1. Do Now: Write down what you think the following words mean:
1.Sovereign
2. Bicameral
3. Ratify
Compromise

2. Definitions Sovereign- a ruler, highest power in the land.
Bicameral-legislatures that are divided into 2 houses or groups.
Ratify- to approve
Compromise- an agreement between two or more sides in which each side gives up something of what it wants.

3. The Constitution of the United States 1787

4. What is the Constitution?
The Supreme Law of the Land

5. The Preamble – gives purposes of the document
“We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
GIVE PURPOSES OF THE DOCUMENT
“We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

6. Major parts of the body of the Constitution
Article I - LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
Article II - EXECUTIVE BRANCH
Article III - JUDICIAL BRANCH
Article IV - The States
Article V - Amending the Constitution
Article VI - National Supremacy
Article VII - RATIFICATION - 9 out of states had to ratify the Constitution

7. School House Rock

8. Article I: The Legislative Branch 10 sections
Purpose: To Make Laws
Parts: CONGRESS = SENATE + HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

9. Congress Powers of Congress: a. DECLARE WAR b. COIN MONEY
c. Regulate FOREIGN and INTERSTATE commerce
d. TAX
e. Control over the military

10. Article II: Executive Branch 4 sections
Purpose: TO ENFORCE THE LAWS
PRESIDENT (What power he has)
1. Commander - in - Chief of the MILITARY
2. Makes treaties and APPOINTMENTS
3. VETO legislation passed by Congress

11. THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
ELECTORAL COLLEGE – The President is decided based on it. (it is in the Constiution)
TERM LIMITS
FOUR Year terms: May only serve TWO terms of office-max of 10 years (changed after FDR in 1940s)
ELECTORAL COLLEGE – its in the Constiution
FOUR YRS; May only serve TWO terms of office; max of 10 years (changed after FDR in 1940s)

12. Article III-Judicial Branch
Purpose: INTERPRET THE LAWS
SUPREME COURT – HIGHEST COURT IN THE LAND- 9 Justices- appointed for life
JUDICIAL REVIEW:
- power of the federal courts to determine whether or not the law follows the Constitution)
-Supreme Court can also decide disputes between two or more states

13. ARTICLE 4: THE STATES
Each state is required to honor all citizens of other states.
Congress decides what states are admitted to the union and how new states will be added.
Federal Governments responsibility to each state.

14. ARTICLE 5-AMENDMENTS HOW TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION
Amendments have to be approved by 2/3 votes of both houses or ¾ majority of all state pass.
We currently have 27 Amendments to the Constitution.

15. ARTICLE 6-Supreme Law
SUPREME LAW: All parts of our government are bound by the Constitution.
OATH OF ALLEGIANCE: All officials of the government must take an oath of office.
All Debts will remain valid

16. ARTICLE 7-RATIFICATION
THE PROCESS REQUIRED TO GET THE CONSTITUTION RATIFIED.
9 of the 13 states must agree to the Constitution.
NC and Rhode Island did not ratify until after Washington was President.

17. Great Compromise The New Jersey Plan=little states
The Big Question How should the new government be formed? There were two main plans.
The New Jersey Plan=little states
The Virginia Plan=big states

19. New Jersey Plan
The New Jersey Plan is the plan for the little guys. New Jersey isn't the smallest state, but it certainly isn't big.
They came up with a plan that the little guys thought was fair: all states get an equal number of representatives in the new government regardless of state size.

20. Virginia Plan
Virginia is a big state with lots of people. The Virginia Plan said that each state should gain representation based on population. This would of course mean that Virginia would get far more representation than New Jersey.

21. The Great Compromise
Since both plans had a bicameral legislature, the answer was really quite simple.
Two separate houses would be established - one by population, as wanted for big states in the Virginia Plan, and one where all states get equal representation, as wanted by the little states in the New Jersey Plan.

22. This compromise is why today we have:
The Senate with two senators for each state
The House of Representatives, which has each state's representatives decided by population
Of course, today Virginia has 11 representatives - it doesn't seem that big next to California's 53.