Calvin C. Jillson joined the faculty of Southern Methodist University in July 1995 as Professor and Chair in the Department of Political Science. He received his B.S. in Political Science from Oregon State University in 1971 and his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, College Park, in 1976 and 1979. He taught at Louisiana State University (1980-87) and the University of Colorado (1987-95). Dr. Jillson was the Director of the John Goodwin Tower Center for Political Studies and chaired the department from 1996 to 2001.

Looking closely at the roll-call voting records, the author examines the patterns of cooperation and conflict among individual delegates and their state delegations as voting units; analyzes the changes in voting coalitions and the implication of...

Looking closely at the roll-call voting records, the author examines the patterns of cooperation and conflict among individual delegates and their state delegations as voting units; analyzes the changes in voting coalitions and the implication of those changes for the resolution of critical substantive issues before the Convention; and shows how these major issues were addressed, modified, and resolved from the opening of the Convention on May 25, 1787, to its final adjournment on September 17. The result is a conceptually sophisticated and empirically accurate understanding of the politics of constitution making in the Federal Convention that the author hopes will allow us to see the democratic politics of our own age in clearer perspective.

CONTENTS 1. Perspectives on the Federal Convention of 1787 2. Debate, Deadlock, and Issue Resolution in the Convention 3. James Madison and the Origins of the Virginia Plan 4.

CONTENTS 1. Perspectives on the Federal Convention of 1787 2. Debate, Deadlock, and Issue Resolution in the Convention 3. James Madison and the Origins of the Virginia Plan 4. The Nature of Government in the New Republic 5. The Representation Question: Madison and His Opponents 6. The Role of the Executive in Republican Government 7. Localist Periphery and Nationalist Center: On Restraining Government 8. Small State Fears and the States' Rights Caucus 9. The Brearley Committee Report and a New Northern Majority 10. Summary and Conclusion Notes Bibliography Appendix A: The Data Appendix B: The Virginia Plan Appendix C: The New Jersey Plan Appendix D: Committee of Detail Report Appendix E: The Constitution of the United States Index