The New Jersey Plan (June 15)
- Resolved that the articles of Confederation ought to be so
revised, erected and enlarged, as to render the federal Constitution adequate to the exigencies of Government, and the
preservation of the Union.
- Resolved that in addition to the powers vested in the United
States in Congress, by the present existing articles of Confederation, they be authorized to pass acts for raising a revenue, by
levying a duty or duties on all goods or merchandizes of foreign
growth or manufacture, imported into any part of the United
States, by Stamps on paper, vellum or parchment, and by a
postage on all letters or packages passing through the general
postoffice, to be applied to such federal purposes as they shall
deem proper and expedient; to make rules and regulations for the
collection thereof; and the same from time to time, to alter and
amend in snch manner as they shall think proper: to pass Acts for
the regulation of trade and commerce as well
with foreign nations as with each other: provided that all punishments, fines,
forfeitures and penalties to be incurred for contravening such acts
flies and regulations shall he adjudged by the Common law
Judiciaries of the State in which any offence contrary to the true
intent and meaning of such Acts rules and regulations shall have
been committed or perpetrated, with liberty of commencing in
the first instance all suits and prosecutions for that purpose in the
superior common law Judiciary in such State, subject nevertheless,
for the correction of all errors, both in law and fact in
rendering Judgment, to an appeal to the Judiciary of the United
States.
- Resolved that whenever requisitions shall be necessary,
instead of the rule for making requisitions mentioned in the
articles of Confederation, the United States in Congress be
authorized to make such requisitions in proportion to the whole
number of white and other free citizens and inhabitants of every
age sex and condition including those bound to servitude for a
term of years and three fifths of all other persons not
comprehended in the foregoing description, except Indians not paying
taxes; that if such requisitions be not complied with, in the time
specified therein, to direct the collection thereof in the non
complying States and for that purpose to devise and pass acts
directing and authorizg the same; provided that none of the
powers hereby vested in the United States in Congress shall he
exercised without the consent of at least persons, to
continue in office for the term of years, to receive punctually
at stated times a fixed compensation for their services, in which
no increase or diminution shall he made so as to affect the
persons composing the Executive at the time of such increase or
diminution,to be paid out of the federal treasury;to be incapable
of holding any other office or appointment during their time of
service and for years thereafter; to be ineligible a second
time, and removeable by Congress on application by a majority
of the Executives of the several States; that the Executives
besides their general authority to execute the federal acts ought
to appoint all federal officers not otherwise provided for, and to
direct all military operations; provided that none of the persons
composing the federal Executive shall on any occasion take
command of any troops, so as personally to conduct any enterprise as
General or in other capacity.
- Resolved that a federal Judiciary be established to consist
of a supreme Tribunal the Judges of which to be appointed by
the Executive, and to hold their offices during good hehaviour,
to receive punctually at stated times a fixed compensation for
their services in which no increase or diminution shall he made,
so as to affect the persons actually in office at the time of such
increase or diminution; that the Judiciary so establisbed shall
have authority to hear and determine in the first instance on all
impeachments of federal officers, and by way of appeal in the
[last] resort in all cases touching the rights of Ambassadors, in
all cases of captures from an enemy, in all cases of piracies and
felonies on the high Seas, in all cases in which foreigners may be
interested, in the construction of any treaty or treaties, or which
may arise on any of the Acts for regulation of trade, or the
collection of the federal Revenue: that none of the Judiciary shall
during the time they remain in office be capable of receiving or
holding any other office or appointment during their time of
service,or for thereafter.
- Resolved that all Acts of the United States in Congress
made by virtue and in pursuance of the powers hereby and by the
articles of Confederation vested in them, and all Treaties made
and ratified under the authority of the United States shall he the
supreme law of the respective States so far forth as those Acts or
Treaties shall relate to the said States or their Citizens, and that
the Judiciary of the several States shall be bound thereby in their
decisions, any thing in the respective laws of the Individual
States to the contrary notwithstanding; and that if any State, or
any body of men in any State shall oppose or prevent the
carrying into execution such acts or treaties, the federal
Executive shall be authorized to call forth the power of the
Confederated States, or so much thereof as may be necessary to enforce
and compel an ohedience to such Acts, or an observance of such
Treaties.
- Resolved that provision be made for the admission of new
States into the Union.
- Resolved the rule for naturalization ought to be the same in
every State.
- Resolved that a Citizen of one State committing an offence
in another State of the Union, shall be deemed guilty of the same
offence as if it had been committed by a Citizen of the State in
which the offence was committed
- Documents >
- 1786-1800 >
- The Constitutional Convention debates and the Anti-Federalist
Papers >
- James Madison to George Washington (April 16, 1787)
- The Virginia Plan (May 29)
- Debate on Representation (May 31)
- Debate of Executive Power (June 1)
- Opposition to Executive Salaries (June 2)
- Opposition to a Unitary Executive (June 4)
- Electing Representatives (June 6)
- Debate on Method of Electing Senators (June 7)
- Debate on Veto of State Laws (June 8)
- The New Jersey Plan (June 15)
- Debate on The New Jersey Plan (June 16)
- Plan for National Government (June 18)
- Opposition to The New Jersey Plan (June 19)
- Debate on Federalism (June 21)
- Length of Term in Office for Senators (June 26)
- Debate on State Equality in the Senate (June 28-July 2)
- Majority Rule the Basic Republican Principle (July 5, 13, 14)
- Election and Term of Office of the National Executive (July 17, 19)
- The Judiciary, the Veto, and Separation of Powers (July 21)
- Appointment of Judges (July 21)
- Method of Ratification (July 23)
- Election of Executive (July 24, 25)
- First Draft of the Constitution (August 6)
- Qualifications of Suffrage (August 7, 10)
- Citizenship for Immigrants (August 9)
- Executive Veto Power (August 15)
- Slavery and Constitution (August 21, 22)
- Election and Powers of the president (Sept. 4, 5, 6)
- Opposition to the Constitution (Sept. 7, 10, 15)
- Signing the Constitution (Sept. 17)
- Speech of James Wilson (October 6, 1787)
- "John De Witt" Essay I, Oct.22, 1787
- "John De Witt" Essay II, Oct.27, 1787
- Speech of Patrick Henry (June 5, 1788)
- Amendments Proposed by the Massachusetts Convention,(Feb. 7, 1788)
- Amendments Proposed by the Virginia Convention, (June 27, 1788)
- Amendments to the Constitution (June 27, 1788)
- Amendments Proposed by The Rhode Island Convention (March 6, 1790)
- Speech of Patrick Henry (June 7, 1788)