1. A New Plan of Government

2. Unpacking the Standards
After reading the section, you will be able to:
Discuss the ideas and figures that shaped the Constitution.
Describe the system of checks and balances.
Explain how Americans reacted to the Constitution.

3. What Ideas Influenced the Framers?
Shoulder partner
Why are the men who wrote the Constitution called its “framers”?
The Constitution is like an “instruction book” that explains the basic structure of our government
A Plan of Government
the rigid supporting structure of an object such as a vehicle, building, or piece of furniture.
A Frame

4. Charles de Montesquieu
Influences, Cont’d
Tripartite = 3 part 1 2 3
Charles de Montesquieu
Shoulder partner
What do you think “tripartite” means?

5. What Ideas Influenced the Framers?
The monarch had to obey the law
No taxation without representation
The accused have the right to a trial by jury
Magna Carta
SUMMARY:
governmental
power must be limited by laws.
English Bill
of Rights
People had the right to a fair and speedy trial by jury
People had the right of petition
Natural rights (life, liberty, and property)
Govts job to protect these rights
If gov’t interferes with these rights, people can overthrow the gov’t
John Locke

6. government for the entire nation
The Federal System
Federal Gov’t
Central Gov’t
National Gov’t
government for the entire nation
STATES

7. THIS IS CALLED FEDERALISM
Shared Powers
Federalism
Federal Gov’t
tax
regulate trade
control currency
raise an army
declare war
State Gov’t
pass/enforce laws
regulate trade
est. local govt’s
establish schools
The federal government and the state governments SHARE POWER
THIS IS CALLED FEDERALISM

8. The Constitution is The Supreme Law of the Land
no state could make laws that went against the Constitution
no state could take actions that went against the Constitution
disputes between the federal gov’t and the states would be settled in the federal courts on the basis of the Constitution
The Constitution is the final and supreme authority
SUPREME

9. Article I of the Constitution
articles =
parts
The Legislative Branch makes
laws
CONGRESS
House of Representatives
Senate
Membership
435 members
(proportional)
100
(2 from each state)
Term of Office
2 years
6 years
Qualifications
25 years old
citizen for 7 years
must live in state
30 years old
citizen for 9 years
Bicameral

10. Powers of Congress collecting taxes coining money regulating trade
declare war
make all laws needed to fulfill the functions given to it as stated in the Constitution

11. Article II of the Constitution
The Executive Branch
(enforces the nation’s laws)
Vice-Pres.
Cabinet
commander in chief of the armed forces
conducts relations with other countries

12. Article III of the Constitution
The Judicial Branch
(interprets the nation’s laws)
Back row (left to right): Sonia Sotomayor, Stephen G. Breyer, Samuel A. Alito, and Elena Kagan. Front row (left to right): Clarence Thomas, Antonin Scalia, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Anthony Kennedy, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg

13. What is the word meaning
Checks and Balances
To keep any one branch from gaining too much power.
Separation of Power
Montesquieu
Shoulder partner
What is the word meaning
“3 parts”?
To “check” =
limit

14. The Debate Over Ratification
(argument)
(approval)
YES
U.S. Constitution NO
Anti-
Federalists
Federalists
The Federalist Papers
John Jay, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton
Anti-Federalists would NOT support the Constitution without a . . .
a series of essays explaining and defending the Constitution
Bill of Rights
Mercy Otis Warren

15. Adopting the Constitution
out of states had to ratify the Constitution before it could go into effect. 9 13
1st State to Ratify = Delaware
9th State to Ratify = New Hampshire
BUT . . .
Without the support of two critical states – New York and Virginia – the future of the new government was not promising.
Finally, in May 1790, Rhode Island became the 13th state to ratify

16. 3.3 Summary
Ideas and thinkers of the past influenced the creation of the United States Constitution.
The Constitution outlines the responsibilities and the limits of the three branches of government.
Americans reacted to the proposed Constitution in different ways