James Madison

The Virginia Plan was so named because it was written primarily by James Madison and introduced to the Constitutional Convention by Edmund Randolph, both Virginians.

There’s a reason why founding father James Madison called Congress “the first branch” of government. Under the Articles of Confederation—America’s first independent system of government, which lasted from 1781 to 1789—the national government consisted only of Congress.

Madison is best remembered for his critical role in the Constitutional Convention of 1787, where he presented the Virginia Plan to the assembled delegates in Philadelphia and oversaw the difficult process of negotiation and compromise that led to the drafting of the final Constitution.

Madison took detailed notes during debates at the convention, which helped to further shape the U.S. Constitution and led to his moniker: “Father of the Constitution.” (Madison stated the Constitution was not “the off-spring of a single brain,” but instead, “the work of many heads and many hangs.”)

James Madison, America’s fourth President (1809-1817), made a major contribution to the ratification of the Constitution by writing The Federalist Papers, along with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay. In later years, he was referred to as the “Father of the Constitution.”

Contribution: Famously known as the “father of the Constitution”, James Madison was a driving force behind the convention. He came well prepared for all arguments against the creation of a new government.

What was the main question James Madison thought about when he was writing the Constitution? “Should the United States have an army?” “How many states should be in the union?”

A new document that created the first US government is the correct answer.

Madison’s position is clear: No branch is the superior of the others in constitutional interpretation. None has “more right than another” to press its views. No branch is “competent” to speak above all others as to what the Constitution means.

the judicial branch of government. Madison writes that the government under the Constitution should be so constituted that the branches of government (he calls them “departments”) keep “each other in their proper place.” In order to achieve this goal, each branch should be independent of the other branches.

Separation of Powers in the United States is associated with the Checks and Balances system. The Checks and Balances system provides each branch of government with individual powers to check the other branches and prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

The most well-known example of separation of powers is the tripartite system found in the United States and the United Kingdom, in which there are three individual branches of government: the executive branch, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch.

Examples of Checks and Balances in the Constitution

• The House of Representatives has sole power of impeachment, but the Senate has all power to try any impeachment.
• Any bills that intend to raise revenue must originate in the House of Representatives, but the Senate also has to approve the bill.
• Congress has the power to set and collect any taxes or duties.

The President returns the unsigned legislation to the originating house of Congress within a 10 day period usually with a memorandum of disapproval or a “veto message.” Congress can override the President’s decision if it musters the necessary two–thirds vote of each house.

The power of the President to refuse to approve a bill or joint resolution and thus prevent its enactment into law is the veto. This veto can be overridden only by a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House. If this occurs, the bill becomes law over the President’s objections.

The president can issue rules, regulations, and instructions called executive orders, which have the binding force of law upon federal agencies but do not require approval of the United States Congress. Executive orders are subject to judicial review and interpretation.

The President can assent or withhold his assent to a bill or he can return a bill, other than a money bill which is recommended by the President himself to the houses. The President shall not withhold constitutional amendment bill duly passed by Parliament per Article 368.

The President has the power either to sign legislation into law or to veto bills enacted by Congress, although Congress may override a veto with a two-thirds vote of both houses.

1 Answer. Vote to impeach a government official is not a power of the President.

The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces.