Madison's Proposals and House Deliberation

Largely through Representative James Madison's efforts, who studied the deficiencies of the Constitution pointed out by Anti-Federalists and crafted a series of corrective proposals, the amendment process began. After a procedural battle and initial referral to a select committee for revision, the House agreed to take up Madison's proposal as a full body beginning July 21, 1789. Madison had hoped that proposing amendments through Congress would preempt a second constitutional convention that might undo the compromises of 1787 and risk dissolving the new federal government.