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The Making of the Constitution Essay

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The Making of the Constitution

The Constitution of the United States, the fundamental law of the United States of America. Drafted by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pa., between May 25 and Sept. 17, 1787, it is the world's oldest written constitution still in effect. The document presents a set of general principles out of which implementing statutes and codes have emerged. As such, it embodies the essence of constitutionality--that government must be confined by the rule of law. The House of Representatives, Congress, The President and Vice President were executive powers outlined in key sections within the Constitution. These people represented all of the colonies together as …show more content…

Following this request the Constitutional Congress authorizes a convention for the explicit purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation, on February 21, 1787. [ii]

Then on May 25, 1787, The Constitutional Convention begins with a quorum of 29 delegates from seven states. Robert Morris of Philadelphia nominates George Washington as president of the convention. The convention delegates agreed that a new constitution was needed. However, many controversies had to be resolved before one could be drafted. A basic issue was the extent of powers to be granted to the national government, and a major obstacle was the conflicting interests of large and small states.[iii]

On May 28, 1787, Pierce Butler of South Carolina proposes that deliberations be in secret, so delegates can speak without fear of public pressure. The secrecy rule is kept for the nearly four months of deliberations. The following day May 29, 1787, The Virginia Plan, conceived largely by James Madison, is proposed. It favors the big states, calling for a bicameral legislature with representatives

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