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since we might be having a constituional crisis soon I thought I might reread James Madison's notes on the convention of 1787 and live tweet it so that we can refresh our memories as to how you make a Government.
the debate opens on May 31. Right away they get down to brass tacks : is it possible to elect the House of Representatives when people "want information and are easily misled" and "are the dupes of pretended patriots"? Fake news in the spotlight on day one.
the counterargument is that it works for the British House of Commons. A large electorate means everybody is represented. Not sure this argument olds water if electors are determined by geography, and the Commons was not as representative in 1787 as now, before th reforms in 1832
even as he defends of popular suffrage, Mr. Mason admits that the US had been "too democratic". He just doesn't want to swing too hard the other way. He thinks it is in the interests of the upper class to take care of the lower and he wonders why they don't.
Wilson thinks people need a vote in the Federal government if they are going to take it seriously. Madison agrees and also worries that a government elected by state legislatures would be unresponsive.
Gerry thinks it is a mistake to copy the British here. What if the state legilatures pick a slate from which the people elect the representatives?
June 1. Should we have a President. Mr. Pinckney : we do need one as long as it isn't a king, elected monarchy is the worst kind. Everyone seems concerned that the President not be able to start a war. The most important question is how many presidents should we have?
Mr. Randolph thinks anything less than three presidents is "the fetus of monarchy".
June 2: Benjamin Franklin thinks we shouldn't pay the president, or else he could be bribed by the legislature. Franklin is 72 and has entered his "old man shouting at clouds" phase, but everybody respects him a lot so they let him rant.
In France in 1787 there are some offices you have to pay for. Ben Franklin likes this a lot. He is not goIng to like what happens to France.
June 4: George Mason gives a long speech in favor of having three presidents. I admit the idea is growing on me. Imagine if you will a Hillary/Bernie/Trump presidency. Trump and Bernie easily win reelection. Hillary impeached in 2017 for trying to have Bernie assassinated.
His main argument is that unity of executive authority matters most only in an offensive war, why would you want to wage an offensive war?
June 6 : back to arguing about the House. Everyone always brings up Massachusetts when they want examples of an electorate composed of idiots. Shay's Rebellion really irked them I guess.
the most compelling argument for direct election to the House is that they will think like their constituents. Nobody denies that Americans are fools but that only makes it more fitting that they be governed by fools. The House of Representatives: exactly according to plan.
Colonel Mason : improper elections in many instances were inseparable from republican government
June 7 : the Senate. the basic idea of a House of Lords chosen by the states is mooted at once but they are having fun with it. Madison compares them to Roman Tribunes, the fewer they are the more effective.
Mr. Gerry thinks if the Senate is popularly elected they would unjustly harm the interests of corporate stockholders. No need to worry Mr. Gerry.
Mr. Dickensen points out that if Senators are really Roman Tribunes there should be fewer than ten of them. He wants the states to pick so that state governments aren't stripped of power. I think this is still a valid concern : maybe the 17th ammendment did more harm than good.
An question that comes up frequently : should we be plagiarizing the British constitution so freely? It is funny to think about how Washington and Westminster have diverged over the years.
Another thing they mention worrying about a lot is people voting in crazy schemes for paper money. Sorry guys, we did end up doing that.
June 8 : should the federal government be able to veto state law? Mr Pinckney introduces the idea, seems the king being able to shoot down bad laws was the best part of having a king.
Madison thinks this feature is absolutely necessary (it was not subsequently adopted).
He thinks if a state defies the federal government and there is no federal veto then the only option is civil war. We actually settle this kind of thing in the courts but we did have a civil war one time.
