 The delegates couldn 't agree on whether the executive should be a single person , or a board of three . Many wished to limit the power of the executive and thus supported the proposal to divide the executive power between three persons . The possible problems of this system , in addition to the knowledge that George Washington would probably be the first president , calmed the fears enough so that the proponents of a singular executive could accumulate a large coalition . This issue came up occasionally after the matter was settled , but was never again seriously doubted . 
