A couple of days ago I mentioned my US Gov classes were starting a sim/game for the Constitutional Convention. We've done the first day of it and thought I'd share the results.
For context, we're on a block schedule and I have 2 Gov classes this semester.
(1/) #edchat #sschat
I took the role of Washington as President of the Convention to facilitate the game. The first order of business was to elect the Convention Secretary (in the context of the game, this person helps me keep vote tallies).
(2/)
In 1st Block, the Secretary was Gouverneur Morris (PA) while 3rd Block elected Charles Pinckney (not to be confused w/ C.C. Pinckney, both delegates from SC).
Honestly, I'm not convinced either of these gentlemen would want the job. The IRL secretary was William Jackson.
(3/)
The main issues of the session were around the House of Representatives. First we debated the character of representation in the lower house: agent (or "delegate") vs. trustee (or "elite") representation.
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This first issue wasn't for a vote, just to get the debates started, so it was lower impact. This exchange from 3rd was a highlight:
Alexander Hamilton: We just think representatives should be more educated than the people!
Elbridge Gerry: Are you calling us dumb?
(5/)
The second issue is where things got interesting because it was the first w/ a vote: size of the House. They had to decide on how many reps for the first Congress AND decide what the rough proportion of reps to inhabitants should be. Lots of back-and-forth negotiation here.
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Another highlight of the game, this time from 1st Block:
In the heat of the debate, Gouverneur Morris removed his peg leg and began to bang the top of his desk with it!
(I should add this was just the student's shoe, of course)
(7/)
1st Block factions finally compromised with a starting size of 105 reps and a later ratio of 1 per 30,000 people.
3rd Block also landed at 1 per 30,000 but the "Nationalist" faction managed to keep the starting size at 65 reps.
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How does this compare with the real Convention? I direct you to Art. I, Sec. 2 of the Constitution where we see: "Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand..." and the initial rep count is 65 apportionment is 65!
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3rd Block is closest to following the real Constitution so far, while 1st Block's 105 is actually the number of reps after the first census! Both very close!
Next class is Thursday where they debate the Senate. How will it go? Which factions will prevail? So exciting!
(10/10)
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