Chapter 2

Constitution A nation’s basic law

English Heritage: Natural Rights: The rights inherent in human beings, not dependant on the gov’t Consent of the governed People must agree on who their rulers will be Limited Government Must be clear restrictions on what rulers may do

Oops! Articles of Confederation Shays’ Rebellion Aborted Annapolis Meeting

Let’s Try This Again! Philadelphia Revision or Restart? Restart…but how do we do it?

Fairness New Jersey Plan Each state represented equally in a congress Virginia Plan State representation in Congress based on population

Compromise! Connecticut Compromise Create two houses of Congress One based on population The other equal representation of all states

Forgot about that… What about slavery?? Limit the future importation of slaves AND! Slaves would be counted as 3/5 of a person for representative purposes

Individual Rights?? Constitution says little about personal freedoms Prohibits: Suspension of writ of habeas corpus Bills of attainder Ex post facto laws Religious qualifications for holding office Rules of evidence for treason Right to a jury trial

Madisonian Model Thwarting tyranny of the majority Separation of powers Creating checks and balances Establishing a federal system

What are we…exactly Republic System based on the consent of the governed in which representatives of the pubic exercise power We choose the people who make the decisons

Ratification of the Constitution Federalists Supported ratification Anti-Federalists Opposed ratification

Interpretation Article III Marbury v. Madison Supreme Court claimed the right of judicial review