1. Constitutional Convention
The
Constitutional Convention

2. The Convention
- met in Philadelphia
- May - September of 1787
- 55 delegates from 12 states (not R.I.)

3. The Delegates
- Mostly prosperous, educated, experienced men
- George Washington – elected Chairman
Ben Franklin – a calming influence
- They helped make the Convention acceptable
to Americans

4. Many prominent Americans were not there
- Abroad: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams,
John Jay, Thomas Paine
- At home: Sam Adams & John Hancock
- Refused to attend: Patrick Henry

5. James Madison
- Wrote the proposal for a new
government: The Virginia Plan
- The plan became the basis for
the Constitution
- Took extensive notes, the
only complete record of the
Convention
- Wrote many of The Federalist
Papers essays that explain the
Constitution
- Later wrote the Bill of Rights
- “Father of the Constitution”

6. Revising or Replacing?
- Meeting was for the “sole and express purpose
of revising the Articles of Confederation.”
- The delegates instead decided to completely
change the government

7. Basic Principles of American Government Popular Sovereignty
- the will of the people
Republicanism
- a democratic (elected) republic (representatives)

8. Federalism
- share power between the national & state governments
Limited Government
- to identify the powers of the new, stronger
national government

9. Basic Principles (cont’d)
Separation of Powers – divide the powers of the national government
Checks & Balances – branches of the national government to oversee & limit each other
Individual Rights – protected from this stronger national government

10. Major Problems & Compromises
Representation – should states be represented proportionally (by population) or equally in the legislature?
- Virginia Plan / Large-States / Madison
- proportional (based on population)
- New Jersey Plan/Small-State/James Patterson
- equal representation
Solution: The Great Compromise (Connecticut)
- Roger Sherman
- a bicameral legislature (two houses)
- House of Representatives - based on population
- The Senate - equal (two) votes for each state.

11. Problem: Slavery
- How to count the slave population for representation & taxation?
- Southern/Slave states wanted to count slaves for legislative representation
- Northern states wanted to count slaves for determining the taxes the southern states should pay to the federal government
Solution: Three-Fifths Compromise
- 3/5’s of the slave population would count for both representation and taxation

12. Issue:
State vs. National Government
How to balance the powers of both levels of government?
Solution: Federalism - a Federal System - the state and national governments share power

13. Government Powers
Enumerated Powers – powers of the Federal government are limited to those listed in the Constitution
Reserved Powers – powers not specifically given to the Federal government are ‘reserved’ for the states
Concurrent Powers – powers that are ‘Shared’ by both
The national government would be superior to the states.

14. Basic Principles in the Constitution
Republicanism
- The People directly elected the members of the House of Representatives
Federalism
- The States chose their Senators, and elected the President through the Electoral College
- Powers not specified for the national government were reserved for the States

15. Limited Government
- The powers of Congress (Federal Government) are listed in Article I, Section 8
- The powers denied Congress are listed in Article I, Section 9
- The 10th Amendment would restate the idea of Reserved Powers for the States

16. The Elastic Clause or Necessary & Proper Clause
- Article I, Section 8, Clause 18, allows Congress to make the laws needed to carry out its responsibilities.
- This clause has been the basis for the expansion of the power of the Federal government, almost from the nation’s beginning

17. Separation of Powers and Checks & Balances
The federal government was divided into three branches
- Legislative Branch – makes the laws and has
authority over the budget (Congress)
- Executive Branch – enforces the laws and
has authority over foreign policy & the
military (President)
- Judicial Branch – interprets the laws and
hears federal cases & appeals
(Supreme Court)
- Each branch has some authority over the
others, limiting the powers of each