- The Convention
The Convention
The main chamber of the Constitutional Convention, consisting of all delegates.
U.S. Constitutional Convention 1787 (2021 Edition)
Grand Convention at Philadelphia, May to September, 1787, Quill Project 2021 Edition.
To see the full record of a committee, click on the corresponding committee on the map below.
Membership (55 members):
- Oliver Ellsworth ( Connecticut Delegation ) Visualize
- William Samuel Johnson ( Connecticut Delegation ) Visualize
- Roger Sherman ( Connecticut Delegation ) Visualize
- Richard Basset ( Delaware Delegation ) Visualize
- Gunning Bedford ( Delaware Delegation ) Visualize
- Jacob Broom ( Delaware Delegation ) Visualize
- John Dickinson ( Delaware Delegation ) Visualize
- George Read ( Delaware Delegation ) Visualize
- Abraham Baldwin ( Georgia Delegation ) Visualize
- William Few ( Georgia Delegation ) Visualize
- William Houstoun ( Georgia Delegation ) Visualize
- William Pierce ( Georgia Delegation ) Visualize
- Daniel Carroll ( Maryland Delegation ) Visualize
- Daniel of St Thomas Jenifer ( Maryland Delegation ) Visualize
- Luther Martin ( Maryland Delegation ) Visualize
- James McHenry ( Maryland Delegation ) Visualize
- John Francis Mercer ( Maryland Delegation ) Visualize
- Elbridge Gerry ( Massachusetts Delegation ) Visualize
- Nathaniel Gorham ( Massachusetts Delegation ) Visualize
- Rufus King ( Massachusetts Delegation ) Visualize
- Caleb Strong ( Massachusetts Delegation ) Visualize
- Nicholas Gilman ( New Hampshire Delegation ) Visualize
- John Langdon ( New Hampshire Delegation ) Visualize
- David Brearley ( New Jersey Delegation ) Visualize
- Jonathan Dayton ( New Jersey Delegation ) Visualize
- William Churchill Houston ( New Jersey Delegation ) Visualize
- William Livingston ( New Jersey Delegation ) Visualize
- William Paterson ( New Jersey Delegation ) Visualize
- Alexander Hamilton ( New York Delegation ) Visualize
- John Lansing ( New York Delegation ) Visualize
- Robert Yates ( New York Delegation ) Visualize
- William Blount ( North Carolina Delegation ) Visualize
- William Richardson Davie ( North Carolina Delegation ) Visualize
- Alexander Martin ( North Carolina Delegation ) Visualize
- Richard Dobbs Spaight ( North Carolina Delegation ) Visualize
- Hugh Williamson ( North Carolina Delegation ) Visualize
- George Clymer ( Pennsylvania Delegation ) Visualize
- Thomas Fitzsimmons ( Pennsylvania Delegation ) Visualize
- Benjamin Franklin ( Pennsylvania Delegation ) Visualize
- Jared Ingersol ( Pennsylvania Delegation ) Visualize
- Thomas Mifflin ( Pennsylvania Delegation ) Visualize
- Gouverneur Morris ( Pennsylvania Delegation ) Visualize
- Robert Morris ( Pennsylvania Delegation ) Visualize
- James Wilson ( Pennsylvania Delegation ) Visualize
- Pierce Butler ( South Carolina Delegation ) Visualize
- Charles Pinckney ( South Carolina Delegation ) Visualize
- Charles Cotesworth Pinckney ( South Carolina Delegation ) Visualize
- John Rutledge ( South Carolina Delegation ) Visualize
- John Blair ( Virginia Delegation ) Visualize
- James Madison ( Virginia Delegation ) Visualize
- George Mason ( Virginia Delegation ) Visualize
- James McClurg ( Virginia Delegation ) Visualize
- Edmund Randolph ( Virginia Delegation ) Visualize
- George Washington ( Virginia Delegation ) Visualize
- George Wythe ( Virginia Delegation ) Visualize
Resources (0):
Resource Collections (0):
None
Resource Items (0):
None
Sessions (98)
Date appointed for start of Convention. Only a few delegates present.
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One delegate arrived. Meeting time altered.
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Delegates met, no arrivals. Still not quorate.
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Convened and elected officers. Chose a committee to prepare rules.
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Report of the Rules Committee accepted. Additional rules proposed.
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Additional rules agreed. Virginia Plan and Pinckney Plan proposed.
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The Convention resolved itself into Committee of the Whole House.
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The Convention resolved itself into Committee of the Whole House.
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Several delegates arrived. The Convention resolved itself into Committee of the Whole House. Washington cautioned delegates on secrecy.
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Several delegates arrived. The Convention resolved itself into Committee of the Whole House.
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The Convention resolved itself into Committee of the Whole House.
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The Convention resolved itself into Committee of the Whole House.
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The Convention resolved itself into Committee of the Whole House.
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The Convention resolved itself into Committee of the Whole House.
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The Convention resolved itself into Committee of the Whole House.
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The Convention resolved itself into Committee of the Whole House.
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The Convention resolved itself into Committee of the Whole House.
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The Convention resolved itself into Committee of the Whole House.
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Initial plan of Committee of the Whole House reported.
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Consideration of the plan reported by Committee of the Whole House postponed.
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New Jersey Plan proposed. The Convention resolved itself into Committee of the Whole House.
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The Convention resolved itself into Committee of the Whole House.
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The Convention resolved itself into Committee of the Whole House.
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Committee of the Whole House reported.
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Resolutions 1 and 2. Debated the issue of a two-house legislature.
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Resolutions 2 and 3. Debated composition of first branch of the legislature.
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Resolution 3. Debated composition of first branch of the legislature.
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Resolution 3. Debated composition of first branch of the legislature.
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Resolution 4. Debated composition of second branch of the legislature.
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Resolution 4 and 5. Debated composition of second branch of the legislature.
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Resolutions 7 and 8. Debated representation in each branch of the legislature.
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Resolutions 7 and 8. Debated representation in each branch of the legislature. Franklin called for prayers.
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Resolutions 7 and 8. Agreed proportional representation in the first branch. Connecticut Compromise proposed.
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Resolution 8. Connecticut Compromise debated.
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Resolutions 7 and 8 sent to a committee. Connecticut Compromise rejected. Convention adjourned for Independence Day.
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First Committee on Representation reported. Connecticut Compromise reintroduced.
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Report of First Committee on Representation debated. First proposition sent to a committee.
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Report of First Committee on Representation debated. Equal vote for each state in second branch agreed.
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Second Committee on Representation reported. Its First Proposition sent to a committee.
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Report of Third Committee on Representation agreed.
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New York delegation left the Convention. Report of Second Committee on Representation debated. Three Fifths Clause re-proposed.
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Report of Second Committee on Representation debated. Three Fifths Clause agreed.
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Report of Second Committee on Representation debated. Balance of taxation to representation considered.
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Report of Second Committee on Representation agreed. Representation again debated.
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Report of First Committee on Representation agreed. Connecticut Compromise accepted.
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Resolutions 6 and 9. Debated the powers and election of the executive.
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Resolutions 9, 11-16. Debated the role and powers of the judiciary.
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Resolution 9. Debated the powers and election of the executive.
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Resolution 9. Debated the powers and election of the executive.
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Resolutions 10 and 11. Debated the powers and election of the executive. Appointment of judiciary considered.
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New Hampshire delegation arrived. Resolutions 17, 18, and 19. Debated ratification. Created Committee of Detail.
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Committee of Detail elected. Resolution 9 resumed. Election of executive debated.
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Resolution 9. Election of executive debated.
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Resolution 9 agreed. Convention adjourned to allow Committee of Detail to frame a Constitution.
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Convention resumed. Committee of Detail reported.
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Report of Committee of Detail considered. First three articles agreed. Qualifications of electors debated.
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Article IV: Sections 1 to 5. Composition of House of Representatives debated. Right to originate Money Bills struck out.
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Articles IV to VI. Debated composition of the Senate and time and place of elections.
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Articles IV and VI. Property qualifications debated again. Several regulations for Congress agreed.
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Article VI: Sections 7 and 8. Several regulations for Congress agreed. Reconsideration of Money Bills agreed.
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Several sections reconsidered. Qualifications for both Houses debated. Amendment that Money Bills originate in House defeated.
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Article VI: Sections 9 and 10. Several regulations for Congress agreed.
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Article VI, Section 11 to 13. Final regulations for Congress agreed. Presidential veto debated.
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Article VII: Section 1. Enumeration of Congressional powers debated.
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Article VII: Section 1. Debate on enumeration of Congressional powers continued.
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Article VII: Section 1. Additional Congressional powers referred to Committee of Detail. Appointed Committee on State Debts and Militia. Session times extended.
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Article VII: Sections 1 to 3. Further Congressional powers referred to Committee of Detail. Treason, tax, House apportionment, and a census considered.
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Committee of State Debts and Militia reported. Article VII: Sections 3 and 4. Slavery and taxation debated.
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Committee on Slave Trade and Navigation appointed. Second Report of the Committee of Detail received. Report of the Committee on State Debts and Militia debated.
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Report of the Committee on State Debts and Militia agreed. Article VII: Sections I and VII and Article VIII agreed. Article IX (Senate’s power over treaties and appointments) considered.
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Committee on Slave Trade and Navigation reported. Articles IX and X. Controversies among states and executive powers debated. Session times reduced.
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Report of Committee on Slave Trade and Navigation considered. Committee on Commercial Discrimination appointed. Continued debate on executive powers in Article X.
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Article X and XI. Debated executive and judicial powers.
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Committee on Commercial Discrimination reported. Article XI on jurisdiction, powers, and limitations of Supreme Court. Articles XII to XIV, regulating State powers. Article XV on extradition. First fugitive slave clause introduced.
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Appointed Committee on Interstate Comity and Bankruptcy. Report of Committee on Slave Trade and Navigation debated. Fugitive slave clause agreed. Article XVII on admission of new states agreed.
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Articles XVII to XXI. Debated admission of new states, oaths, and process of amendment and ratification.
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Articles XXI TO XXIII. Mode of ratification and adoption of Constitution debated. Report of the Committee on Commercial Discrimination agreed. Committee on Postponed Matters appointed.
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First Report of Committee on Postponed Matters and Report of the Committee on Interstate Comity and Bankruptcy delivered.
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Report of the Committee on Interstate Comity and Bankruptcy and First Report of Committee on Postponed Matters amended and accepted.
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Second Report of Committee on Postponed Matters delivered and debated.
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Third Report of Committee on Postponed Matters delivered and agreed. Second Report resumed. Money Bills and Presidential elections debated.
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Second Report of Committee on Postponed Matters. Presidential elections again debated.
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Second Report of Committee on Postponed Matters. Presidential powers and elections debated.
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Second and Third Reports of Committee on Postponed Matters agreed. Presidential powers, impeachment, and Money Bills debated. Committee of Style and Arrangement appointed.
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Ratification and amendments reconsidered. Proceedings referred to Committee of Style and Arrangement to draw up final Constitution.
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Convention met and adjourned to await the Report of the Committee of Style and Arrangement.
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Committee of Style and Arrangement reported. Presidential veto and customs duties debated.
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Report of Committee of Style and Arrangement considered. Final process of drafting and amendment began. Committee on Sumptuary Legislation appointed.
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Article I: Sections 3 to 10. Powers and restrictions of Congress debated. Limitations to State power debated.
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Articles I to VII. Questions of representation, State powers, the presidency, trial by jury, and amendments debated. Constitution agreed.
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Engrossed Constitution presented and last amendments made. Signed and sent to Congress. Convention adjourned.
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