We’re making progress on this idea of a republic! We have a Constitution and, thanks to George Mason, a Bill of Rights will be a reality! The hard work has been done — or has it?

Now, we have to take those constitutional guidelines and organize this new republic by creating a new government to replace the weak, ineffective system created by the now-defunct Articles of Confederation. Where to begin?

By April 1789, each of the 13 original states had elected two senators and the requisite number of representatives based on the state’s population. Those duly elected legislative delegations traveled to New York City to begin their work, and three critical tasks awaited them:

• Creating an executive branch of government and naming the new president and vice president,
• Providing money for the federal government, and
• Planning for an effective judicial branch of government.

So, let’s watch them work!

First, who might be a good candidate for president? Yes, of course. Article II, Section I provides the method for selection. Each state legislature appointed “electors,” and these electors would cast the votes for the candidates. The president of the Senate would supervise the casting and counting of votes, and no one was surprised when George Washington — hero of the Revolution, president of the Constitutional Convention, and famed Virginian — was chosen as the first president of the United States of America. With the second-highest vote, John Adams, longtime patriot leader, became the first vice president.

The Constitution also gave the Congress the power to organize the executive branch. The first issue that consumed the legislative members causes us to smile today, but it was a very serious decision for them. What were they going to call the chief executive? Now, we know the final decision was “President,” but the titles considered seem too alien to our “republican” ideas today. “His Highness.” “His Excellency.” Yes, those titles seem a bit too “royal” to our revolutionary ears.

Obviously, the president needs assistance in administering the responsibilities of the government. The initial government would feature four “advisors” heading four distinct departments:

State Department: Thomas Jefferson was named the first Secretary of State and was charged with dealing with other nations, an ideal position for a statesman who understood the importance of fostering diplomatic relationships.

Treasury Department: Washington’s military aide-de-camp and the primary author of The Federalists Papers, Alexander Hamilton, was selected as Secretary of Treasury — an excellent choice since he had already exhibited an interest and a proficiency in financial matters.

War Department: With a number of former military leaders available, who would be chosen Secretary of War? It was Washington’s favorite artillery commander — the former bookseller and senior general who had retrieved the cannons and artillery from Fort Ticonderoga — who would be chosen. Washington and Henry Knox worked together with ease and mutual admiration.

Congress also realized that it needed someone to handle any court cases that might need to be decided by the new Supreme Court. The delegates quickly confirmed one of the most highly skilled attorneys in the country — and there was no shortage of lawyers in the group. Edmund Randolph of Virginia and a former aide to Washington served in that role until Jefferson resigned as Secretary of State and Randolph was moved to Secretary of State.

Today, the Executive Branch has expanded far beyond the expectations of our early leaders, but then so has the nation. It’s a bit mind-boggling to recall that, even 20 years into the nation’s history, the total number of federal employees was less than 3,000. Today? That number hovers around two million. In 1790, the first official United States census, the total population of the country was less than four million.

What’s next? The new nation has a distinguished and admired president, but how can he address the needs of the nation without a treasury? Where’s the money?

If the Articles government taught the Founders a lesson, it was that running a government required money and a gentle request for funding if often — well, almost always — ignored. What to do? Perhaps the most difficult task awaited the delegates, and we’ll dig into the funding plans at our next meeting.

Until then, can you name the current departments represented on the president’s cabinet?