was) left in this part of the plan.”
— Sherman’s suggestion: “election of one member by each of the State Legislatures.”
Resolution 6: Agreed that either house could initiate legislation. Agreed to incompetence clause and negative on State laws.
Friday June 1 1. Discussed Virginia Plan Resolutions:
Resolution 7: Agreed to institute a national Executive with power to carry into effect the national laws and to appoint officers not otherwise provided for.
— Agreed (5 – 4 – 1) on a seven-year term for Executive.
— Postponed consideration of single or plural Executive.
Saturday June 2
1. Discussed Virginia Plan Resolutions:
Resolution 7: Confusing day on the Executive.
— Agreed to selection of Executive by Legislature.
— Agreed (8 – 2) on seven-year term, and ineligibility after one term (7 – 2 – 1).
— Defeated (9 – 1) Dickinson’s motion that Executive be subject to impeachment.
— Franklin: Executive should receive no salary. (Motion postponed)
Monday June 4 1.
Discussed Virginia Plan Resolutions:
Resolution 7: Another confusing day on the Executive.
— Agreed (7 – 3) on single Executive.
Resolution 8: Council of Revision postponed.
— Agreed (8 – 2) to give Executive a veto over legislation subject to override by 2/3 of each branch of Legislature.
Resolution 9: Agreed to establish a National Judiciary consisting of a Supreme Court and one or more inferior tribunals. (Compare with July 21 and August 15.)
Tuesday June 5 1.
Discussed Virginia Plan Resolutions:
Resolution 9: Agreed to delete “one or more” and change to “a Supreme Court and inferior tribunals.”
— Debated judicial selection and postponed decision, but agreed (8 – 2) to reject approval of judicial appointments by Legislature.
— Agreed on judicial tenure during good behavior.
— Agreed on a salary provision.
— Reconsidered inferior tribunals and agreed to eliminate reference to them, then agreed to empower the Legislature to establish such courts.
Resolution 10: Agreed (8 – 2) on admitting new states (on equal footing with original states).
Resolution 11: Postponed republican guarantee clause until representation is settled.
Resolution 12: Passed (8 – 2) an Interim Government provision.
Resolution 13: Postponed (7 – 3).
Resolution 14: Postponed (6 – 4 – 1) (New Jersey not voting).
Resolution 15: Postponed.
Wednesday June 6
1. Discussed Virginia Plan Resolutions:
Resolution 4a: Defeated (8 – 3) motion to have State Legislature elect First Branch of National Legislature.
— Sherman: “The people are more happy in small than large states.” His argument invokes the traditional understanding of republicanism.
— Madison: We need to “enlarge the sphere.” His argument points back to “Vices” and forward to Federalist 10.
Thursday June 7
1. Discussed Virginia Plan Resolutions:
Resolution 5a: Agreed (11 – 0) to a proposal by Dickinson and Sherman that the State Legislatures elect the Second Branch of the National Legislature.
— Madison and Dickinson differ on the purpose of the Senate.
Friday June 8
1. Discussed Virginia Plan Resolutions:
Resolution 6: Defeated (7 – 3 – 1) a motion by Madison and C. Pinckney to extend the Congressional negative to all state laws.
Saturday June 9
1. Discussed Virginia Plan Resolutions:
Resolution 7: Defeated (10 – 1) a motion by Gerry that State Executives elect the National Executive.
Resolution 4a: Debated voting procedures within the National Legislature.
