The Insatiable Crown: Designing the Presidency and the Separation of Powers

James Wilson's strong advocacy for a single executive shocked many of the delegates at the Convention, raising alarms about a return to monarchy. To the contrary, Wilson abhorred monarchy, being the antithesis of popular sovereignty.

At the inner margin of Analysis, Wilson drew the then popular caricature of the Insatiable Crown. With its mouth agape, this figure is leering at the opening paragraph about the King’s many sources of revenue.

To assure the president’s insulation from avarice and Congress’s influence, Wilson advocated for the president’s fixed salary and the prohibition of foreign and domestic emoluments.