<P> Each state was allowed to cast a single vote either for or against a proposal during the debates in accordance with the majority opinion of the state's delegates . Throughout the Convention, delegates would regularly come and go, with only 30--40 being present on a typical day . Consequently, if a state's delegates were equally divided in their views on a given proposal, or if too few of the state's delegates were in attendance to establish a quorum for the delegation when votes were being cast on a particular proposal, that state's delegation had essentially no effect on the outcome of the vote on the proposal . Thus, for example, after two of New York's three delegates abandoned the Convention in mid July with no intention of returning, New York was left unable to vote on any further proposals at the Convention, although Hamilton would continue to periodically attend and occasionally to speak during the debates . </P> <P> The first area of major dispute was the manner by which the lower house would be apportioned . A minority wanted it to be apportioned so that all states would have equal weight, though this was never seriously considered . Most wanted it apportioned in accordance with some mixture of property and population . Though there was discussion on how to calculate property for this purpose, the issue of property was later dropped because of its difficulty, and an assumption that property would closely correlate to population . </P> <P> Most accepted the desire among the slave states to count slaves as part of the population, although their servile status was raised as a major objection against this . The Three - Fifths Compromise assessing population by adding the number of free persons to three - fifths of "all other persons" (slaves) was agreed to without serious dispute . In 1783, when attempting to assess a national taxation system, the Confederation Congress had considered a three fifths ratio, which did not achieve unanimity . This compromise resulted in a large coalition of states, including the small slave states of South Carolina and Georgia, backing the Virginia plan and thus expanding the power of the primary coalition . That the lower house was to be elected directly by the voters was also accepted without major dispute . </P> <P> More contentious than the lower house was the question of the upper house . Few agreed with Madison that its members should be elected by the lower house . James Wilson suggested election by popular vote versus election by state legislature, but his proposal was shot down 10--1 by the delegates . Most delegates didn't question the intelligence of the voters, rather what concerned them was the slowness by which information spread in the late 18th century . </P>

Congress called for a convention to be held in philadelphia in 1787