1. The Confederation of States How did the U.S. operate politically before the Constitution was created? Confederation- a voluntary association of independent sovereign states that meet for mutual needs. America’s first written constitution was the Articles of Confederation adopted in 1777. –The Congress was a unicameral legislature made up of representatives from the states (2-7 per state). –Each state had only one vote regardless of size. –State sovereignty was a major issue.

4. The Compromises The Connecticut Plan: The Great Compromise –lower house- House of Representatives would be determined by the number of people in a state. –upper house- the Senate would have two members from each state elected by legislature. The Three-Fifths Compromise –Five slaves for every three free persons would be counted for both tax and representation purposes. The Slavery Question- Banning Export Taxes –Compromise that Congress could limit the number of slaves imported after 1808. –Trying to ban slavery would have meant no constitution

5. The Debate Over Ratification Federalists Federalist Papers Defended Constitution (Hamilton, Jay, Madison) –Those who favored a strong central government and the new constitution. Anti-Federalists (Patrick Henry, Sam Adams) –Those who opposed the adoption of the Constitution did so because of the document’s centralist tendencies and because it also did not include a bill of rights. Tyranny would result. Constitution was eventually ratified by all 13 states.

6. The Constitutional Division of Powers The Federalist-Anti-Federalist debate had a major impact on the division of powers between Federal and State governments. Anti-Federalists received some of what they wanted: State boundaries had to be protected 10 th Amendment (BOR) “reserved to the states all powers not delegated to the federal government. Federalists also received some of their desires: Delegated Powers (Clearly Stated in Constitution) Necessary and Proper Clause (Implied Powers) Supremacy Clause- “Laws of the national government are the supreme Law of Land”

7. The Constitution’s Major Principles of Government Limited Government and Popular Sovereignty Federalism –The central government shares sovereign powers with several state governments. Checks and Balances – no group or branch can have total control Madisonian Model- Separation of Powers Among Three Branches

8. The Constitution’s Major Principles of Government The Bill of Rights Compromise with the anti-federalists to secure the ratification of the Constitution. Protection of individual liberties against violations by the national government.

9. The Process of Amending the Constitution

10. The Politics of Homeland Security The Constitution and the War on Terrorism Civil liberties under fire –Patriot Act allows government agents to conduct search/seizures without warrants or probable cause –Govt. has right to read your mail, your travel plans, financial records etc. Tampering with the System of Checks and Balances –Debate regarding the size and power of DOHS –Compromise is that Congress has oversight powers

11. Americans at Odds over the Constitution Are the measures of the Patriot Act etc. appropriate despite decreasing some of our civil liberties? Do you feel safer as a result of these activities?