The Federal Constitution

Abstract

This chapter describes the Convention that met in Philadelphia from the end of May to mid-September 1787 to draft the new federal Constitution. The Virginia plan, created largely by James Madison, was the working model for the Constitution. It proposed a strong national government with an executive, a bicameral legislature, and a Supreme Court. The main controversy had to do with whether both houses of the legislature would be based on proportional representation as the Virginia plan proposed. The small states objected, and after much debate the Convention agreed to equal representation with two senators from each state. To elect the president, the Convention created an alternative Congress, which became the electoral college. In the state-ratifying conventions the opponents of the Constitution raised the fears of consolidation and aristocracy.