THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES DURING THE FIRST CENTURY OF ITS HISTORY. Prize Essay by HERMAN V. AMES, Ph. D., UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. [At its Washington meeting, December 26, 27, 1895, the executive council of the American Historical Association voted to offer a prize of $100 for the best monograph, based upon original investigation in history, submitted to the council in the course of the year 1896. The committee of award, Profs. A. C. McLaughlin, of the University of Michigan; Moses Coit Tyler, of Cornell University, and James Harvey Robinson, of Columbia University, gave the prize to Prof. Herman V. Ames, of Ohio State University, for his elaborate monograph on "The proposed amendments to the Constitution of the United States during the first century of its history.”— From Secretary's Report.] 3 CONTENTS. 1. Origin of the amending power in the Constitution of the United States: Proceedings of the Federal Convention................ 2. Purpose and scope of the monograph; division of the proposed 3. The first period: 1789-1803 4. The second period: 1804-1860.. 7. Distribution of powers among the three branches of the Gov- 8. The legislative department; classification of amendments.. 9. Regulation of elections to Congress.. 31. Trial of impeachment of Senators 32. The present status of amendments relating to the legislative 34. Plural Executive: Abolition of the Presidency or Vice-Presi- 35. Filling of vacancies in the office of President or Vice-President: 36. Qualifications of the Executive.... 37. Choice of President and Vice-President...... 38. Choice of Presidential electors: The twelfth amendment.. |