Article I of the Constitution created the Legislative Branch (Congress) make laws levy taxescoin money regulate tradedeclare war admit new states to the Union Congress has “expressed powers” to make laws, levy taxes, coin money, regulate trade, declare war, admit new states to the Union The “Elastic Clause” allows Congress to create laws that are “necessary and proper”

Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate The House of Representatives is based on state population size Representatives serve two year terms and must be 25 years old All revenue bills must originate in the House of Representatives

Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate Each state has two Senators Senators serve six year terms and must be at least 30 years old The Senate has the power to approve treaties and presidential appointments

Article II of the Constitution created the Executive Branch which is made up of the President, Vice-President, and bureaucracy enforce the law, conduct foreign policy, serve as commander-in-chief of the military, appoint judges and ambassadors, provide leadership for the nation The role of the President is to enforce the law, conduct foreign policy, serve as commander-in-chief of the military, appoint judges and ambassadors, provide leadership for the nation

The President is aided by numerous federal agencies and 15 executive departments each with a secretary who serves on the President’s cabinet

The President is elected to a four year term and must be a native-born American at least 35 years old The President is not elected directly by the people, but by an Electoral College

Article III of the Constitution created the Judicial Branch which is made up of Supreme Court and other federal courts The role of the judicial branch is to interpret the law and promote justice There are no specific qualifications to be a federal judge; Judges serve for life The Supreme Court has the power to declare laws unconstitutional (called judicial review)

The Supremacy Clause of Article VI states that the Constitution is the “the supreme law of the land”

From May to September 1787, the delegates at the Constitutional Convention worked out a framework for a new federal system of government But, this plan for government had to be ratified by 9 states if it was to replace the Articles of Confederation

Many Americans were concerned about the possibility of tyranny because the Constitution gave more power to the national government over the states

Those who opposed the Constitution, feared a stronger national gov’t, and wanted states to remain power were called Anti-Federalists The Anti-Federalists were led by Patrick Henry and Samuel Adams

“Show me that age and country where the rights and liberties of the people were placed on the sole chance of their rulers being good men, without a consequent loss of liberty?” Patrick Henry, speech in opposition to the Constitution, 1788

Those who supported the new Constitution and a stronger national gov’t were called the Federalists Federalist leaders James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay wrote a series of essays called the Federalist Papers to counter the arguments of the Anti-Federalists

“Nothing is more certain than the indispensable necessity of government… People must cede some of their natural rights in order to vest it with requisite powers.” (Federalist #2) “[If the] federal gov’t is entrusted with the care of the common defense…that gov’t ought to be clothed with all the powers requisite to complete execution of its trust.” (Federalist #23) “…the smaller the number of individuals composing a majority, the more easily will they execute their plans of oppression. Extend the sphere, and you take in a greater variety of parties and interests; you make it less probable that a majority of the whole will invade the rights of other citizens.” (Federalist #10)

Some states ratified the Constitution quickly, but states with large majorities of Anti-Federalists refused without a Bill of Rights to protect their liberty New Hampshire was the 9 th state to ratify the Constitution which went into effect in 1789, but the Federalists wanted all 13 states to ratify the new gov’t In 1789, the Bill of Rights was introduced and the last two states ratified the Constitution by 1790

The Bill of Rights was approved in 1791

Today, the Constitution is the oldest existing written gov’t in the world and is a model for other nations

Closure Activity: Create a symbol or cartoon that describes the main idea of each amendment

Crash Course #8