1. A More Perfect Union
Section 4

2. Ideas that Shaped the Constitution
Many ideas from the Constitution were inspired from other sources. Here are some of the ideas that shaped the Constitution.

3. Ideas from America
The Iroquois League - early American leaders were inspired by the Iroquois system of government. The League of the Iroquois was a model for unity. The Indian nations governed separately but joined in unity in their defense.

4. Ideas from Europe
Ideas limiting the power of a ruler came from the Magna Carta in England.
KING JOHN: MAGNA CARTA. King John of England signing the Magna Carta at Runnymede, 15 June 1215

5. Other sources:
John Locke - In 1690, John Locke published Two treaties of Government. He stated in this work that all people had the natural rights to life, liberty and property. Locke believed government was a contract between ruler and the ruled.
John Locke
The real John Locke

6. Montesquieu
In 1748 Baron de Montesquieu published The Spirit of the Laws. In it he said that the power of government should be divided among three branches: legislative, executive and judicial. This was designed to keep any person or group from gaining too much power. This idea became known as the separation of powers.
Montesquieu also said that the powers of government should be clearly defined.

7. A Federal System
Under the old Articles of Confederation, the states had more power than Congress. With the new Constitution, the states gave up some of their power to the national government. The division of power between the states and federal government is called Federalism.

8. Under the Federal system the following rules of power apply:
The Constitution spells out the powers of the Federal Government:
Declare war, issue money, regulate trade, and make treaties
Under the Constitution, states have the power to regulate trade between their borders.
Overlapping or shared powers include:
The power to tax, to try criminals, and to build roads.

9. Three Branches of Government
The legislative branch of the national government is called Congress.
House of representatives and Senate
The executive branch consists of the President, Vice President, and advisors.
The judicial branch is made up of several courts, with the highest court being the Supreme Court.

10. Electoral College
Instead of citizens directly electing the President, the electoral college votes.
2004 Election results
George Bush
Al Gore
Popular Vote
50,456,002
50,999,897
Percentage
47.9%
48.4%
Electoral Vote
271
266

11. Checks and Balances
The framers of the Constitution established a system of checks and balances to prevent any branch government from getting too powerful.

12. Ratifying the Constitution
At home in the town squares, Americans discussed the Constitution. Many people supported it. Many others did not. The convention was over. Now the states had to decide whether or not to ratify this new frame of government.

13. In order for the document to be ratified (or accepted) nine of the thirteen states had to agree with it. In every state there were debates over the Constitution.
People that supported the Constitution were called Federalists. The people who opposed the Constitution were called Antifederalists.
Federalists
Federalist Papers

14. The Antifederalists were against the Constitution because it did not have a Bill of Rights.
Those who favored the constitution promised to provide the Bill of Rights to spell out the basic freedoms (or rights) for all of the American people. The states then held a vote and one by one, the states voted to ratify the Constitution.
In June 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution. Now the new government could go into affect.

15. The people celebrated in festive parades and parties
The people celebrated in festive parades and parties. By 1790, the last state of Rhode Island approved the Constitution.
Americans then voted in George Washington as the first President. John Adams was elected the first Vice-President. New York City became the nation’s first Capital.
Federal Hall

16. Adding a Bill of Rights
The first Congress quickly turned its attention to adding the Bill of Rights. They also set up a way to amend, or change the Constitution. They wanted the Constitution to change as the times changed. They called the changing of the Constitution the Amendment Process.