Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
Published byKerry Anna Douglas Modified over 8 years ago
1
Chapter 2 Ovidio Galvan, MLA
2
The Supreme Law of the United States of America Establishes framework for the United States Government Adopted on September 17 th, 1787 by the Delegates of the Philadelphia Convention Has been amended 27 times - 2/3rds in each Chamber and ¾ of State Legislatures First ten amendments know as ‘The Bill of Rights’ U.S. Constitution
3
Created on November 15, 1777 by the Continental Congress and ratified on March 1, 1781 First Constitution of the United States Replaced in 1787 by a new and the current United States Constitution Articles of Confederation
4
A national government with a Congress empowered to make peace, coin money, appoint officers for an army, control the post office, and negotiate with Indian tribes One vote in the Continental Congress for each state regardless of size The vote of nine states to pass any measure; amendments had to be unanimous Delegates selected to the Congress by their respective state legislatures Because of the fear of a tyrannical ruler, no executive was created and the national government was weak Articles of Confederation
5
Failed to empower the Federal Government No Tax base No Executive Agencies No Judiciary Problems with the Articles
6
No executive to administer the government (no real leader) No power to tax without states’ consent (difficult to do anything like establish a national army without money) No authority to regulate commerce (trade between states became chaotic because states were using their own money; continental dollars were worth nothing) Congress could pass laws but had little power to execute or enforce them Problems with the Articles
7
Described as “an assembly of demigods” Called to revise the Articles of Confederation after concern over Shays’s Rebellion Meetings held in secret Created a whole new government Major debate remained over how much power the federal government should have Constitutional Convention
8
Two Competing Plans The Virginia Plan Bicameral legislature Representation in both based on population One house elected by the people; one house elected by state legislatures Single executive chosen by Congress Favored by large states The New Jersey Plan Unicameral legislature Equal representation Representatives elected by state legislatures Multi-person executive Favored by small states
9
Bicameral legislature House of Representatives based on population and chosen by the people Senate based on equal representation and chosen by the state legislatures Single executive chosen by the Electoral College Federal court system The Great Compromise
10
Battle Over Ratification Federalists Supported ratification of the Constitution Wanted strong central government Concerned about security and order E.g., Madison, Hamilton, Jay Anti-Federalists Opposed ratification of the Constitution Wanted states to have power over the federal government Corruption best kept in check at the local level E.g., Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry
11
Written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay under the pen name Publius Called for ratification of the Constitution Published in New York papers to persuade legislators to ratify the Constitution Among the best known: Federalist Nos. 10, 51, and 78 The Federalist Papers
12
Madison warned against dangers of factions The causes of factions cannot be controlled (that infringes on liberty); must control the effects of factions Effects of factions could best be controlled by a republic Federalist No. 10
13
A republic could best control factions: Representation would dilute the effects of factions A large territory would make it difficult for one faction to become a majority In a large territory, it would be difficult for people who shared common interests to find each other Federalist No. 10, cont’d.
14
Required support of nine of the thirteen state legislatures Small states were quick to support the Constitution because of the inclusion of the Senate Eventually all thirteen states ratified it (Rhode Island the last in 1790) Ratification of the Constitution
15
All governments must have the power to Legislate, or make laws Administer, or execute laws Adjudicate, or interpret laws Because of our separation of powers, we have three branches of government 3 Branches of Government (P. 50 – 53)
16
Legislature: the body of government that makes laws Bicameral: legislature with two chambers Article I sets out the framework for Congress Representation over “pure democracy” Republic: a government in which decisions are made through representatives of the people Founders chose bicameral over unicameral legislature, because it provided representation, checks against abuse of power The Legislative Branch (P. 50)
17
Executive: the branch of government responsible for putting laws into effect Concerns of the founders Executive could provide stability Fear of tyranny Resolved with single executive: the president What does the Constitution say? Chosen by Electoral College Article II: length of term, executive powers Possible alternative: parliamentary system The Executive Branch (P. 52)
18
Article III: Establishes the Supreme Court Judicial power: the power to interpret laws and judge whether a law has been broken The “least dangerous” branch: power of neither the purse nor the sword Judicial review: power of the Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of laws Judicial Branch (P. 53)
19
Separation of powers: the institutional arrangement that assigns judicial, executive, and legislative powers to different persons or groups, thereby limiting the powers of each Checks and balances: the principle that allows each branch of government to exercise some form of control over the others Separation of Powers (P. 54)
20
Constitution is not a participatory document Federal system is remote to many people Federalism enhances participation, because Participation can occur at federal and state levels Increased political stability compared with Articles of Confederation Citizens & the Constitution
Similar presentations
© 2025 SlidePlayer.com. Inc.
All rights reserved.