Convention - Ratification The Constitution Convention - Ratification

Bellringer: 2/14 What do you already know about the Constitution?

Articles of Confederation The Articles of Confederation were the first plan of government. Government set up under the Articles proved to have many weaknesses. Inability of federal government to tax No executive or judicial branch No control over trade between states or foreign nations Weaknesses revealed during Shay’s Rebellion.

The Constitutional Convention In 1787, 12 of the states sent delegates to a meeting in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation Delegates adopted a new plan of government instead. Constitutional Convention (1): Meeting of state delegates in 1787 leading to adoption of a new constitution http://www.annenbergclassroom.org/page/key-constitutional-concepts

Constitutional Convention Despite agreement on the need for a new government, deciding the new organization of the government was a matter of debate. Issues that were debated include: Election of President Representation Slavery Import/Export Tax

Compromises: Election of President Federal Power Supporters Vote by Congress Longer presidential term State Rights Supporters Direct election by qualified voters Shorter presidential term Compromise: Indirect election by the Electoral College Four-year presidential term

Compromises: Representation Virginia Plan 3 branch government Two house legislature Representation based on population New Jersey Plan One house legislature Representation based on equality (1 voter each) Great Compromise/Connecticut Plan (2): Comprise that created a bicameral legislature with representation both equal and based upon population Bicameral legislature House of Representatives – based on population Senate – each state has 2 senators

Compromises: Slave Representation Northern States: Slaves not counted as part of the population Southern States: Slaves count as part of the population 3/5 Compromise (3):Compromise regarding how slaves were counted in the population with regard to representation; Every five slaves would count as three individuals in terms of population

Compromise: Trade Northern states: Southern states: Federal regulation of all trade Federal government can tax imported and exported goods Southern states: State regulation of trade Federal government can not tax exported goods Feared federal ban on slave trade Commerce Compromise: Federal regulation of interstate and international trade Interstate commerce (4): trade between states; under federal regulation State regulation of intrastate trade No export tax No ban on slave trade for 20 years

Bellringer: 2/15 What was one of the compromises reached at the Constitutional Convention?

The Constitution A constitution is a set of laws that people accept as fundamental and basic to the structure and operation of their government. Our Constitution came into effect in 1789. It is still in effect today. James Madison (5): Father of the Constitution and co-author of the Federalist papers.

Constitution Americans reacted differently to the the Constitution. Federalists (6): Group that favored ratification of the Constitution and a loose interpretation of the Constitution Wrote the Federalist Papers, a Series of 85 articles and essays written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay published under the pseudonym Publius. Anti-Federalists (7): Group that opposed the Constitution and supported a strict interpretation of the Constitution.

Two Groups Federalists Anti-Federalists Felt the Articles were ineffective For Ratification of the Constitution Bill of Rights not necessary Strong national government and reduced state’s power. Loose interpretation of the Constitution Amend the Articles of Confederation. Opposed the new Constitution Bill of Rights needed Weak central government and strong state power Strict interpretation of the Constitution

Strict vs. Loose Interpretation of the Constitution Loose: Strict: Favors stronger federal government What the Constitution did not forbid, it allowed Strict: Favors State rights Literal interpretation of the Constitution - what the Constitution did not allow it forbade

Modern controversies Same sex marriage Health Care Security v. Civil Liberties Right to bear Arms v. Gun Control

Bellringer: 2/21 What was the purpose of the Federalist Papers?

Constitution The first state ratified the Constitution on December 7, 1787. Ratification (8): to make an act official; accepting the Constitution as our plan of government. Some states wanted the Constitution amended to include a Bill of Rights. The Constitution went into effect on March 4, 1789. Article VII required nine states to ratify

Fundamental Principles Within the Constitution there are five fundamental principles. “Please Let Friday Come Soon” These are: Popular Sovereignty Limited Government Federalism Checks and balances Separation of Powers

Popular Sovereignty Popular sovereignty (9): authority of the government is created and sustained by the consent of its people Government of the United States gets its power from the American people.

Limited Government Limited government – the government has limited power by a constitution or agreement. The Constitution sets those limits on government to protect the people’s rights.

Federalism Federalism (10): The sharing of power between the national and state government The founders needed a strong federal government, but wanted to keep independent state governments to preserve self-government.

Federalism Delegated powers (11): powers of the federal government that are specifically described and assigned in the US Constitution Reserved powers (12): powers not specifically delegated to the federal government and that belong to the states Concurrent powers (13): powers shared by both the federal government and each constituent political unit

Federalism

Federalism

Federalism What happens when a state law disagrees with the Constitution or with a federal law? The state law is invalid. Supremacy Clause (14): clause that states the Constitution and the laws of the federal government are the supreme law of the land.

Separation of Powers Separation of powers- a division of power among three branches of government Legislative: makes laws Executive: enforces laws Judicial: interprets laws Goal is to prevent one group of people from having all of the power.

Checks and Balances Checks and balances - limits imposed on all branches of a government by vesting in each branch the right to amend or void those acts of another This ensures that no branch of the federal government becomes too strong. Judicial Review (15): Authority of the Supreme Court to determine whether acts or laws are constitutional. Established by Marbury v. Madison

Political Cartoon Analysis? Artist’s viewpoint What is the subject How is it portrayed Symbols Captions Humor and Satire Caricature Satire Stereotype Historical Images

Writing Prompt Which principle of the Constitution do you think is most important for a government to protect in today’s society and explain why? In your response cite specific reasons to support your thesis.