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Secrecy Broken: Reports Of The Delegates Following The Federal Convention, Peter Aschenbrenner
Secrecy Broken: Reports Of The Delegates Following The Federal Convention, Peter Aschenbrenner
Peter J. Aschenbrenner
Despite the measures taken to ensure the secrecy of the proceedings during the federal convention, many delegates made reports to their states and explained the choices underlying various clauses. However, no delegate had access to the official journal of the constitutional convention.
What Happened On July 6, 1787 And Why It Matters, Peter Aschenbrenner
What Happened On July 6, 1787 And Why It Matters, Peter Aschenbrenner
Peter J. Aschenbrenner
The first Standing Order of the Philadelphia convention provided for per stirpes voting, that is, voting by state, but set the quorum requirement at seven and the action requirement at four, that is, an arithmetic majority/majority. Divided states (delegates equal in number on each side of a question) were counted towards the quorum requirement. The significance of a disputed vote on July 6 is explained.
Table Annexed To Article: Ages Of The Delegates At The Federal Convention, Peter J. Aschenbrenner
Table Annexed To Article: Ages Of The Delegates At The Federal Convention, Peter J. Aschenbrenner
Peter J. Aschenbrenner
Of the fifty-five delegates who attended the federal convention at Philadelphia in 1787, the median in age was Oliver Ellsworth of Connecticut, thirty-two years old. The delegate with the median remaining life span was Jacob Broom of Delaware (thirty-three years). The early arrivers were neither older nor younger than the others. Nor were they marked down for a shorter or longer remaining lifespan.
Chart Annexed To Article: Delegate Arrivals In Philadelphia Compared To Voting Records, Peter Aschenbrenner, David Kimball
Chart Annexed To Article: Delegate Arrivals In Philadelphia Compared To Voting Records, Peter Aschenbrenner, David Kimball
Peter J. Aschenbrenner
Fifty-five delegates were appointed by twelve states to attend the federal convention in May, 1787. Eleven states ratified the Constitution between December 7, 1787 and July 26, 1788. When delegate arrival dates are compared with the order in which their respective state ratification conventions completed their business, a significant number of delegates supporting the constitution are missing in action.