From May 25 to September 17, 1787, delegates from twelve of the thirteen independent United States of America met in the State House in Philadelphia deliberating in secret about "the situation of the United States" and considering what measures might be necessary to "render the Constitution of the federal government adequate to the exigencies of the Union." The result of their deliberations was the Constitution of the United States that remains the supreme law of the land to this day. James Madison's "Notes" are by far the best record we have of these deliberations. They are one of the most authoritative records we have of the intentions of the framers of the Constitution when they were drafting that document. In this course we will study these "Notes" as thoroughly as we can, aiming at a fuller understanding of the Constitution and the founding statesmanship that produced it.