Executive

The executives of the colonials were their Governors, appointed by the crown in most colonies, elected by the people in Rhode Island and Connecticut and in early Ma achusetts. At the outbreak of the Revolution, after the royal Governors had ceased to control, and before the new Constitutions were set up, the executive was the committee or council of safety. The States, in making their Constitutions, mostly instituted Governors, though some created an executive council, forming an executive like that of Switzerland. From 1775 to 1789 the U. S. Government had no other executive than Congre . The Constitution of 1787 gave executive powers to the President, the Senate sharing in the executive powers of appointment and treaty making. There was talk in the convention of a plural executive, but a single head was finally resolved on. Executive departments had already come into existence. The Continental Congre at first managed all executive busine through committees. Later, commi ions were formed, partly of its own members, partly of others. Early in 1781 Congre organized departments under single heads—the Secretary for Foreign Affairs the Superintendent of Finance, the Secretary of War and the Secretary of Marine.