Who was the author of the basic plan of government?

The basic plan of government for the United States, known as the Constitution, was primarily authored by James Madison, who is often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution." Madison played a crucial role in drafting and promoting the document during the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Other key figures, such as Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, also contributed to its development through the Federalist Papers, which defended and explained the principles of the Constitution.