keywords: electoral constitutional constitution 1787 framers
text: Framing the Electoral College The framers of the Constitution may not have created the perfect system for electing a National Executive, but the Electoral College works. However, just as we still debate the virtue of a Direct Election today, so too did the framers at the Constitutional Convention in 1787.  Among the framers that spoke on the subject were James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris, and Charles Pinckney. The latter three served on the committee responsible for discussing the powers of and the election of the National Executive. What did they have to say about a Direct Election and how did they come to choose the Electoral College instead?