1. The United States Constitution

2. *The Convention: May 25 – September 17, 1787
Independence Hall, Philadelphia, PA
President of the Convention: George Washington
12 of the 13 states attend (Rhode Island refuses)
NH arrives in June
All debate to be top secret

3. Important delegates: John Langdon Nicholas Gilman Alexander Hamilton
Benjamin Franklin
Not present:
Thomas Jefferson
Samuel Adams
John Hancock
John Adams
George Washington
James Madison
Roger Sherman

4. Important delegates:
Elbridge Gerry

5. Important delegates:
Roger Sherman

6. Important delegates:
Alexander Hamilton

7. Important delegates:
William Patterson

8. Important delegates:
Benjamin Franklin
James Wilson

9. Important delegates:
George Washington
Edmund Randolph

10. Important delegates:
George Mason
James Madison

11. The Virginia Plan
-Favored states with large populations by giving them more votes in Congress
Proposed by Edmund Randolph, created by James Madison
Three Branches of Government
Legislative branch: Two “houses” (groups of legislators)
Upper House: The “Senate”
Lower House: “House of Representatives”
# of legislators per state determined by population
Big states (VA, MA, PA, NC) like the plan
Small states (NJ, NH, CT, DE, GA) concerned that big states will always outvote them

12. The New Jersey Plan Proposed by William Patterson
-Favored states with small populations by giving them equal votes in Congress
Proposed by William Patterson
Three Branches of Government
Legislative branch: One “house”
States have equal votes (1 per state)
Small states like the plan
Big states angry that they don’t have more of a vote

13. The Connecticut Compromise
Proposed by Roger Sherman
Three Branches of Government
– Legislative, Executive, Judicial
Legislative branch: Two “houses”
House of Representatives: number of votes per state determined by population
Senate: Each state gets 2 votes
Small states have their say in the Senate
Big states have their say in the House of Representatives
The Compromise is approved!

14. 1. Legislative Branch: The Congress
Job: To make laws

15. A. The House of Representatives
Each state gets a number of votes determined by its population (each state gets at least 1)
Each member represents a district of his/her state
Directly elected by the people
Serves a 2 year term
Limit of 435 Representatives
Leader: Speaker of the House
Must be 25 years old and a citizen for 7 years
Makes $174,000 a year
State with the least: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming (1 member each)
Today: State with the most: California (53 members)

18. New Hampshire’s Representatives
Annie Kuster (Democrat)
Carol Shea-Porter (Democrat)

19. B. The Senate Each state gets two votes
Each member represents the entire state
Directly elected by the people (formerly, by the state legislatures)
Serves a 6 year term
(1/3 of Senate elected every 2 years)
No limit, but currently 100 members
Leader: Vice President (“President of the Senate”)
Must be 30 years old and a citizen for 9 years
Makes $174,000 a year

21. New Hampshire’s Senators
Maggie Hassan (Democrat)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat)

22. 2. Executive Branch: The President
Job: To carry out laws

23. A. President of the United States
Serves a four year term, may be re-elected once (8 years, total)
Elected by the Electoral College, who are chosen by the people
Is the Commander-in-Chief of the military
Must be 35 years old, a natural-born citizen of US, and lived here at least 14 years
Earns $400,000 a year, plus $169,000 for expenses

24. Your President and Vice President
Donald Trump
Mike Pence

25. * The Electoral College Elect the President of the US
Each state gets a number of electors equal to the number of Senators and Representatives it has (NOT the same people!)
Each party chooses a slate of electors. Whichever candidate wins that state, their party’s electors get to vote
Candidate must win 50% of electors plus 1, to win
Currently 538 electors*, so you need 270 to win *
(Reps) 435
(Senators) 100
(DC gets 3)
(Electors)

27. 3. Judicial Branch: The Supreme Court
Job: To rule on laws

28. The Supreme Court
Made up of eight judges, called Justices, and one Chief Justice
Justices are nominated by the President, and confirmed by the Senate
Can rule that laws are unconstitutional
Justices serve for life
Earn $213,000 per year
The most powerful court in the nation
Other Federal Courts
District courts, Court of Appeals, Bankruptcy Court, Circuit Courts, Tax Court, etc
Only hear cases involving Federal laws

29. US Supreme Court
Back: Sonia Sotomayor, Stephen Breyer, Samuel Alito, Elena Kagan.
Front: Clarence Thomas, Antonin Scalia* , John Roberts, Anthony Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg
* Deceased

30. AKA: The Separation of Powers
CHECKS AND BALANCES
AKA: The Separation of Powers
Goal: To keep any one branch from becoming too powerful

31. Can rule actions unconstitutional
Checks and Balances
Can rule actions unconstitutional
Can rule laws unconstitutional

32. Can override a veto
Can impeach and remove
Can reject court nominees
Can pass amendments to Constitution

33. Nominate judges
Can veto laws

34. How a bill becomes a law 1. Bill proposed in Congress
2. Must pass both houses of Congress
YES?
NO?
3. Goes to the President to be signed
Game Over!
Go back to start
4. It’s been vetoed! It goes back to Congress, and might be overridden (by 2/3 of Congress) If not, it’s over
NO?
5. Supreme Court might rule the law is unconstitutional! Now, it’s only a law if the Constitution is amended
YES?
4. It’s a law!

35. Other Constitutional “stuff”
A Census will be held every 10 years (years that end with a 0) to determine representation in the House.
3/5 Compromise: Only 3/5 of the population of slaves and Indians will count towards Representation
Slave trade will end 20 years after ratification (1808)
Treason: Giving Aid/comfort to an enemy of the US, or fighting against it during a war
Constitution can be amended if the change is approved by 2/3 of Congress, and 3/4 of the states.
Constitution will go into effect once 9 of the states ratify (approve) it

37. Ratification Federalists: People who supported the Constitution
(Washington, Madison, Hamilton, and most of the signers)
Antifederalists: People who are against the Constitution (including 3 people who helped write it!)

38. Delaware
2. Pennsylvania
3. New Jersey
4. Georgia
5. Connecticut

39. 6. Massachusetts 7. Maryland 8. South Carolina 9. New Hampshire
But only if there is a Bill of Rights included!
7. Maryland
8. South Carolina
9. New Hampshire
The Constitution can now go into effect!
10. Virginia

40. 11. New York
12. North Carolina
13. Rhode Island