Constitution Convention Notes: May 28, 1787

This is the Notes of the Convention of 1787 (The Federal Convention) for May 28, 1787. The notes included are those that specifically address this day, and do not include notes of others who may address the topics of the day. You can download and read those, and the entire collection of Notes recorded at the Constitution Convention in the Links and Downloads section. These contain the entire series of Notes on the Convention from James Madison, Rufus Kings, James McHenry, William Pierce, William Patterson, Alexander Hamilton and Robert Yates, in addition with the Journal from the Convention can be read by following this link, Federal Journal of the Convention of 1787.

Constitution Convention Notes: May 29, 1787

This is the Notes of the Convention of 1787 (The Federal Convention) for May 29, 1787. The notes included are those that specifically address this day, and do not include notes of others who may address the topics of the day. You can download and read those, and the entire collection of Notes recorded at the Constitution Convention in the Links and Downloads section. These contain the entire series of Notes on the Convention from James Madison, Rufus Kings, James McHenry, William Pierce, William Patterson, Alexander Hamilton and Robert Yates, in addition with the Journal from the Convention can be read by following this link, Federal Journal of the Convention of 1787.

Convention of 1787: June 1, 1787 Day 6; The Executive

Since Edmund Randolph proposed the Virginia Plan and Charles Pinckney proposed his Pinckney Plan, on May 29, 1787,  the Constitution Convention discussions have been on the Legislature alone. Today the Convention will shift its focus to the Executive Branch, the 7th resolution of he Virginia Plan, and as has been already observed with the Legislature, reaching a consensus on most anything will be a difficult process. This will start with, should the Executive Branch consist of a single chief executive, or a plural executive of multiple persons.

James Madison in his notes observes that William Houston of Georgia has arrived and taken his seat in the Convention. Still only Eleven States are represented in the Convention to this point. New Hampshire who will not have delegates arrive for several weeks, and Rhode Island who declined sending any delegates at all, being absent from the Convention.

The Convention resumes in the Committee of the Whole, and takes up the 7th Resolution from the Virginia Plan.

that a national executive be instituted; to be chosen by the national legislature for the term of—; to receive punctually, at stated times, a fixed compensation for the services rendered, in which no increase or diminution shall be made so as to affect the magistracy existing at the time of increase or diminution; and to be ineligible a second time; and that, besides a general authority to execute the national laws, it ought to enjoy the executive rights vested in Congress by the Confederation.

Constitution Convention Notes: June 1, 1787

This is the Notes of the Convention of 1787 (The Federal Convention) for June 1, 1787. The notes included are those that specifically address this day, and do not include notes of others who may address the topics of the day. You can download and read those, and the entire collection of Notes recorded at the Constitution Convention in the Links and Downloads section. These contain the entire series of Notes on the Convention from James Madison, Rufus Kings, James McHenry, William Pierce, William Patterson, Alexander Hamilton and Robert Yates, in addition with the Journal from the Convention can be read by following this link, Federal Journal of the Convention of 1787.

Convention of 1787: May 31, 1787 Day 5; The People will vote, and selecting the Senate.

With the Convention having decided on a Three Branch System of Government with Supreme power on May 30, 1787, attention was now turned toward the Legislature. The last order of business from the previous day was to postpone a motion by Edmund Randolph (Virginia) on proportional suffrage in the Legislature. The vote was postponed and referred to committee mainly due to the restriction placed upon the State of Delaware Delegation by its Legislature that the equal suffrage of the States shall not be modified (May 25, 1787). The fear being, that passing a resolution of proportional suffrage may cause the Delaware Delegation to leave the Convention entirely.

May 31st opens with a Eleventh State now represented, and taking its seat in the Convention.

• Georgia – William Pierce

At this point now, only  New Hampshire and Rhode Island are not represented in the Convention, and Rhode Island has already decided against sending delegates at all. Also of note is in the Congress Assembled, two delegates from a state must be present for the vote of the State to be tallied, the Convention is willing to move forward with only one delegate to vote for the State they represent.