The Constitution!

What’s the US Constitution? I) Constitutional Convention – May 1787 A) Meeting in Philadelphia to fix Articles of Confederation B) Delegates: Ppl sent from states to go to the meeting C) G. Washington elected President of convention (meeting)

What’s the US Constitution?

What’s the US Constitution? II) James Madison (Delegate) A) Father of the Constitution 1. Wants to get rid of Articles of Confederation 2. Studied a lot about gov’t 3. Many of his ideas went into writing the new constitution

What’s the US Constitution? III) Benjamin Franklin (Oldest Delegate -81) A) Popular and well respected B) Printer, writer, scientist, inventor C) Helped write Declaration of Independence, and peace treaty to end the Revolution (Treaty of Paris) IV) Alexander Hamilton – NY Lawyer – wants STRONG central government

John Green – Constitution (6 min) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO7FQsCcbD8

What’s the US Constitution?

What’s in the US Constitution? Compromises were Made Compromise: Ppl give up some ideas to get other ideas / negotiate The Virginia Plan - (Madison and Randolph – Va.) 1. National gov’t would have 3 parts (branches)

What’s in the US Constitution? Virginia Plan 2. Executive Branch = Enforces Laws President/VP/ Cabinet (Secretaries) 3. Judicial Branch = Interprets Laws Court System (makes sure laws are fair) 4. Legislative Branch = Makes Laws Congress * Arguments about this!!! How many representatives would each state have in Congress? (BiCameral – Split the power into two groups)

What’s the US Constitution? Three Branches of Government

What do we do with the Legislative Branch What do we do with the Legislative Branch? Virginia Plan (Strong Fed Gov’t) * Two “Houses” (By Population) Big states wanted representation (votes) in each house to be based on population of state -VA is a big state so they would get more ** Small states said “UNFAIR”

One “House” of Congress What do we do with the Legislative Branch? New Jersey Plan (Weaker Fed Gov’t) One “House” of Congress - EQUAL Representation - Small states think all states should have the same amount of representatives

What’s in the US Constitution? The Great Compromise (Connecticut Plan) 1. Roger Sherman’s idea 2. Congress (Legislative) would be split in two House of Representatives (By Population) * Amount of representatives (votes) depended on population of state (ex: NY has more than Delaware) *Chosen by the people

Representatives (House)

New York has 27 representatives in the House of Representatives

What’s in the US Constitution? c) Senate (Chosen By Each State) * Representation is the same for all states regardless of size Each state had two senators

New York has 2 Senators in the Senate (so do the other states)

What’s the US Constitution? d) Three-fifths Rule (3/5 Rule) * Southern states wanted slaves to count in population so they would get more representatives * North said “NO” * Compromise: Three-fifths (3/5) of slaves in a state are part of population

What’s the US Constitution? D) Slave Trade Compromise 1. North said, “No more slave trade” 2. South wanted slave trade 3. Compromise: Slave trade would continue for 20 more years, then decide

Tree Map Virginia Plan, NJ Plan, Great Compromise

More about the Constitution

What’s the US Constitution? V) The New Constitution – what’s in it? A) “We the People of the US” 1) Plan for government B) Republic: Ppl elect representatives to run gov’t for them 1. Tells rules for being a representative 2. How long you can be a representative

What’s the US Constitution? C) Federal System (Federalism) 1. Power is split between national (federal) gov’t and state gov’t a) each decide different things * state decides driving age * national gov’t declares war

More about the Constitution

What’s the US Constitution? VI) Three (3) Branches of Gov’t A) Separation of Powers 1. Each branch has its own powers 2. No branch can be more powerful than another

How do you organize the gov’t?

What’s the US Constitution? Three Branches of Government

What’s the US Constitution? Executive Branch Enforces Laws (makes sure laws are carried out) President/VP are elected Serve for four years

Executive Branch Power to command armed forces Can choose Supreme Court Judges Chooses Cabinet members (advisors) Pres can veto a bill before it becomes a law

How do you organize the gov’t? Executive Branch Branch: Executive What it does Leader Leader’s Name President Enforces laws George Washington- “Inauguration” ceremony in NYC Vice President Advises the President John Adams

How do you organize the gov’t? Executive Branch Department Name What it does Leader Leader’s Name Cabinet (Unofficial department) Advises the President Department of State, Treasury, War, Attorney General, Postmaster President picked top leaders

How do you organize the gov’t? Executive Branch Department Name What it does Leader Leader’s Name State Department Foreign Affairs –dealings with other countries Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson Department of Treasury Finances – collected & spent taxes Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton

How do you organize the gov’t? Executive Branch Department Name What it does Leader Leader’s Name Department of War (Defense) Run the nation’s armed forces Secretary of War Henry Knox

What’s the US Constitution? Legislative Branch Makes the Laws Congress Made up of Senate(100) and House of Representatives (435) Congress people are elected Senate serves for 6 years House serves for 2 years

Congress declares war Congress can override (set aside) a presidential veto by 2/3 vote Senate approves Presidents choice for Supreme Court judge Congress can impeach (trial)

Legislative Branch Census : Americans must be counted every 10 years to decide how many ppl will go to House of Reps Sets taxes and how they are spent

How do you organize the gov’t? Legislative Branch - Congress Branch: Legislative Leader Job House of Representatives Speaker of the House Watch over making laws Senate Vice President

Judicial Branch Supreme Court 9 judges picked by President Can settle arguments between states Decides if laws are unconstitutional Serve for LIFE!

What’s the US Constitution? Judicial Branch Decides court cases about ppl’s rights and the Constitution NOT Criminal cases

How do you organize the gov’t? Judicial Branch Type of Court Name of Court Description What it does Highest Court Supreme Court 9 Judges deal with constitutioncases and rights No appeals allowed Lower Federal Courts Federal District Courts Deal w/federal laws and treaties Allows Appeals – ppl can ask to try case again

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCB8EOY5d48

What’s the US Constitution?

What’s the US Constitution? Checks and Balances – All Branches Have Equal Power A) No branch has too much power 1. Each branch can “check” the others 2. Example: Making a Bill (idea for a law) a) Congress makes and votes for bill b) President can sign it or VETO it

What’s the US Constitution? * VETO = refuse to sign it c) Congress can override (still pass) the veto if enough ppl vote for it d) Supreme Court can judge a law to be unconstitutional (unfair) and it will not be a law

Preamble: opening statement First three words of Constitution – We the People = popular sovereignty – the ppl hold the final authority

“We The People” Form a more perfect union- a single, UNIFIED national gov’t Establish Justice – law applies fairly to everyone Ensure Domestic Tranquility – ensure peace at home

Provide for the Common Defense – be able to support an army/navy Promote the General Welfare-can collect taxes and use them to benefit people Secure the Blessings of Liberty-have the right to have freedom

What’s the US Constitution? Constitution Approved!!! A) Federalists: Ppl who wanted a federal (national) gov’t, approved Constitution B) Anti-Federalists: Ppl who did not want a federal gov’t (wanted states to have control), NO Constitution

C) States wanted a Bill of Rights added D) Bill of Rights was promised – Constitution is Ratified (Approved!) E) NYC Chosen as First US Capital!