From the archives:
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 17:26:18 -0400
From: Jay Fenello <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Constitutional Compromises . . .
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Here are the top five compromises made to ratify
the U.S. Constitution (based on "American History
in 100 Nutshells" by Tad Tuleja):
1) "Large State" vs. "Small State"
Should the states be represented in Congress on the
basis of population or equally, as under the existing
Articles? The compromise was to fashion a two-house
Congress, with the upper house going the "small state"
route, the lower to the "large state" route. Hence the
Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively.
2) Slave vs. Free
Should "all men," as the Declaration implied, be counted
in apportioning taxes and representatives, or should
slaves be considered less than "men"? The compromise
was to allow each of the South's millions of slaves to
count as three-fifths of a person.
3) Direct or Indirect Elections
Should the president be elected directly by all the
people -- thus opening the way to mob rule and demagogy
-- or should more "qualified" people be chosen to make
the decisions? The compromise was the creation of the
electoral college, whose members, chosen by the states,
actually vote for the president.
4) Congress vs. the Executive.
Who should rule, the legislature or the president? The
compromise was that Congress was given the power to pass
laws, while the president could only recommend them. The
president, on the other hand, could veto Congress's wishes
-- unless they overrode his negation by a two thirds
majority.
5) Federalist vs. States' Rights
Should the central government or the individual states be
supreme? The compromise was to approve the Constitution
upon two-thirds of the states' conventions.
Regards,
Jay Fenello
President, Iperdome, Inc.
404-250-3242 http://www.iperdome.com
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Respectfully,
Jay Fenello,
New Media Relations
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770-392-9480
"We are creating the most significant new jurisdiction
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building it just outside the constitution's review."
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