Report of the Committee of Style
William Samuel Johnson (1727–1819) chaired the Committee of Style, James Madison (1751–1836), Rufus King (1755–1827), and Alexander Hamilton gave the Constitution its substance. Gouverneur Morris (1752–1816), a delegate from Pennsylvania, is credited with providing the preamble phrase We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union—a dramatic change from the opening of the previous version. This simple phrase anchored the new national government in the consent of the people rather than a confederation of states.
William Samuel Johnson (1727–1819) chaired the Committee of Style, James Madison (1751–1836), Rufus King (1755–1827), and Alexander Hamilton gave the Constitution its substance. Gouverneur Morris (1752–1816), a delegate from Pennsylvania, is credited with providing the preamble phrase We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union—a dramatic change from the opening of the previous version. This simple phrase anchored the new national government in the consent of the people rather than a confederation of states.