1. Section 3-Polling Question
How effective do you feel the present form of American government is?
A. Very effective
B. Somewhat effective
C. Somewhat ineffective
D. Very ineffective A B C D

2. Chapter 7 A More Perfect Union(1777-1790)
Section 3 A New Plan of Government

3. What ideas and features are found in the United States Constitution?
Essential Question
What ideas and features are found in the United States Constitution?
What ideas and features are found in the United States Constitution?

4. What ideas and features are found in the United States Constitution?
Essential Question
What ideas and features are found in the United States Constitution?
Ideas- Enlightenment ideas about natural rights limiting government power, separation of power
Features- the Constitution shares power between a central government and state governments; establishes branches that make laws, carry out laws, and interprets laws; is the supreme law of the land, protects individual rights
What ideas and features are found in the United States Constitution?

5. Roots of the Constitution
After 4 months the Constitution was written
It was a unique American document, but had roots in many other civilizations
They looked at history so they could avoid mistakes made in the past
The Framers of the Constitution were familiar with Parliamentary system of Britain
Many Framers were in the colonial assemblies and state assemblies
They valued individual rights
They respected many of the British traditions (cultural beliefs and practices)

6. English Influences Magna Carta- Placed limits on the monarchs
Parliament controlled the funds for wars and the government
The colonial assemblies worked the same way
The assemblies had some control over the colonial governors
The English Bill of Rights- 1689
During the Enlightenment philosophers John Locke and baron de Montesquieu had ideas that the Framers used

7. John Locke Locke believed people should have natural rights
Including life, liberty, and property
Government is based on an agreement between the people and the ruler
Americans interpreted natural rights as the rights of Englishmen defined in the Magna Carta and English Bill of Rights
Protected the peoples rights by limiting the government’s power

8. Section 3
The idea of protecting people’s natural rights was reflected in the work of which of the following?
A. English philosopher John Locke
B. French writer Baron de Montesquieu
C. King George III
D. Italian philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli A B C D

9. Baron De Montesquieu
Said the powers of government should be separated and balanced against each other
This would keep any one person or group from gaining too much power
Powers of government should be clearly defined and limited to prevent abuse
Following Montesquieu’s ideas the Framers specified and divided the powers of government

10. The Federal System
The Constitution divided powers between national (federal) government and the states
Federalism- sharing power between federal and state governments
Under the Constitution, the federal government gained powers
Taxing, regulating trade, controlling currency, raising an army, and declaring war
Also can pass any law that is “necessary and proper”
Important powers were also left to the states

11. The Supreme Law of the Land
The Constitution and the laws that Congress passed were to be “ the supreme law of the land”
No state can make a law against the Constitution
Disputes between the federal government and the states would be settled by federal courts
On the basis of the Constitution

12. Branches of Government- Legislative Branch
Article I established Congress as the legislative branch
Law making branch
House of Representatives and the Senate
Powers of Congress include: collecting taxes, coining money, and regulating trade
Can also declare war and “raise and support armies”

13. Branches of Government- Executive Branch
Article II established the Executive Branch
Headed by the president to carry out the nations laws and policies
Commander in chief of the armed forces
Conducts relations with other countries
President and Vice President are chosen by the Electoral College
Each state’s voters select electors to cast their votes for the president and vice president
Each state gets the same number of electors as it has senators and representatives in Congress
President and Vice President serve a four year term

14. Branches of Government- Judicial Branch
Article III deals with the judicial branch (court system)
The nations judicial power resides in “one Supreme Court”
And any other lower courts the Congress might establish
The Supreme Court and the federal courts hear cases involving the Constitution, laws passed by Congress, and disputes between states

15. A B C Under which branch of government are laws made?
Section 3
Under which branch of government are laws made?
A. The legislative branch
B. The executive branch
C. The judicial branch A B C

16. System of Checks and Balances
The Framers built in a system of checks and balances
Each branch has ways to check (limit) the power of the others
No branch can dominate the government
This system has kept a balance of power among the branches and has limited abuses

17. National Citizens
The Constitution created citizens who choose their officials
Officials answer to the people
The new government pledged to protect the personal freedoms of the citizens
The world watched to see if this experiment in self-government would really work

18. Debate and Adoption 9 of the 13 states had to ratify the Constitution
Supporters of the Constitution were called Federalists- Included George Washington and Benjamin Franklin
Madison, Hamilton, and Jay wrote essays called the Federalist Papers
People opposes were called Antifederalists- Also wrote essays called the Antifederalist Papers
Antifederalists argued that the strong national government created by the Constitution would take away American liberties
Antifederaists favored local government

19. Protecting Rights
The biggest criticism about the Constitution was that it lacked a Bill of Rights
Many states refused to ratify with out a Bill of Rights
Federalists feared disorder without a strong central government
Antifederalists worried about oppression that might result from a strong central government

20. Adopting the Constitution
New Hampshire became the 9th state to approve on June 21, 1788
The new government could go into effect, but New York and Virginia had not ratified
Virginia ratified after being assured a Bill of Rights would be added
The Bill of Rights was added in 1791
The final three states (NY, NC, and RI) approved the Constitution by May 1790

21. Those who opposed the Constitution feared the national government would
take rights away from people.
limit the number of new states.
limit trade.
require religion to be practiced.

22. The belief that all people have a right to life, liberty, and property was promoted by philosopher
Baron de Montesquieu.
John Adams.
John Locke.
Benjamin Franklin.

23. Which was the last state to ratify the Constitution?
Rhode Island
New York
Maryland
North Carolina

24. The branch of the government that is headed by the president is called the
legislative branch.
judicial branch.
executive branch.
constitutional branch.

25. The branch of the government that deals with the court system is called the
legislative branch.
judicial branch.
executive branch.
constitutional branch.