The precedent-setting First Federal Congress
fleshed out the governmental structure provided for in the Constitution and
ensured the new government's stability. This mini-edition presents
documents relating to establishing the first three executive departments, and
in particular, the critically important constitutional debate over the power of
removal of executive branch officials.
Charlene Bickford, Project Director and Coeditor
Kenneth Bowling, Coeditor Helen Veit, Associate Editor
Charles diGiacomantonio, Associate Editor |

George Holland. A View of Broad Street, Wall
Street, and the City Hall. Courtesy of I.N. Phelps Stokes Collection,
Miriam & Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints, and
Photographs. The New York Public Library. Click here for larger image |