To complete an assignment, an American Government student steps into a time portal, determined to find and interview one of the Founding Fathers.
A bright flash of light fills the scene, gradually ebbing to reveal a confused-looking student. She is holding a pencil, a pad of paper, and a government book.
Student: Back in time... who would have
thought that it would be so green and leafy? (Walks around a large tree...
right into the leg of a dinosaur) What the...? This can't be right! (A
furious chase ensues, and the student runs back to the portal to try again.)
Aah, here we are... right
outside the castle of... wait a minute. Castle? (Opens book and leafs through
it briefly) I didn't think so. (Yells at portal's operators) Hey, get on
the ball, guys! (Steps into portal, muttering about the third time being
a charm.)
(A bright flash of light fills the study of James Madison. He looks up, startled at the intrusion, then does a double-take as the student steps out of the light and it fades.)
Madison: What the...? Who are you? Where
did you come from? Why are you here?
Student: My name is Alotta Notes. I come
from the future, as an assignment from my Government class to interview
you. (Glances down at notes on the pad of paper and draws out a pencil.)
Now... Oh, excuse me, but could I sit down? My feet are killing me.
Madison: (Looks puzzled, but motions to
a chair opposite the one he occupies.) Be my guest.
Student: Thank you. Now, first question:
I undertand you were the author of the Constitution. Why did you write
it?
Madison: (Looks briefly confused, then
nods.) I, along with other distinguished statesmen, wrote the Constitution
to replace the Articles of Confederation, our previous attempt at
a national Constitution, because the Articles were just not working for
us.
Student: (Scribbles furiously on pad.)
Really? That's interesting. What was running through your mind as you wrote
it?
Madison: We were trying to protect the
citizens from the power of the government, as well as from the power of
factions
that could usurp too much political power.
Student: You came up with the plan for
the Constitution, didn't you?
Madison: I helped draft the Virginia
Plan, which advocated the supreme power of the national government
to act on whatever the states were incompetant to act on. It said that
at least one of the houses of Congress would be elected directly by the
people, and that the number of representatives would be decided by population.
Student: (Frowns and looks though book.)
But that's not what the Constitution says...
Madison: I know. We met opposition from
the New Jersey Plan, which wanted each state would have only one
representative in Congress, didn't give the government as much power, and
proposed only amending the Articles of Confederation, instead of doing
away with them completely.
Student: Those are two really different
ideas. How did you resolve them?
Madison: We made the Great Compromise.
(Glances at student's notes.) That's G-R-E-A-T, not G-E-A-T.
Student: (Looks at misspellings and blushes.)
I know that! (Quickly corrects them.)
Madison: (Sits back and continues.) The
Compromise said that Congress would have two houses, one in which each
state would have an equal number of votes and the other in which the number
of votes per state would be decided by population.
Student: (Still frantically scribbling.)
Uh-huh... Well, what was one of the events that spurred the creation of
the Constitution?
Madison: Shays's Rebellion, a rebellion
led by Daniel Shays and some ex-soldiers, was a great catalyst, as it nurtured
the desire for a stronger national government.
Student: Good, good... (Pencil breaks.
Looks at Madison.) Do you have a pencil sharpener? (He looks confused.)
Never mind, I have another one. (Takes out new pencil and resumes interview.)
I assume there were those of you in political power who agreed with this,
right? (Madison nods.) Well, I know this desire was known as Federalism.
So what did you call yourselves?
Madison: (Rolls eyes.) Federalists.
(Mutters under breath.) Geez... she's just not all there... (Student looks
up. Madison smiles benignly and continues.) Our main opponents were the
Anti-Federalists,
who opposed the Constitution because they feared it gave the government
too much power.
Student: (Pauses to glance back at notes
and flip through book.) Alright... OK... What sort of liberties did the
Constitution protect?
Madison: It declared that there could
be no imprisonment without just cause. That's called the write of habeas
corpus. It also said that ex post facto laws were wrong. If
something is legal when you do it, but becomes illegal later, you can't
get in trouble. And it outlawed bill of attainder laws...
Student: Whoa... slow down! (Mutters to
self.) Ex... post... facto... (Looks up briefly.) Now what was that?
Madison: Bill of attainder. A-T-T-A-I-N-D-E-R.
(Student gives him irritated glance, then returns to notes.) That says
you can't be convicted of a crime without a trial. It also guaranteed trial
by jury.
Student: Wow... I never thought of those
as liberties before...
Madison: (Under breath.) Why does that
not surprise me?
Student: (Looks at him suspiciously, but
ignores it.) What else did it protect?
Madison: Citizenship in all states, as
long as you're a citizen in one. It barred religious tests for those seeking
federal office , and said that states couldn't change or remove the obligations
of a contract.
Student: Obligations... of... contracts...
(Looks back at notes.) Wow. I think I have enough to finish my report now.
Thank you for your time and... er... cooperation... It was very much appreciated.
Madison: You're very welcome, I'm sure.
Student: (Glances at ceiling.) What say
we try to get it right this time, eh? (The white light returns, envelops
the student, and disappears.)
Madison: (Studies half-empty glass of
wine on the corner of his desk. Shaking his head, he dumps it into a nearby
potted plant and returns to his work.)
The End