Lectures in History Comparing Federal & State Constitutions
Sep 27, 2026
Edward Blum, a San Diego State history professor specializing in constitutional development, race, religion, and political power, explores how early state constitutions shaped the federal model. Topics include property and religious qualifications, age requirements for office, British influences, the Constitutional Convention’s debates, limits of founding-era evidence, and modern questions about age ceilings, term limits, and political eligibility.
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States Preferred Property Tests To Age Floors
- Only three early state constitutions imposed age requirements, but nearly all imposed property requirements for officeholders.
- Pennsylvania and Vermont were the notable exceptions to state property qualifications.
Mason And Wilson Debate Youth In Government
- George Mason called it absurd that someone could manage national affairs one day after lacking legal independence.
- James Wilson argued age limits could suppress youthful genius and ambition.
Madison’s Notes Shape Our Constitutional Memory
- Historians rely heavily on James Madison’s notes because the convention produced no verbatim transcript.
- Madison sometimes altered accounts, including his role in the three-fifths compromise.
