What Could Have Been: An Alt-American Constitution TL

This is going to be a timeline told mostly through pictures, electoral maps, and snippets about an alternative American constitution. Enjoy!

I have no clear direction for this, just a few ideas.

Do not expect this to be 100% or even 80% plausible.

Federal Legislative:
- Unicameral legislature called the Senate
- Seats are elected in an FPTP system
- 5-year terms
- No term-limit
- The largest party has one week to elect a Senate President from amongst their ranks
- The Senate President pick requires approval of the Prime Minister
- The Senate President becomes the Legislative head, taking on the roles of OTL whip, majority leader, and speaker of the house
- Senate can propose amendments to the constitution which becomes law when passed with 2/3s
- Can impeach Ministers with a 2/3s vote
- Can impeach PM with unanimous vote
- Can give dictatorial powers to the SP with at least 5/6ths of the vote and at least 8/9ths of the supreme court agreeing it is necessary
- Minimum age to be Senator: 25

Federal Executive:
- Executive head is called the Prime Minister
- Elected by popular vote
- 5-year terms; synced to Senate terms
- No term-limit
- Gets to create the Cabinet of Ministers with Senate approval
- PM and Cabinet sends legislative orders to the Senate President to review and put forward
- No veto
- Minimum age to be PM: 30

Federal Judicial:
- PM and Senate President must agree on appointees
- No other differences

State Legislative:
- States are allowed to choose their own legislative models

State Executive:
- Selected by the State Legislature
- Powers determined by each individual state

State Judicial:
- Same as OTL

Various compromises:
- Popularly elected PMs in exchange for the constitutional right to secede from the union if a state legislature agrees unanimously
- Legal slavery in exchange for the immediate ban of the slave trade within America


Bill of rights are same as OTL

Succession order:
Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
Senate President

Who can vote: White, landed males older than 25
 
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After the failure of the Articles of Confederation, many intellectual minds met together in Philidelphia to discuss alternatives to the failed document.

After almost eighteen months of argument debate, and drafting, the Constitution of 1790 was signed by all 13 member states of the Union. Many felt satisfied with this document, modeling it partially after the ancient society of Rome. The liberal influence was felt greatly within the document, the drafters had not forgotten the basic liberties inherent to all men.

The citizens of the young country rejoiced at the news, with the first Prime Ministerial election to be held on September 1st, 1790. The campaign began nearly the day the Constitution was signed. Thomas Jefferson, the mastermind behind the document, was seen by many as the frontrunner in the election. He ran on a platform of small government, offering to maintain the best aspects of the Articles and provide security for the yeoman. The opposition was divided heavily. Alexander Hamilton was the strongest, receiving the endorsement of legendary war hero George Washington. Hamilton ran on a platform that was nearly the exact opposite of Jefferson, advocating for an expansive executive branch and increasing the powers of the Prime Minister. Some Federalists agreed with Hamilton, but many felt that he was simply a megalomaniac. These Federalists coalesced around their own hero, John Adams.

Jefferson promised to run as an independent politician, which led many voters to feel he was impartial and fit to govern. This combined with his unofficial attack ads calling Hamilton a king in disguise led to a very eventful election.

With September 1st fast approaching, the nation held its breath and waited to see who their first Prime Minister and Senate President would be.





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And we're off! I am admittedly not the best writer, so tips are appreciated :)

Expect results sometime soon
 
It seems odd to start with political parties. They weren't something that the otl constitution accounted for. At least I don't think it did. Also how could a unicameral legislation pass? The small states like a Rhode Island would be up in arms.
 
It seems odd to start with political parties. They weren't something that the otl constitution accounted for. At least I don't think it did. Also how could a unicameral legislation pass? The small states like a Rhode Island would be up in arms.
I say federalist to mean the school of thought, not necessarily the political party, that comes later :p (though iirc, the Federalist Party was formed very early on in 1792). As for the unicameral legislature, it’s balanced out by allowing the state governments to completely design their own governments and the possibility for succession if there is a unanimous state legislature vote. If there’s a more plausible reason for it, I’m all ears!
 
I'm interested why the framers chose Prime Minister as the title of the head of the Executive Branch rather than President.

One would think there's an expectation inherent in the choice that the PM would be "First among equals" rather than someone who would dominate the executive.
 
I'm interested why the framers chose Prime Minister as the title of the head of the Executive Branch rather than President.

One would think there's an expectation inherent in the choice that the PM would be "First among equals" rather than someone who would dominate the executive.
It’s really only coz the Cabinet of Ministers is headed by the Prime Minister. That and I couldn’t think of a cooler word for the Senate President and didn’t want two people called the President
 
I'm interested why the framers chose Prime Minister as the title of the head of the Executive Branch rather than President.

One would think there's an expectation inherent in the choice that the PM would be "First among equals" rather than someone who would dominate the executive.
Do you think “Chief Executive” or “Prime Secretary” would sound better?
 

kernals12

Banned
I am very interested in this. One thing though, how are slave populations counted for senate apportionment? Do we still have the 3/5ths compromise from OTL?
 
Do you think “Chief Executive” or “Prime Secretary” would sound better?

I think PM still works, as long as there is, as GSD said, a point made that it means "first among equals".

BTW, what's the Senate's seating apportionment like in general? Like the House, or is there a set number per state?
 
I think PM still works, as long as there is, as GSD said, a point made that it means "first among equals".

BTW, what's the Senate's seating apportionment like in general? Like the House, or is there a set number per state?
It's basically just the House as of right now, but this is subject to change in the future
 
The Election of 1790 (PM)
GabbardGillibrand def PaulMartinez 2024.png

Election of 1790
Thomas Jefferson (I-VA): 53.40%
John Adams (A-MA)1: 32.89%
Alexander Hamilton (H-NY)2: 13.71%
The election of 1790, the nations first election, would go smoothly despite the relatively tense race that preceded it. Once news of the election results got out, it is said that John Adams invited both Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton to a dinner at his residence out of goodwill. At the dinner, Adams congratulated Jefferson on his victory and gave the nations first concession speech.

"On this night, I would like to admit my defeat to Mister Jefferson. He was truly a worthy opponent, and I wish him my genuine best in his upcoming term as our nations first Prime Minister. God be with you, Prime Minister Jefferson"
Thomas Jefferson would begin his first term in one weeks time, beginning on September 8th, 1790. He now anxiously awaited the results of the Senatorial election, curious as to who he would soon be working with as the nations first Senate President.



1) Due to the lack of formal political parties, Adams ran as an "Adamsite"
2) Likewise, Hamilton ran as "Hamiltonian"


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Senate results should be up soon! I am simply going to be posting a parliamentary composition chart as I cannot find congressional district maps of the 17 and 1800s :(
 
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kernals12

Banned
View attachment 353205
Election of 1790
Thomas Jefferson (I-VA): 53.40%
Alexander Hamilton (H-NY)1: 32.89%
John Adams (A-MA)2: 13.71%
The election of 1790, the nations first election, would go smoothly despite the relatively tense race that preceded it. Once news of the election results got out, it is said that Alexander Hamilton invited both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams to a dinner at his residence out of goodwill. At the dinner, Hamilton congratulated Jefferson on his victory and gave the nations first concession speech.

"On this night, I would like to admit my defeat to Mister Jefferson. He was truly a worthy opponent, and I wish him my genuine best in his upcoming term as our nations first Prime Minister. God be with you, Prime Minister Jefferson"
Thomas Jefferson would begin his first term in one weeks time, beginning on September 8th, 1790. He now anxiously awaited the results of the Senatorial election, curious as to who he would soon be working with as the nations first Senate President.



1) Due to the lack of formal political parties, Hamilton ran as a "Hamiltonian"
2) Likewise, Adams ran as an "Adamsite"


-

Senate results should be up soon! I am simply going to be posting a parliamentary composition chart as I cannot find congressional district maps of the 17 and 1800s :(
What happened to Washington?
 
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