Original Constitution minutes?

Question

My professor told us that there was a clerk recording the minutes at all of the Constitution drafting meetings. Is this true, I would like to see these notes if it's true.

Answer 1

Yes, there are volumes and volumes of writings about the formation of the Constitution. Do a search for records and writings of the Constitution. They would originally be held at the Library of Congress.

Answer 2

Write the Smithsonian and see if they are on line or can be mailed to you. Try this:

http://www.senate.gov/civics/constitutio...

Answer 3

Actually, this is not true. There was a secretary elected, but he did not keep a full record. Madison kept a journal, which is considered the most complete record of the proceedings of the Philadelphia Convention. Of course, Madison was hardly a disinterested observer (See the Federalist Papers), so there is some debate as to the impartiality of his journal. But it is still the best record we have. This is one of the major difficulties later courts have had in interpreting the Constitution. Legislative intent is usually the first thing courts look at when interpreting a law, but there is very little to base that on for the Constitution.