1. The Constitution

2. I. The Authors of the Constitution
55 Delegates met in Philadelphia on May 25 through the summer ending on September 17, 1787
Represented 12 States (Rhode Island did not participate)
Delegates fairly young, educated, rich, white men
D) Average age was 42
Ben Franklin (81)
George Washington (55)
Alexander Hamilton (32)
James Madison (36)

3. **Colonial Patriots who did not attend
Thomas Jefferson (In Europe at the time)
John Adams (Also in Europe)
Samuel Adams (Opposed a strong national gov’t)
Patrick Henry (Also opposed a strong national govt, quote “smelled a rat”)
John Hancock (Also Opposed)
E) Convention was kept very secretive. Very few written records of the convention itself are left behind?
Q. Why do you think they kept the convention a secret?

4. Compromise, Compromise, Compromise
The convention was characterized by its debates and disagreements
It was HOT!
Literally & Metaphorically

6. The Virginia Plan (or “Big States” Plan) * Federal System
3 branches of government
Legislative branch would choose officials in the other branches
Bicameral Legislature (2 houses)
Representation based on population and money contributions

8. The New Jersey Plan (or “Small States” Plan)
One house legislature
One vote per state
A Plural Executive (= 2 or more Presidents)
selected by the legislature
Supreme Court appointed by the executives

10. The Great Compromise Two house legislature
The “upper” house would represent the states
The “lower” house would represent the people
Elected by the people

11. Other Compromises The 3/5 compromise
3/5 of the slave pop. would be counted towards representation
Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise
Congress could regulate trade
Could not interfere with slave trade for 20 yrs.
Electoral College
State legislatures choose electors
Today – we vote directly, and state elector votes are cast on behalf of the state

12. Federalists and Anti-Federalists
9 of the 13 states needed to ratify the constitution
Federalists
Agreed with the Constitution
Wrote a newspaper in NY entitled the “Federalist” in order to get the Constitution passed
Anti-Federalists
Openly disagreed with the Constitution
Favored less national power and more state controlled power
Wanted a bill of rights

13. The Promise…
The Federalists agrees with the Anti-Federalists that a bill of rights was a good idea. They promised that once the constitution was adopted the new government would add a bill of rights
September 17th, 1788 the constitution becomes law!!!

14. Principle of Checks and Balances
A) Separation of Powers
3 Branches of Government
Legislative (Congress)
Executive (President & Executive Offices)
Judicial (Supreme Court & Federal Court System)

16. CHECKS & BALANCES B) Keeping the power in “check” Examples
The Constitution allows each branch to “check”, or limit, each other
Examples
1) President can “Veto” a bill
2) Congress can “Override” the President’s veto
3) Supreme Court can decide the Constitutionality of a law through “Judicial Review”

18. …We the people… Popular Sovereignty
(Sovereignty = the power or the right to rule)
Popular Sovereignty – the people have the right to rule
Ex) Representative Democracy (individuals who
represent the peoples’ interests in government)
Ex) Voting
…We the people…

19. Limited Government Prevents “Tyranny of the majority”
Limits the governments power
(even if the majority of the population thinks the government should do certain things)
Protects the “minority”
Example: Cannot arrest people without charges, cannot punish people without a trial.

20. The national government and the states share power
Federalism
The national government and the states share power

21. Federalism
Enumerated Powers – Powers specifically given to the national gov’t (Army)
Reserved Powers – Powers given to the states (Schools)
Concurrent Powers – Powers that both state and national gov’t share (Taxes, Courts, Prisons)