1. The Constitution as a Source of Legitimacy
The United States
The Constitution as a Source of Legitimacy

2. Reading Quiz – 9/5
Log on to Socrative Student and complete the 9/4 Reading Quiz
If you do not have a device, take out a sheet of paper and follow along with me
9/5 Reading Quiz

3. The Declaration of Independence
Locke
Montesquieu
Rousseau

4. Declaration and Constitutional Theories
Locke
The Social Contract
The people give up certain rights to have the government protect their most basic rights – life, liberty, and property
Montesquieu
Believed that the separation of powers was needed to ensure liberty
Rousseau
The King had lost the consent of the people
Once consent is lost, so is legitimacy

5. The Preamble to the Declaration of Independence
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

6. The Articles of Confederation
The founders originally established a confederation
Under the Articles:
Each state is sovereign
States are in a “league of friendship”
Each state gets one vote in the legislature
Congressmembers are picked by state legislature
Only national government can declare war, but states hold their own militaries
Federal government cannot tax – state governments pay for expenditures
President appointed by Congress
Decentralized form of government

7. The Constitutional Convention and the Constitution
States were concerned about fair representation in Congress
The Virginia Plan
Favored Large States
Bicameral Legislature – proportional
Each state would be represented based on population
The Connecticut Compromise
Bicameral legislature
Proportional in the House – for large states
Equal in the Senate – for small states
The New Jersey Plan
Favored large states
Unicameral legislature – equality
Each state would be represented by an equal number of votes

8. How did they solve the problems of the Articles?
We are going to do a notecard activity to help you understand how the framers of the constitution addressed the issues with the articles of confederation.
Each pair will be given a card – half of you will have a “problem” with the Articles of Confederation, the other half will have a “solution” that was addressed by the Constitution
You need to find the solution to your problem or vice versa
When you have found your match, fill out that portion of your GO
As other matches share their problems and solutions, fill in the rest of your GO

9. Crash Course

10. Terms and People You Need to Know
New Jersey Plan
Virginia Plan
Connecticut Compromise
Bicameral Legislature
Proportional Representation
Equal Representation
Centralized Government
Decentralized Government
Rousseau
Montesquieu
Locke

11. Homework – 9/5 Finish US Notecards
Read Federalist #51 (back of your Wilson book)

12. The Three Branches of Government
Legislative, Executive, Judicial

14. More Terms You Need to Know
Separation of Powers
Checks and Balances
Legislative Branch
Executive Branch
Judicial Branch
House of Representatives
Senate
Veto
Nominations v. Confirmations (in the Supreme Court)

15. Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances

16. Checks and Balances Simulation
Check on the Supreme Court
Check on the President
Round 1
Check on Congress
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5

17. Class Discussion
How does the separation of powers and checks and balances help maintain the US government’s legitimacy?

18. Homework
After having read the constitution and its amendments, come up with one idea for amending the constitution
Your idea should update, change, or add to the fundamental liberties already written in the constitution and added through the 27 amendments.
Come in tomorrow with your idea written on a flashcard to be turned in

19. Amending the Constitution
To help maintain legitimacy

20. Amendment Quiz Log on to Socrative Student and take the Amendment Quiz
If you do not have a device, take out a sheet of paper and follow along with me
9/7 Amendment Quiz

21. Amendment Simulation Hold on to your amendment ideas.
You are all members of Congress today, half of you in the House, the rest in the Senate.
Each house must decide on 5 amendment ideas to vote on
You will then vote on those 5 amendments (2/3 vote to pass) and then pass the ones that pass to the other house of Congress
The other house must vote on the new amendments they’ve received. (2/3 vote to pass)
If any amendments passed Congress, they will then be sent to the “states”
At this stage, I will assign each of you a state
Take 5 minutes to look up what the people in your state would think about that amendment
Once you have figured out the voters’ interests, cast your vote to either ratify the amendment(s) or not.
I will then count the votes – if ¾ of you have voted to ratify, you have just amended the constitution!

22. Class Discussion
Does the amendment process make the US Constitution more or less legitimate?

23. Homework Read the article “Legitimacy and the Constitution”
Come up with 2-3 questions or arguments to discuss during the Socratic Seminar tomorrow
Questions or arguments should be related to the essential question and the evidence presented in the article
Print out Socratic Seminar Instructions and bring them to class

24. Is the US Constitution still a source of Legitimacy?
Socratic Seminar
Is the US Constitution still a source of Legitimacy?

25. Homework Read the following:
“Britain’s Unwritten Constitution” Article
“Political Engagement and Democratic Legitimacy in Mexico” Article