1. Creating the Constitution

2. Vocabulary Bicameral-consisting of two house of government
Unicameral- consisting of one house of government
Popular sovereignty- the idea that political authority belongs to the people
Federalism- a system of government in which powers of government are shared between the national and state governments (federal system)

3. Background
After events like Shays’s Rebellion it did not take long for people to begin to understand that the nation needed a stronger national government.
By the mid 1780’s most leaders believed changes were needed
They decided to hold another convention to determine the best way to go about making these changes

4. Constitutional Convention
Purpose was to improve the Articles of Confederation
Many of the same political leaders were at the convention, held in Philadelphia
George Washington was the President of the Convention
Once again, many issues divided the delegates
Once again, the divide was much along the north-south border

5. Issues that divided the delegates…
Some wanted to make small changes to the Articles
Some wanted to change it completely
Small and large states were divided on issues
Small states wanted an equal voice with large states
Large states wanted a larger voice

6. 2 plans are proposed for the new government
Virginia Plan
New Jersey Plan
Proposed by Edmund Randolph
New federal constitution
Supreme power to the central (national) government
Bicameral legislature (2 houses)
Delegates chosen by state population
Big state plan
Proposed by William Paterson
Unicameral legislature (one house)
All states get equal voice
Small state plan

7. The GREAT COMPROMISE!
Once again, just like always the delegates are able to come to a compromise
Proposed by Roger Sherman from Connecticut
The national government should consist of 2 houses (bicameral)
One house has representation based on state population (pleasing the big states, like Virginia)
And one house, everyone has an equal voice (pleasing the small states, like New Jersey)

8. Create a Venn Diagram and fill it in with information from your notes
Virginia
Plan
The Great Compromise
New Jersey Plan

9. How was representation determined under the Articles of Confederation
How was representation determined under the Articles of Confederation?”—consider the original arrangement for representation in the unicameral (one-house) legislature under the Articles of Confederation.
Article V
 For the more convenient management of the general interests of the United States, delegates shall be annually appointed in such manner as the legislature of each state shall direct, to meet in Congress on the first Monday in November, in every year, with a power reserved to each state to recall its delegates, or any of them, at any time within the year, and to send others in their stead, for the remainder of the Year.
 No State shall be represented in Congress by less than two, nor by more than seven Members; and no person shall be capable of being delegate for more than three years, in any term of six years; nor shall any person, being a delegate, be capable of holding any office under the United States, for which he, or another for his benefit receives any salary, fees or emolument of any kind.
 Each State shall maintain its own delegates in a meeting of the states, and while they act as members of the committee of the states.
 In determining questions in the United States, in Congress assembled, each state shall have one vote.
 Freedom of speech and debate in Congress shall not be impeached or questioned in any Court, or place out of Congress, and the members of Congress shall be protected in their persons from arrests and imprisonments, during the time of their going to and from, and attendance on Congress, except for treason, felony, or breach of the peace.
 Public domain. Available from the Our Documents initiative:

10. What was the Virginia Plan?
Madison’s Notes
Tuesday May 29, 1787
Mr. RANDOLPH then opened the main business. He expressed his regret, that it should fall to him, rather than those, who were of longer standing in life and political experience, to open the great subject of their mission…
[Mr. RANDOLPH] then proposed as conformable to his ideas the following resolutions, which he explained one by one.
1….the Articles of Confederation ought to be so corrected and enlarged as to accomplish the objects proposed by their institution; namely, "common defense, security of liberty and general welfare."
2.…the rights of suffrage in the National Legislature ought to be proportioned to the Quotas of contribution, or to the number of free inhabitants, as the one or the other rule may seem best in different cases.
3.…the National Legislature ought to consist of two branches [houses].
4.…the members of the first branch of the National Legislature ought to be elected by the people of the several States….
5...the members of the second branch of the National Legislature ought to be elected by those of the first, out of a proper number of persons nominated by the individual Legislatures….
6.…each branch [house] ought to possess the right of originating
Historical Context
Edmund Randolph was a delegate from Virginia. Other Virginia delegates had more experience, but Randolph was selected to present the ideas of the Virginia delegation because he was such a good speaker.
The Constitutional Convention was called to alter the Articles of Confederation, not to replace them.
Under the Articles of Confederation, each state had one vote in the Congress regardless of its population.
The Articles of Confederation had only one house in the legislature.
The first branch refers to what we call today the House of Representatives.
The second branch refers to the Senate. The 17th amendment led to people directly voting for their senators after 1913.
The House of Representatives has sole authority to originate laws related

12. Our bicameral legislature today…..
Representation based on state population
Everyone has equal voice
2 senators per state

13. Three-fifths compromise
ANOTHER compromise must be made
They’ve agreed that one house will determine its representation based on population (House of Representatives)
So the southern states argue that their slaves should count as population
The northern states say “No way!”
Another disagreement, another compromise

14. And so a compromise is made
The three-fifths compromise states that three-fifths of a states slave population would be counted when determining representation

15. The Federal Constitution
The federal and state governments share power under the governmental idea of federalism, but the final authority in all matters is the Constitution
The state is responsible for any function not specifically given to the federal government
The framers of the Constitution created a system of checks and balances to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power

16. Powers of the governments
states
national
Local g’ments
Education
Create civil and criminal laws
Establish foreign policy
Declare war
Establish post office
Coin money
Regulate trade

17. Shared powers
Enforce laws
Collect taxes
Borrow money
Set up courts

18. 3 branches of the national government
Legislative
Judicial
Proposes laws
Made up of 2 houses
House of Rep.
Senate
Interpreting laws
Punishing criminals
Settling disputes among states
Supreme Court

19. Executive branch
President
Carries out laws

20. Who were the….. Federalist and Anti federalists?
Supported the Constitution
Against the Constitution
Thought the Constitutional Convention should not have created a new gov.
Too much power to central gov.
Did not guarantee individual rights

21. What you need to do:
P. 51 create a Venn Diagram of the state powers, federal powers and shared powers of the government
P. 53 create a graph to organize the duties of each branch of government
Get a study guide and work on it.
The Bill of Rights protected the civil liberties of ALL Americans
It was added because the anti-federalist thought the Constitution gave too much power to the central government

22. The Bill of Rights Proposed by James Madison
10 amendments added to the Constitution to protect citizens rights

23. Philadelphia George Washington
1. Where was the Cont. Convention held and who was the Pres. Of the Convention
Philadelphia George Washington

24. What changes to the US government did the Virginia Plan suggest?
Bicameral legislature
Supreme power given to the national government
Representation based on population

25. How did the New Jersey plan suggest the government be set up?
More power to the states
Unicameral legislature
Equal voice in Congress

26. Under the GC the legislature would be bicameral
What was the Great Compromise and how did it propose the states be represented in Congress?
The Great Compromise combined the best of the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan
Under the GC the legislature would be bicameral
One house based on population
One house based on equality
Roger Sherman

27. What was the Three-fifths Compromise
3/5th of a slaves state pop would count toward representation
How would slaves be counted

28. Federalism (federal system)
The sharing of powers between the central government and the states

29. What is the final authority under the federal system?
The Constitution

30. List the powers of- National government State Government
Establish foreign policy
Declare war
Post office
Coin money
Regulate trade
Local government
Education
Create civil and criminal law
Shared
Courts
Enforce laws
Collect taxes
Borrow money

31. Why were the checks and balances added?
To prevent any one branch of government from gaining too much power

32. What was the Bill of Rights and why was it added?
The first 10 amendments the Constitution, added to protect the rights of individual citizens