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The Achievement of the Philadelphia Convention
functions of the second Branch) during the term of service, and for the
space of
after the expiration thereof.
6. Resolved, that each Branch ought to possess the right of originating
Acts, that the National Legislature ought to be empowered to enjoy, the
Legislative rights vested in Congress by the Confederation, and moreover to
Legislate in all cases to which the Separate States are incompetent; or in
which the harmony of the United States may be interrupted, by the exercise of individual Legislation—to negative all Laws passed by the several States, contravening, in the opinion of the National Legislature, the
articles of Union; and to call forth the force of the Union against any
Member of the Union, failing to fulfil its duty under the articles thereof.
7. Resolved, that a National Executive be instituted; to be chosen by
the National Legislature, for the term of
years—to receive punctually at stated times a fixed compensation for the services rendered, in
which no increase or diminution shall be made so as to affect the Magistracy, existing at the time of such increase or diminution, and to be ineligible a second time; and that beside a general authority to execute the
National laws, it ought to enjoy the Executive rights vested in Congress
by the Confederation.
8. Resolved, that the Executive and a convenient number of the National Judiciary, ought to compose a Council of revision, with authority to
examine every act of the National Legislature before it shall operate, and
every act of a particular Legislature before a negative thereon shall be final; and that the dissent of the said council shall amount to a rejection,
unless the act of the National Legislature be again passed, or that of a
particular Legislature be again negatived by
of the Members of
each Branch.
9. Resolved, that a National Judiciary be established to Consist of one
or more supreme tribunals, and of inferior tribunals to be chosen by the
National Legislature; to hold their Offices during good behavior, and to
receive punctually at stated times fixed compensation for their services,
in which no increase or diminution shall be made, so as to affect the persons actually in office at the time of such increase or diminution.
That the jurisdiction of the inferior Tribunals shall be to hear and determine in the first instance, and of the supreme tribunal to hear and determine in the dernier resort; all piracies and felonies on the high Seas,