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Issues to be resolved by this union of the framers were: the common defense of the members, the preservation of public peace, protection against external attacks, regulation of commerce between the states and with other nations. (Grolier Electronic Publishing 3).

The specific powers of the president were identified in Article II, sections 2 and 3. The president has the power to veto any bill that congress may pass. The essence of the legislature authority is to enact laws, and to prescribe rules that regulate society, while the president is responsible for the execution of the laws. Presidential power was limited by having only a four year term. ( Grolier Electronic Publishing 3). Judicial power as such was understood by the framers to mean the power to decide cases and controversies. The constitution framers did not want the power of government to be controlled by one person, so that they provided for a separation of power and a system of checks and balances.

Alexander Hamilton called for all states to send delegates to Philadelphia to meet in May 1787. George Washington was chosen as the presiding officer. The constitution was framed by fifty-five delegates from twelve of the thirteen states, as Rhode Island did not appoint delegates. Another important framer was Benjamin Franklin, a senior member delegate who was responsible for suggesting the Electoral College, the way in which the president was to be elected. James Madison was one of the most active framers of the constitution, a leader who was to be called the Father of the Constitution . He was a southerner, slave owner from Virginia, educated in New Jersey. (Robinson p. 209). And another framer was George Mason, from Virginia, who was deeply troubled about the issue of slavery. Mason was the author of the Virginia Seminal Bill of Rights, which began with the assertion that all men are naturally equal . This called the attention of the delegates to the tendency of slavery to weaken the nation s defense against foreign foes. (Robinson p. 211). It was the will of the framers to build a strong and stable government. They also expected the government to coordinated the power of the three branches of government, the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches.

On September 17, 1787, George Washington, President of the Federal Convention, sent the completed constitution to the Congress of the Confederation, urging prompt ratification. The ratification of the constitution would be a gamble for everyone. Much would depend on the attitude with which the congressmen and the delegates to ratifying conventions approached their task. One remarkable note to the ratification process was the lack of controversy aroused by the arrangements in the constitution affecting slavery. (Robinson pp. 234-235).

Massachusetts was the first state to hold full scale debates on the issues involved. Issues discussed were grand jury indictment and how it would be required before a trial for major crimes. Congress would not have the power to establish commercial monopolies, and powers not assigned to the government were reserved for the states. Massachusetts ratified the constitution on January 9, 1788 by a narrow margin. Other states followed. Congress waited for Virginia and New York, and on September 13, 1788, acknowledged that the necessary ratification s had been given, set the dates for the election and the meeting of the Electoral College. New York was to be the seat of the new government and on March 4, 1789 was set as the official start of the new federal regime. (Caughey p 131).

The original ten amendments of the United States Constitution gave us our Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights give us the freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. The state also has the right to maintain a militia; it is not to quarter soldiers upon people. It also disallows general search warrants. (Caughey p. 135). Other amendments are addressed more directly to protecting each resident of the United States against arbitrary and unreasonable treatment by his or her government.

One only needs to read the Preamble of the Constitution to know what the framers set out to give the people of our great nation:

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Works Cited

1. United States. Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States

Constitution.

Washington, D.C.; GPO 1996.

2. Robinson, L. Donald. Slavery in the Structure of American Politics 1765-1920. New York: Jovanovich, Inc., 1971.

3. Grolier Electronic Publishing Encyclopedia. CD ROM 1995.

4. Caughey, W. John. A History of the United States. Chicago: Rand McNally

and Company, 1964.

5. America On-line. Internet Service.

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