1. Foundations of the American Political System
Unit Plan 02
Civics

2. The Constitution
Chapter 3

3. Why? Their leaders opposed a strong central government
Who was the only state that chose not to participate in the Constitutional Convention?
Rhode Island
Why? Their leaders opposed a strong central government
Textbook p. 52

4. Constitutional Convention 1787
Who attended?
55 men of distinction: lawyers, merchants, college presidents, doctors, generals, governors, and planters
Who did not attend?
Native Americans, Women, and African Americans (not considered part of the political process)
Textbook p. 52

5. Convention gets Organized
Who did the delegates select as the leader of the convention?
George Washington, Revolutionary war hero
Rules:
Each state gets one vote
Seven states or more must be present
Strict secrecy for all discussions
Textbook p. 53

6. The Mission
Given the task of fixing the Articles of Confederation by Congress, the delegates quickly decided to do what?
Scrap the Articles of Confederation and create a new Constitution
Textbook p. 54

7. Writing the Constitution

8. Two Opposing Plans James Madison proposed “The Virginia Plan”
Three branches of gov’t: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial
Bicameral “Two House” Legislature
Legislative seats determined by states’ populations
William Paterson countered “The New Jersey Plan”
Three branches of gov’t (same three)
Unicameral “One House” Legislature
Legislative seats determined as one vote per state
Textbook pp

9. COMPARISON New Jersey Plan favored small states
Supporters: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey
Virginia Plan favored large states, big populations
Supporters: Massachusetts, NY, Pennsylvania, Virginia vs
Textbook pp

10. The Great Compromise
Roger Sherman [Connecticut delegate] proposed a compromise plan:
A two house “bicameral” legislature
Senate ~ each state has equal votes to please the small states
House of Representatives ~ each state has representation based on population for the large states
Textbook pp

11. Roger Sherman

12. The 3/5 “Three-Fifths” Compromise
How should the government count slaves in the population calculation for Congress?
South ~ Each slave should count
North ~ Slaves give the South unfair advantage in Congress; Slaves are property and should not count in equation
Resolution: Count every 5 slaves as 3 free persons to determine Population to increase Southern Representation in the House of Representatives.
Textbook pp

13. Constitution built on Compromises
Besides the Great Compromise and the 3/5 Compromise, other Compromises were made

14. What is Compromise? Main Entry: 1com·pro·mise
  1 a : settlement of differences by arbitration or by consent reached by mutual concessions
Translation ~ You give a little, I give a little

15. Electoral College Debate: Should the people choose the president?
Should the Congress choose the president?
Resolution:
Electoral College ~ a group of people who would be named by each state legislature to select the President and Vice President
* Now the Electors are chosen by the voters
Textbook pp

16. Commerce &Slave Trade Compromise
Debate- Who controls Trade,
Northern States ~ agreed not to tax exports EVER or interfere with the slave trade until after 1808 (20 Years)
Southern States ~ agreed to allow the Congress to regulate interstate commerce as well as international commerce.
Commerce means- trade
Textbook pp

17. Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists
Americans reacted to the Constitution in two separate ways:
Federalists ~ supporters of the Constitution who believed in federalism {a form of government where power is shared between the federal or national gov’t and the states}
Anti-Federalists ~ opposed the Constitution because it gave too much power to the national gov’t and took away from the power of the states
Textbook pp

18. The Federalist papers
James Madison stated, “A republic, by which I mean a government in which the scheme of representation takes place… promises the cure for which we are seeking.”
Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison used this publication to defend the need for a strong national government and the proposed Constitution.
Textbook pp

19. Ratification of the Constitution
Federalists agree with Anti-Federalists that a Bill of Rights is needed for the Constitution
Promise of a Bill of Rights speeds approval of the Constitution
June 21, 1788 – New Hampshire becomes the 9th state to ratify the Constitution
Ratify means- to approve
Textbook p. 59

20. Critical Thinking
Drawing Conclusions Why were Southerners at the Constitutional Convention fearful of government control of trade?
Southerners feared that Congress might stop slave traders. You should note that without the compromise, Southerners may not have supported the Constitution.

21. Structure of the Constitution
Preamble
An introduction of the goals and purposes of the government
The Articles (7)
The structure of the government
The Amendments (27)
Additions or changes to the Constitution
Textbook pp

22. Preamble dissected (part I)
Six Purposes of Government:
“To form a more perfect Union”
~ Make states operate together efficiently
2. “To establish Justice”
~ Create a fair system of laws and courts
3. “To ensure domestic Tranquility”
~ Maintain peace, order and keep people safe
Textbook p. 83

23. Preamble dissected (part II)
4. “To provide for the common defense”
~ Have a military prepared to defend
5. “To promote the general Welfare”
~ Help people live happy and healthy
6. “To secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity”
~ Guarantee the freedoms and basic rights for future generations
Textbook p. 83

24. Articles (I - VII) Article I – The Legislative Branch
Article II – The Executive Branch
Article III – The Judicial Branch
Article IV – Full Faith and Credit, process for creating new states, federal government promises to protect and defend the states
Article V – Process for amendments
Article VI – Constitution is the “Supreme law of the land”
Article VII – Approval when 9 states ratify it
Textbook pp

26. Making Amendments or Changes
Amendment process is deliberately difficult
Amendments are a two-step process:
1. Proposal
a. 2/3 of Congress (Senate and House) can vote for proposing a change
b. 2/3 of State Legislatures can vote for a convention to propose a change
2. Ratification
¾ of States must vote to ratify amendments
Textbook pp

27. Article I “Necessary and Proper Clause”
The Constitution gives Congress the power “to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper” to carry out its duties.
Two interpretations:
Loose ~
Congress should be allowed to make any laws the Constitution does not specifically forbid
Strict ~
Congress should make only laws written in the Constitution
Textbook pp

28. 5 Principles of Government found in the US Constitution
Popular Sovereignty
Rule of Law
Separation of Powers
Checks and Balances
Federalism
Textbook pp

29. Popular Sovereignty
Defined ~ the notion that the power lies with the people in a democracy
Governments should draw their powers from “the consent of the governed”
“Popular” means of the people
“Sovereignty” means the right to rule
Textbook pp

30. Rule of Law
Defined ~ the Constitution and the Law applies to everyone even those who govern
“You must first enable the government to control the governed, and in the next place oblige it to control itself.” - - James Madison
The rulers of the government must also be held accountable
Textbook p. 90

31. Separation of Powers
Defined ~ the split of authority among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches
Separation was created to avoid one person or group of persons abusing power
Baron de Montesquieu ~ French philosopher who believed that the best way to protect the liberty of the people was to separate branches of government
Textbook p. 91

32. Checks and Balances
Defined ~ each branch of government is able to check or restrain the power of the others
Examples:
[legislative] Congress can override his veto with a 2/3 vote of both houses
[executive] The President can veto laws passed by Congress
[judicial] The Supreme court can declare laws unconstitutional
Textbook pp

33. Federalism
Defined ~ shared power between national and state governments
3 types of powers:
Expressed Powers – those powers specifically granted to the national government
Examples:
Coin Money, Make foreign treaties
Textbook pp

34. Federalism 3 types of powers (continued):
Reserved Powers – those powers not given to the national government are ‘reserved’ for the states
Examples:
Establishing schools, making marriage and divorce rules
Textbook pp

35. Federalism 3 types of powers (continued):
Concurrent Powers – the powers where the state and national government authority overlaps
Examples:
Collecting taxes, borrowing money, establishing courts and prisons
Textbook pp