The US Constitution had provided for the establishment of a permanent "seat of government," a national capital, without designating a location. New York City served as a temporary site to conduct federal affairs until a permanent "residence" could be agreed upon. Intense Congressional debates arose over the "residency question" and resulted in proposals identifying 16 possible sites in competing states, none of which could muster majority support. A number of government officials and state delegations gathered in clandestine meetings and political dinners to resolve the stalled "assumption" bill by linking the "residency" debate to passage of Hamilton's financial program.