Author Archives: Rodney Dodsworth

Shaping the Electoral College Part XIV of XIV

Subtitle: September 6th & 7th. Putting it all together. With an eye on keeping separation of powers and preventing corruption of the executive branch, our Framers on September 6th 1787… Read more »

The Triumph of the Constitution, by Clinton Rossiter

The triumph of the Convention of 1787 is that in raising a standard to which the wise and honest could repair, it also raised one that met the threefold test… Read more »

Shaping the Electoral College Part XIII of XIV

September 5th. George Mason prefers the government of Prussia. As we know, the Convention adjourned on September 17th and forwarded the draft Constitution to Congress. At this late stage, September… Read more »

Shaping the Electoral College Part XII of XIV

Subtitle: September 4th. David Brearley (NJ) delivered another partial report from the Committee of Eleven, which was established on August 31st. Composed of one delegate from each state, the committee… Read more »

Shaping the Electoral College Part XI of XIV

Subtitle: In Convention August 24th – His Excellency, the President of the United States of America. Today’s Summary: • First formal use of “President.” • Single seven year term. •… Read more »

Shaping the Electoral College Part X of XIV

Subtitle: July 26th – Back to Square One. “We are,” James Wilson reminded delegates, “providing a constitution for future generations, and not merely for the peculiar circumstances of the moment.”… Read more »

Shaping the Electoral College Part IX of XIV

Subtitle: July 25th. Despite trodding familiar ground once again, we can see today the Framers’ determination to craft a corruption-free mode of election such that new Presidents could faithfully execute… Read more »

Shaping the Electoral College Part VIII of XIV

Subtitle: July 24th. More blind alleys. Let the schizophrenia continue! A couple days ago delegates passed the framework of what we’d recognize as the Electoral College. State legislatures appointed electors…. Read more »

Shaping the Electoral College Part VII of XIV

Subtitle: July 20th. Since the delegates in Convention determined yesterday that State legislatures would appoint electors to the Executive office, the next logical question was, “how many?” Elbridge Gerry (MA)… Read more »

Shaping the Electoral College Part VI of XIV

Subtitle: July 17th and 19th. No other topic at the Federal Convention, our Article II chief Executive, demanded more time and debate. Our Framers needed some sixty votes to arrive… Read more »