1. Drafting the Constitution
Chapter 5 Section 2
Drafting the Constitution

2. Agreement and Disagreement
-need national government (regulate commerce and power to tax)
-guard against the abuse of power (separation of powers)
-limit government powers (state and national)
Disagree
-number of representatives for each state
-power of national government

3. Constitution Begins Constitutional Convention (May 25th 1787)
-PA State House (Independence Hall) in Philadelphia
-presiding officer-George Washington

4. Hamilton and Madison Alexander Hamilton -praised British constitution
-advocated a strong national government- with elements of aristocracy, monarchy, and republicanism
James Madison
-favored republicanism over British model
-a large republic with diverse interests would best preserve the common good

5. Madison’s Plan (Virginia Plan) page 145
-James Madison (Virginia)
-strong national government
-with separation of powers
-Legislature- House of Representatives
-people elect directly
-seats based on population
- Senate
-House would choose
*What powers did Madison’s Plan give the President?

6. The New Jersey Plan Virginia -state’s population
-Problem: larger states would out-vote them
New Jersey
-William Paterson (N.J.)
-one-house legislature
-each state have equal number of voters
-executive committee rather than President
*remain a loose confederation
*What was the problem with this plan?

7. Reaching Compromise The Great Compromise -Roger Sherman (Connecticut)
-Bicameral Legislature
-House of Representatives: elected based on population
-Senate: each state would have two senators (regardless of population)
*How does this ensure fairness?

8. The Signing September 17th 1787 -39 delegates signed the Constitution
To go into effect, the Constitution had to be ratified, or approved, by at least nine state conventions

9. Goals of Our Government
Constitution
-begins with the Preamble, or introduction
-Framers list six goals of our government
“We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America”

10. Goals of Our Government
Six Goals
1. To Form a More Perfect Union
2. To Establish Justice
3. To Insure Domestic Tranquility
4. To Provide for the Common Defense
5. To Promote the General Welfare
6. To Secure the Blessings of Liberty to Ourselves and Our Posterity

11. Goals of Our Government
Six Goals
1. unite the 13 separate states under an effective national government
2. legal system that seeks fair ways to settle disputes between individuals, individuals and the government, states, and between national and state governments
3. establish a peaceful society where people are protected from the unlawful acts of others
4. protect citizens from attacks by other countries
5. create conditions that will benefit all Americans
6. protects the liberty of all citizens and for future Americans- our posterity- or descendants

12. The Articles Following the Preamble… -Articles (7 Parts)
-divided into subsections called clauses
-Amendments