The convention met in Philadelphia. The States sent their ablest men; and well they did, for dependent upon their actions and decision was the destiny of a great nation. After a discussion of some weeks, the Constitution was decided upon. This Constitution, unlike the “Articles of Confederation,” gave Congress power to _act_, and not simply to advise the States. The government provided for by this Constitution was to be republican in its nature and was to consist of three departments: a Legislative department, or Congress, to make laws; an Executive department, the President and his officers, to enforce the laws enacted by Congress; and a Judiciary department, the Federal Courts, to decide disputed questions under the law. The Legislative and Executive departments, working in unison, were to govern the country, always acting in accordance with the Constitution as interpreted by the Judiciary department.
This form of government went into effect, being ratified by New Hampshire, the ninth State, in 1788.
During the first year of the administration of Washington, the first ten amendments were proposed. We may assign the same reason for the early proposal of these amendments as that which caused nearly half of the members of the convention to vote against the Constitution. This cause was, we think, that the States feared that too much power would be given to the Federal government. These ten amendments were adopted in 1791, thus assuring to the people freedom of speech and of press, trial by jury and a great many other privileges. The third clause in the first amendment—Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech or of press—was not very strictly adhered to in later days. For instance, the “Sedition Law,” passed by Congress during the administration of John Adams, was disregardful of this clause. The eleventh amendment, limiting judiciary power, was adopted in 1798. When the presidential election of 1800 came, the Republican candidates were Jefferson and Burr. The votes being counted, it was found that they had received an equal number. It now fell to Congress to decide which should be President. On the thirty-sixth ballot Jefferson received the majority, and Burr, his political opponent, became Vice-President. In order that this defect in election might be removed, the twelfth amendment was adopted in 1804. It provided that the electors should meet in their respective States, and vote by ballot for President, and in a distinct ballot for Vice-President.