resignation, or otherwise, during the recess of the legislature of any state, the executive thereof may make temporary appointments until the next meeting of the legislature, which shall then fill such vacancies. No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the age of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the United States and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state for which he shall be chosen. The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided. The Senate choose their other officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the office of President of the United States. The Senate have the sole power to try all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two thirds of the members present. Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States: but the party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment, according to law. Section 4. The times, places and manner of holding elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each state by the legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by law make or alter such regulations, except as to the places of choosing Senators. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by law appoint a different day. Section 5. Each shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner, and under such penalties as each House may provide. Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two thirds, expel a member.
In 1786, leaders in Virginia passed a resolution calling for delegates (representatives) from the 13 states to meet in Annapolis, Maryland, to discuss the nation's problems. Their goal was to amend (change) the Articles of Confederation to make the national government stronger and more effective. But, only twelve representatives from five states attended the Annapolis Convention, so they resolved to call another meeting the following year. The Constitutional Convention On May 25, 1787, delegates from twelve of the thirteen states gathered in Independence Hall in Philadelphia to open the Constitutional Convention. Rhode Island was the only state not represented. In attendance were 55 men, including many talented scholars, philosophers, war leaders, and politicians. These men are now referred to as the Founding Fathers or Framers. Alexander Hamilton, representing New York, was largely responsible for arranging the Constitutional Convention. George Washington, from Virginia, was president of the convention. Benjamin Franklin, representing Pennsylvania, offered the incomparable wisdom of his 81 years. Gouverneur Morris, also from Pennsylvania, headed up the committee that actually wrote the U.S. Constitution. James Madison, also from Virginia, earned the nickname "Father of the Constitution" because his brilliant ideas kept the convention moving forward when problems developed. Almost immediately after the convention opened, a major disagreement developed between the delegates of the large and small states as to what form the new government should take. The larger, more populous states supported the Virginia Plan, which proposed that representation within the government should be based on the size of a state's population. The plan was designed to give states with large populations a proportionately large share of decision-making power. Smaller, less populous states, opposed the Virginia Plan. They supported the New Jersey Plan, which proposed that every state, regardless of size, would have the same representation within the government. The Virginia and New Jersey plans are compared below: Virginia Plan New Jersey Plan Legislative branch has two chambers Legislative branch has one chamber