1. The Constitutional Convention How much power should the states have? How much power should the national government have?

2. Convention 55 delegates meet from all states except for RI Job was to fix the national government

3. James Madison “Father of the Constitution”

4. Divisions at the Convention Some delegates wanted to amend Articles of Confederations Others wanted to get rid of them all together

5. Virginia Plan Two house legislature Each state would send representatives in proportion to their population (larger states would send more rep, giving them more voting power) Congress would have power to tax and regulate foreign trade Congress would have power to veto( giving the national government power) Added two more branches of government  judicial and executive branches Larger states supported the Virginia Plan (VA plan)

6. The New Jersey Plan Congress can collect taxes and regulate foreign trade Add two branches: executive and judicial branches Each state gets one vote no matter how big or small (giving smaller states the same power as larger states) NJ plan gives the states governments more power than the national government

7. The Great Compromise Legislative branch made of two houses Senate  each state gets two reps, no matter how big or small the state is *small states like this* The House of Representatives  each state gets reps according to their population size *large states like this* Gave Congress the power to collect taxes and regulate foreign trade Made three branches of government

8. The Three-Fifths compromise Should you include slaves as part of your population? If you counted slaves the southern states would have more reps in congress. If you didn’t count slaves the south would have no power in the house of reps. Three-fifths compromise  count every 3 out of 5 slaves towards population

9. Legislative BranchMakes the laws Executive BranchEnforces and carries out the laws. Judicial BranchInterprets the laws Three branches of government

10. Checks and balances Not only does each branch of the government have particular powers each branch has certain powers over the other branches. This is done to keep them balanced and to prevent one branch form ever gaining too much power. For example: Congress may pass laws........but the President can veto them.Congress The President can veto laws.......but Congress can override the veto with a 2/3 vote. The President and Congress may agree on a law..........but the Supreme Court can declare a law unconstitutional. The President can appoint Judges and other government officials.......but Senate must approve them.Senate Supreme Court judges have life terms.......but they can be impeached.

11. Checks and balances

12. Electoral College Political parties choose electors Each state has as many electors as it has representatives and senators Voters cast votes for electors, who will support their popular vote for President Electors cast the official votes for President