1. The Constitutional Convention Jamie Monogan University of Georgia August 24, 2015

2. Objectives By the end of this meeting, participants should be able to: Explain the causes and reasoning behind the institutions the framers crafted. Describe the major provisions of the U.S. Constitution.

3. What Do Constitutions Accomplish? Establish “rule of law” in a society Provide basics of policy making –How law is made and by whom Outline responsibilities of government institutions Determine who is eligible to serve in government positions

4. Articles of Confederation (AOC) First U.S. governing document, ratified in 1781 Each state had one vote Had powers, but no means of enforcement Required unanimous consent to amend

5. Origins of American System Articles of Confederation set up a weak national government Could not compel states to pay their share of debt/taxes Articles lacked effective means of coordination and preventing free- riding –Failure led to Convention of 1787

6. Constitutional Convention Met in Philadelphia in 1787 to consider amendments to AOC Quickly decided to scrap the AOC and write new document Founders wrestled with how to combine strong national government with protections of individual liberty

7. Virginia Plan First proposal at convention by James Madison Set up strong legislature apportioned by population Bicameral legislature with upper chamber elected by lower chamber Advantaged large states at expense of small states

8. New Jersey Plan Small states proposed this plan Plural executive Legislature based on equal representation by states The idea: Revise the Articles of Confederation instead of start fresh

9. Slavery Major issue at convention Northern states that favored abolition feared Southern states would refuse to sign if slavery were banned or restricted Compromises allowed convention to succeed, but set country on path to the Civil War

10. Three Major Cleavages

11. Connecticut Compromise Bicameral legislature House representation based on population –Slaves count as 3/5 Equal state representation in Senate –Senators elected by state legislatures Unitary executive

12. Assignments Chapter 2 concept map exercise due at 11:59pm on Wednesday. –Login to ELC to complete. Also for Wednesday: Read Kollman, pp. 50-65 For Friday: Read Bullock & Gaddie, Chapter 4