Committee of Detail

Committee of Detail was a committee established by the United States Constitutional Convention in 1787. The committee was tasked with drafting a detailed constitution document based on the resolutions passed by the convention up to that point. The Committee of Detail consisted of five members: John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth, and James Wilson.

Formation

The Committee of Detail was formed on July 24, 1787, after the convention had spent several weeks debating the structure and powers of the new government. The committee was given the task of drafting a detailed constitution document that would reflect the decisions made by the convention.

Members

The Committee of Detail was composed of five members, each representing different regions and interests within the United States.

• John Rutledge of South Carolina was the chairman of the committee. Rutledge was a strong advocate for the interests of the southern states, particularly on issues related to slavery and representation.

• Edmund Randolph of Virginia, who had presented the Virginia Plan at the start of the convention, was a key figure in shaping the structure of the new government.

• Nathaniel Gorham of Massachusetts and Oliver Ellsworth of Connecticut represented the interests of the smaller states.

• James Wilson of Pennsylvania was a strong advocate for a strong national government and played a key role in shaping the powers of the presidency.

Work

The Committee of Detail worked for 10 days, from July 26 to August 6, to draft the constitution. The committee's draft provided the basic structure of the constitution, including the three branches of government (the Legislative Branch, the Executive Branch, and the Judicial Branch), the division of powers between the federal and state governments, and the methods of electing the president and members of Congress.

Impact

The work of the Committee of Detail was crucial in shaping the U.S. Constitution. The committee's draft served as the basis for the final document that was adopted by the convention and later ratified by the states. The Committee of Detail's work also set a precedent for the use of committees to draft detailed legislative texts in the United States.