8.8. Issue: How Should the Chief Executive Be Elected?

Section 8. Issue: How Should the Chief Executive Be Elected?

Many delegates felt that ordinary citizens, such as those pictured here, were not suited to elect the president. Roger Sherman stated, “The people should have as little to do as may be about the government. They want information, and are constantly liable to be misled.”

Draw

FIND ME A GUITAR AND A HAND

Another major question facing the delegates concerned who would head the new government's executive branch. Early in the convention, Charles Pinckney urged the creation of a “vigorous executive. ” James Wilson followed with a proposal that a single person serve as the chief executive.

A sudden silence fell over the convention. The very idea of a single executive brought to mind unhappy memories of King George III. Wilson broke the silence by explaining that good government depends on clear, timely, and responsible leadership. Such leadership, he said, is most likely to be found in a single person.

One Executive or Three?

Edmund Randolph of Virginia disliked this proposal, preferring a three-member executive drawn from different parts of the country. Three people, he argued, could lead the country better than one.

Benjamin Franklin opposed a single executive for different reasons. “The first man put at the helm will be a good one,” said Franklin, thinking of George Washington. “Nobody knows what sort may come afterwards. ” The next chief executive, he cautioned, might be overly ambitious or too “fond of war. ”

In spite of these objections, the framers agreed to a single executive, to be called the president.  To keep this leader from becoming too king-like, they limited the president's term to four years, with a vice president who was also to be elected to fill that term if the president died in office.

Choosing the Chief Executive

 Equally troubling was the issue of how to choose the chief executive since some delegates wanted Congress to appoint the president. Gouverneur Morris, however, objected, arguing that the president “must not be made the flunky of the Congress. It must not be able to say to him: ‘You owe your appointment to us.'”

Several delegates thought that the people should elect the president, but Madison argued that voters would naturally vote for someone from their own state.  As a result, this method would not be fair to candidates from small states.

Still others suggested that the president be elected by a specially chosen group of “electors” from each state.  Such a group, they felt, would be able to look beyond state interests to make a wise choice for the entire country.

Multiple Choice

How does the government operate if a president dies or is removed from office?

• The vice president takes over the duties of president.

• Congress takes over the duties of the president.

• A new election is held immediately.

• The next president gets an extended term limit.

Multiple Choice

Congress appoints the president was one of the options proposed for choosing a president.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The people elect the president was one way proposed for choosing a chief executive.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

A specially chosen group of electors from each state elects the president is a way proposed for choosing a president or chief executive.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which statement might a delegate Who Believed the Nation Should Have a Single Executive say?

• a single executive can give clear, timely leadership

• Three-executives can protect against one executive abusing his power.

Multiple Choice

Which statement might a delegate Who Believed the Nation Should Have a Three-Member Executive say?

• a single executive can give clear, timely leadership

• Three-executives can protect against one executive abusing his power.

​Monday we will discover what decision the framers made about how to elect the President! (I bet you can't wait)