On August 15, 1787, the delegates engaged in numerous debates, many of which were about specific provisions and wording within the draft of the Constitution. Here are some of the issues discussed on that day:
1. Committee of Detail’s Report: Much of August was spent reviewing and debating the report from the Committee of Detail, which provided an initial draft of the Constitution.
2. Election of the Executive: One significant issue discussed was the method of electing the Executive (President). There was significant debate about whether Congress should appoint the President or if there should be some other method. On this day, a motion was made that the Executive be appointed by the Legislature (rather than direct popular election or other methods), but the proposition was not agreed upon.
3. Impeachment: There was also discussion about the grounds for impeachment of the Executive. The draft from the Committee of Detail listed “treason, bribery, or corruption” as grounds. On August 15, the phrase “or maladministration” was proposed to be added. However, after some debate, “maladministration” was considered too vague, and it was dropped in favor of the more specific “high crimes and misdemeanors.”
4. Term of Senators: Another significant point of contention was the term length for senators. On this day, a proposal was made to change the term from seven years (as recommended by the Committee of Detail) to six years, which was eventually agreed upon.
5. Compensation for the Executive: The delegates debated whether the President should receive a fixed salary or if his compensation should be determined by the Legislature. They eventually decided on a fixed salary to ensure the independence of the Executive.
6. Details on State Representation: They also continued discussing state representation in the Legislature and tackled some specifics about how and when states would gain or lose representatives based on their populations.
It’s worth noting that the Convention involved a series of evolving debates, with topics revisited, decisions overturned, and compromises struck. What happened on August 15 was part of this iterative process, and while some decisions made on that day found their way into the final document, others were further refined or changed in subsequent sessions.
For a detailed, day-by-day account of the debates at the Constitutional Convention, James Madison’s notes serve as a primary source.
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