1. The United States Constitution
Adapted from

2. Path to the Constitution
After declaring independence from Great Britain, the colonies knew that if they wanted to grow and prosper, they would need a plan for unity.
Effective March 1, 1781, the colonies were governed by the Articles of Confederation.
Magna Carta
1215
English Bill of Rights
1689
Articles of Confederation 1781
Declaration of Independence
1776
Mayflower Compact
1620
After declaring independence from Great Britain, the colonies knew to grow and prosper, they needed a plan for unity. Effective March 1, 1781, the colonies were governed by the Articles of Confederation.
Thomas Jefferson
Author of the “Declaration of Independence”

3. Path to the Constitution
The Articles of Confederation posed many challenges. The powers of the central government were weak and the Articles were impossible to amend.
John Adams
Founding Father and 2nd President
Articles of Confederation 1781
The Federalist Papers
United States Constitution
1788

6. Why was the Constitution written?
Shays’ Rebellion:
An uprising of farmers in Massachusetts in 1786 – led by Daniel Shays.
Helped convince leaders that a strong central government was needed.
"A scene at Springfield, during Shay's Rebellion, when the mob attempted to prevent the holding of the Courts of Justice."—E. Benjamin Andrews, 1895

7. United States Constitution
Path to the Constitution
In May of 1787, delegates from each state met to write a new Constitution. Through discussion and debate over issues like states’ rights, individual rights, and the power of the national government, a compromise was made and the result became the “law of the land,” the U.S. Constitution.
James Madison
“Father of the Constitution”
United States Constitution
1788
The Bill of Rights 1791
Amendments
11-27

8. Constitutional Convention
Met in Philadelphia, PA
Original intent was to revise the Articles of Confederation
James Madison was the “Father of the Constitution”
39 men signed it in 1787

9. Constitutional Convention: Members
55 delegates from 12 states (Rhode Island did not send delegates)
White
Males
Statesmen, lawyers, planters. bankers, businessmen
Most under age 50

10. Constitutional Convention: Absent
John Adams - ambassador to England
Thomas Jefferson - ambassador to France
Patrick Henry - “smelled a rat”
Samuel Adams - not chosen by state to be part of the delegation

11. Constitutional Convention: Famous Members
Alexander Hamilton – Proponent of strong government
George Washington – President of the convention
James Madison – “Father of the Constitution”
Benjamin Franklin – Oldest member at 81

12. Federalists v. Anti-Federalists
Supported the Constitution and a strong central government
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay
Federalist Papers – series of articles written in defense of the Constitution
Anti-Federalists:
Supported a weaker central government – felt too much power was taken away from the states
Opposed the Constitution
Wanted a Bill of Rights included
Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry

13. Celebrate the Constitution
Popular Sovereignty
“The Constitution is the guide which I never will abandon George Washington
September 17, 1787 was a glorious day! The U.S. Constitution was finally signed by the delegates of the Constitutional Convention. The Constitution included a strong central government based on compromise; it outlined national powers and provided provisions for amending the Constitution.
Checks and Balances
Limited Government
Separation of Powers
George Washington
President of the Constitutional Convention and 1st President

14. Ratification
Officially adopted in 1788 after ratified by New Hampshire.
Once the new government convened, they added a Bill of Rights to the Constitution.

15. A Living Document
Because there was so much interest and debate regarding individual rights, on December 15, 1791, ten amendments known as the Bill of Rights were added to the U.S. Constitution. Since then, seventeen more amendments have been added to the Constitution.
Federalism
Benjamin Franklin
Signer of the Constitution and Founding Father
Individual Rights
Republicanism

16. Celebrate the Constitution Today
Today, the “law of the land” is still the U.S. Constitution. It has sustained controversial issues, a civil war, and the changes that 200 years of American society brings. But it is strong and enduring.
The Constitution of the United States was made not merely for the generation that then exist, but for the posterity - unlimited undefined, endless, perpetual posterity
-Henry Clay ( )
American statesman - U.S. Congressman and Senator

17. Constitution Vocabulary
Ratify: To agree to, to sign, to approve
Amend: To add to, to change
Veto: To refuse to sign, to reject
Bill: A proposed law
Suffrage: The right to vote
Bicameral: 2 house legislature (2 house Congress)
Impeach: To accuse of wrongdoing

18. Strict Interpretation
A Living Document
Loose Interpretation
A.K.A. “Loose Construction of Constitution”
Interpretation of Constitution must be flexible
People change, society changes, technology changes--Constitution must adapt
What the Constitution doesn’t say EXPLICITY, the branches of government can do
Who supports a loose interpretation?
Answer: Federalists, Liberals
Strict Interpretation
A.K.A. “Strict Construction of Constitution”
Constitution should remain the constant
The Constitution must be the measure of social, ethical, and moral change
Government can ONLY do what the Constitution EXPLICITLY says
Who supports a strict interpretation?
Answer: Anti-Federalists, Conservatives

19. A Living Document
The Constitution is both a product of its time and a document for all time. It can be changed as society’s needs change.

20. A Document for All Time Original Constitution a product of its time
Reflects wisdom and biases of the Framers; relatively few changes in over 220 years
Survived the Civil War, presidential assassinations, and economic crises to become world’s oldest written constitution
Original document not perfect
Perpetuated injustices with compromises permitting slavery and the slave trade
States given power to set qualifications for voting; women, nonwhites, and poor people denied right to vote
Decisions reflected societal attitudes of the times
Ability to incorporate changing ideas of freedom and liberty keeps document relevant to each new generation since 1789

21. A Constitution for All Generations

22. The Constitution is the Blueprint
4,500+ words
Constitution blended ideas from the past with uniquely American principles of governing
Three main parts:
1) Preamble – lists purposes of Constitution (broad goals)
2) The 7 articles – create structure of the U.S. government
3) The 27 amendments – changes added during the nation’s history
Basic principles
Structure and language expresses six basic principles:
Popular sovereignty
Limited government
Separation of powers
Checks and balances
Judicial review
Federalism
Framers believed if federal government reflected and remained true to basic principles, goals of U.S. Constitution could be accomplished.

25. Popular sovereignty

26. Article 1 – Powers Denied to Congress:
Limited government
Article 1 – Powers Denied to Congress:
The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.
First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…

29. Judicial Review:
Judicial review is the idea, fundamental to the US system of government, that the actions of the executive and legislative branches of government are subject to review and possible invalidation by the judicial branch.

30. Federalism
The powers of government are distributed between the national government and state governments
Framers struggled to find acceptable distribution of powers with the rights of states and sufficient national government strength

31. Powers of National Government Powers of State Governments
Federalism
Powers of National Government
Powers of State Governments
Enumerated powers: Items found in Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution that set forth the powers of Congress.
Delegated Powers: Powers given specifically to the federal government by the Constitution
Concurrent Powers
(Shared Powers):
Authority shared by both the federal government and the state governments
Reserved Powers:
Powers not given to the federal government that can be used by a state or local government

32. Structure of the Constitution
Preamble:
Statement of purpose
Articles:
I: Legislative Branch
II: Executive Branch
III: Judicial Branch
IV: Relations Among the States
V: Amendment Process
VI: National Supremacy
VII: Ratification
Amendments:
27 Total
1st ten are the Bill of Rights

33. The Preamble

34. How the Constitution is Divided
1. Articles –
the major divisions
2. Sections –
divisions of an article
3. Clauses –
divisions of a section

35. Article I: Legislative Branch
Section 1: What is a Congress?
Legislative (law-making) power in a bicameral legislature [2 houses: Senate and House of
Representatives]
Section 2:
House of Representatives

36. Article I: Legislative Branch
Section 3: Senate
Section 4: Meetings
of Congress
Section 5: Rules and Procedures
Section 6: Privileges and Restrictions

37. Article I: Legislative Branch
Section 7: How a Bill Becomes a Law
Section 8: Powers of Congress
Section 9: Powers Denied to Congress
Section 10: Powers Denied to States

38. Article 2: Executive Branch
Section 1: President and Vice President
Section 2: Powers of the President
Section 3: Duties of the President
Section 4: Impeachment

39. Article 3: Judicial Branch
Section 1: Federal Courts
Section 2: Jurisdiction of Federal Courts
Section 3: Treason

40. Article 4: Relations Among the States
Section 1: Official Acts
Section 2: Privileges of
Citizens
Section 3: New States
Section 4: Guarantees
of the States

41. Article 5: The Amendment Process

42. Article 6: National Supremacy
Section 1: National Debt
Section 2: National Supremacy
Section 3: Oath for
Government Officials

43. Article 7: Ratification
9 states needed to ratify the Constitution
Signed September 17, 1787