Direct Democracy – The people make the laws Representative Democracy – The people choose leaders to make their laws

Each person is worth something, but at times each person might be asked to sacrifice. All people are created equal, hopefully in both opportunity and in law The majority may rule, but the minority always is going to have rights. Compromise is absolutely necessary to make a democracy work. Individual freedoms do exist, but there is no such thing as absolute freedom.

The first government after winning independence from Britain was the Articles of Confederation…created a very weak national government, but strong state governments Popular Sovereignty Power in the hands of the people Limited Government Careful about giving government power Civil Rights & Liberties People had certain rights Separation of Powers & Checks and Balances No branch of gov’t could get too much say-so

Each state only had one vote in changing things – regardless of the size of the state The national Congress has very little power to collect taxes or control foreign affairs. There was no executive branch to carry out the laws that were passed. There was no national court system to interpret the laws that were passed. It was too hard to pass laws – had to have 9 of the 13 states agree to pass laws. It was only really an agreement between the states State governments had too much power! National government did not have enough power!

The Virginia Plan --Benefited the larger states --A bicameral legislature that would be based on population --Three branches to the government: an executive, legislative, & judicial branch --Would create a new national government with more power to make and enforce laws The New Jersey Plan --Benefited smaller states --A unicameral legislature based on equal representation --Three branches to the government: an executive, legislative, & judicial branch --Would keep much of the old system, just give Congress much more power than before The Connecticut Compromise --A bicameral legislature…one part (the Senate) would be based on equality; one part (the House of Representatives) would be based on a state’s population ---Three branches: an executive w/ one President, a legislative with a stronger Congress, & a judicial branch --In the end it was a compromise between the two plans to satisfy both the large states and the small states LARGE STATES SMALL STATES

--Wanted slaves to be counted as part of a state’s population --Would give southern states (slave states) more influence --Did not want to have to pay taxes on slaves --Did not want slaves to be counted as part of a state’s population --Would give northern states (free states) more influence --Did want southerners to have to pay taxes on slaves SOUTHERN STATES NORTHERN STATES Three-Fifths Compromise All slaves would be counted as 3/5 towards population…and for taxation purposes too