Cord Byrd: “yesterday, July 16, was the anniversary of one of the greatest events in American history. It was 219 years ago that our…”

“yesterday, July 16, was the anniversary of one of the greatest events in American history. It was 219 years ago that our Founding Fathers were meeting at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, attempting to formulate a workable plan of Government. At the time, the young American Government was operating under the Articles of Confederation, which every day was proving to be unworkable. For 7 weeks, the Constitutional Convention had been working to devise a better form of Government, a ``more perfect union.'' It would be a Government with three branches: an executive branch, a legislative branch, and a judicial branch. The branches of the Government would have separated powers and the ability to check and balance one another. The Convention delegates had already made a number of important decisions about the structure of the Congress. The Convention had set the minimum age for Members of the Senate at 30 and a term length at 6 years, as opposed to 25 years of age for Members of the House of Representatives, who would have 2-year terms. But then came the stumbling block, how the States would be represented in Congress. Delegates from the large States believed that because their States contributed more to the Nation's financial and defensive resources, they should have greater representation in the legislative bodies. Small State delegates demanded that all States be equally represented in both Houses.…”