Chapter 3- Creating the Constitution

Government by the States As the nation moved toward independence, 11 of 13 states wrote new constitutions.

A constitution is a document stating the rules under which a government will operate

Writing State Constitutions Colonists had been unhappy with royal governors appointed by the king

New Constitutions limited the power of the governors; most of the power went to state legislatures elected by the people.

The governor served as the state’s executive. The executive is the person who runs the government and sees that laws are carried out.

New Constitutions allowed more people to vote than in colonial times, but most states did not give this right to women and African Americans.

In order to vote, one had to be a white male, 21, and in most states they had to own property.

Protecting Rights Influenced by the Declaration of Independence, states sought to protect individual rights

 Virginia’s constitution was the first to have a bill of rights, which listed people’s right to freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and the right to trial by jury

 Many other states followed Virginia’s lead