INTRODUCTION TO UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT: Foundations of U.S. Democracy
Constitutional Convention: Procedures, Principles and Timeline of Events
The Preliminaries
The Preliminaries
Establishing Procedures
Agreeing on Principles
Delegates began arriving in Philadelphia on May 14.
After seven delegations arrived, the Constitutional
Convention officially began on May 25, 1787. Seven
out of 13 constituted a quorum. The delegates
present decided on the following procedures:
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention
agreed on the following principles:
Limited
Government:
Rule of
Law
BA LLOT
Limited
Government
Division of National
Government into Three
Branches
Limitation of States’ Rights
to Coin Money
Strengthening of National
Government
Each state was to have one vote.
Articles of
Confederation
SECRET
A rule of secrecy was
adopted; however, a record
was to be kept and was to
be opened to the public
after 30 years.
Congress under the
Articles recommended a
“revision”; however the
framers decided to write
a new document.
The delegates met 89 of the 117 days from May 25,
1787 to Sept. 17, 1787.
1787
Timeline of the Constitutional Convention
February 21
Convention to revise Articles of Confederation called for by Continental Congress.
April 16
Virginia Plan defined in letter from Madison to Washington.
May 14
Arrival of first delegates and preliminary meetings.
May 25
Convention begins.
May 29
Virginia Plan proposed.
May 30
Debate begins on Virginia Plan.
June 11
Main provisions of Virginia Plan adopted.
June 15
New Jersey Plan proposed in response to concerns of small states, debate on it begins.
June 30
Compromise Committee established.
July 16
Connecticut Compromise, the work of the Compromise Committee, adopted.
July 17
Agreement of judicial negation of state actions that are unconstitutional.
July 26
Single-person executive agreed to.
August 6
First draft of Constitution completed.
August 8
Agreement on voter and representative qualification and election regulation.
August 15-25
August 29
September 17
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Debate on Congressional and Executive powers.
3/5 Compromise proposed; Commerce Compromise proposed.
Constitution approved and convention concluded.
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