Problems with the: Articles of Confederation 1781 Congress could not enact and collect taxes Congress could not regulate interstate or foreign trade Each State had only one vote in Congress, regardless of population Nine out of 13 states needed to agree to pass any law The Articles could be amended only if all states approved There was no executive branch to enforce laws of Congress There was no national court system to settle congressional law disputes There were 13 separate states that lacked national unity

 Preamble: The intro. Paragraph of the Constitution that explains the purpose of the document and its principals.  Federalism: A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units. Think about our federal government and the governments of the individual states.  Compromise: the Great Compromise which offered a two house congress to satisfy both big and small states. Think about the Senate and the House of Reps. The Three-Fifths Compromise was for the southern states to be able to count three-fifths of their slaves to be counted toward their population to decide on how many reps they get in the House of Reps. Now a little help from your favorite creepy little helpers!!!

 Separation of Power: the government protected the rights of the states but also granted some powers exclusively to the national government, however they did not let the national government have too much power. They created the three branch government system.  Checks and Balances: was set to prevent any one branch from dominating the other two. These checks are powers each branch holds to create a balanced system.  Living document: can change with the current times and needs of the citizens.  Popular sovereignty: residents of a territory should have the right to control and make laws for what fits their needs.

 These are laws or changes to better American society. These are federal laws that all states must abide by.  Some of the amendments like the Bill of Rights give personal rights to the people that protect them from the government.  Amendments are made with a 2/3rds vote in both houses of Congress.  Amendments are ratified by a 3/4ths vote of the state legislatures or conventions in 3/4ths of the states. Don’t really worry about the convention one.

First Ten Amendments  Free Speech  Right to Bear Arms  Quartering Troops  Search and Seizure  Rights of Accused Persons (Plead the Fifth)  Right to a Speedy, Public Trial  Trial by Jury in Civil Cases  Limits of Fines and Punishments  Rights of the People  Power of States and People