1. More Perfect Union

2. New Plan of Government Constitution’s Sources
An American document that has roots in other civilizations.
The Framers wanted to avoid mistakes from other civilizations.
Many of the ideas came from Europe.
Parliamentary procedures of England.
Framers had participated in colonial/state assemblies
Valued the individual rights granted by the British judicial system

3. European Influences
Magna Carta (1215) put limits on the power of the king.
Parliament became the force that the king/queen came to depend on for taxes, war, and royal government.
Colonies assemblies controlled their money and had some control over the governor.
English Bill of Rights (1689) was another model for the US.

4. Many people believed the US needed a document similar to the Bill of Rights of England.
The Enlightenment Period of the 1700s promoted knowledge, reason, science as a means of improving society from philosophers John Locke and Baron de Montesquieu.
James Madison and other Framers were familiar with their work.
Locke wrote that all people had the natural right which included life, liberty, and property.
Two Treaties of Civil Government 1690, stated government is based on a contract between the people and the ruler.

5. Framers viewed the Constitution as a contract between the American people and their government which protected their natural rights by limiting government power.
French writer Montesquieu declared in The Spirit of Laws 1748, the powers of the government should be separated and balanced against each other.
Separation would prevent any one person or group from gaining too much power
The Framers carefully spelled out and divided the powers of the government.

6. Federalism
Constitution created a system of federalism between the federal government and the states.
Articles of Confederation states that the state held most of the power.
However, under the Constitution states gave up some of their powers to the federal government
Federalism is sharing power tween the federal and state government.

7. States could still control trade inside their boarders.
The federal government gained the power to tax, regulate trade, control currency, raise an army, and declare war.
Could also pass laws that are “necessary and proper” for carrying out its responsibilities.
Also, could make laws as needed to deal with new situations.
States could still control trade inside their boarders.
Could setup schools, local governments, and establish marriage and divorce laws.

8. Federal and states could tax and establish criminal justice.
Constitution is the supreme law of the land and overrules states.
Federal courts would settle disputes between states and federal government based on the constitution.

9. Government Structure
The Framers used Montesquieu’s idea of a division of powers.
Federal Government into 3 branches
Legislature
Executive
Judicial

10. Article I of the Constitution
Legislature branch is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Establishing taxes, coining money, and regulating trade.
Article II of the Constitution
Setup the executive branch to carry out the nations’ laws and policies.
At the head is the president and vice president
Electoral College (chosen by voters in each state) elects the president.

11. Article III of the Constitution
Judicial branch (court system)
Power resides in the “one supreme court” and any lower courts Congress creates.
The Supreme Court and other federal courts hears cases involving the Constitution, federal laws, and disputes between states.

12. Checks and Balances
Constitution contains a system of checks and balances.
Each branch has ways to check or limit the power of the other branches.
No single branch can gain too much power.