Honors Civics and Citizenship The Constitution Honors Civics and Citizenship

Constitutional Convention 1787 55 delegates (12 states) Revise the Articles of Confederation Rhode Island a no show Did not like strong central government Days went on and on Virginia-we need a new government Everyone realized what they were doing could be seen as treason (enter…secret meetings)

Two Plans for Government Virginia and New Jersey!

Virginia Plan Powerful central government with 3 branches of govt 2 House Legislature (hello Parliament!) Bicameral (like bicycle…two wheels) One house chosen by the PEOPLE! One house chosen by state legislatures Representation based on POPULATION Legislature selects executive and judiciary James Madison

New Jersey Plan Strengthen Articles…don’t replace them! One House Legislature Each state gets one vote Reps chosen by state legislatures Multi-person executive branch (1 person? No way!) Congress gets to raise revenue from duties and postal service Supreme Court appointed for life by executive officers

Disagreements The most serious one were Representation Slaves How do we count? Who is included? Slaves Do they count toward representation? Taxes?

The Great Compromise AKA The Connecticut Plan 2 house legislature Senate=same # of reps, no matter state population House of Representatives=# of reps based on state pop Power divided between national and state governments (Federalism) National power declared “Supreme”

3/5th Compromise Southern states REALLY wanted slaves counted in their representation (duh…more representatives = more power!) Northern states said NO WAY How can slaves be counted if they have NO political recognition? It was decided that every slave would be equal 3/5 of a free person Slave trade would not end for 20 years in exchange for Congress getting to be in charge of foreign commerce

Mysteries still exist Length of President? Election of President? Who knows??? Delegates feared putting too much power into the hands of the lower classes Small states feared that giving the power to the legislature would again place power in the large states

Choosing a President Electoral College Each state gets to select electors (however they want) who would vote for the President This way they won’t have to fear the “tumult and disorder” of the “masses voting” Remember the mob behavior of Shay’s Rebellion?

Removing a President (or VP) House of Representatives power to investigate power to impeach (start the process of removal) Senate Power to hold trial, convict and remove Usually called “impeachment” But being impeached does not mean you are kicked out!

Another argument… Two groups emerge during the Constitutional Convention One really, really likes the Constitution One really really doesn’t…

Federalists (love the Constitution) Favor stronger national government Became the first political party in US Wrote a series of essays called The Federalists Papers Informing the public on how great the Constitution is James Madison Alexander Hamilton John Jay

Anti-Federalists (anti-Constitution) Favored strong state government, weak national Wanted to protect states and the people from the tyranny of a powerful national government Wanted a Bill of Rights List of all the things people are entitled to

Themes! Coming of age, darkness and light…wait…that’s for English class

Popular Sovereignty People should have the right to govern themselves Power to choose their rules (voting and elections) Power to remove governing officials from office Where did we steal this from? Magna Carta J Locke Declaration of Independence

Limited Government Basic rights should be protected People were afraid those in government would deny the rights to the average joe, ya know? Bill of Rights is created due to this fear Also a list of what the President and Congress cannot do

Federalism-see Great Compromise Enumerated Powers National government only Ex. maintaining an army, treaties with other countries Reserved Powers States only Ex. schools, marriage/divorce laws, marijuana Concurrent Powers Shared by BOTH! Ex. taxes and courts

Separation of Powers Who did we steal this from? Montesquieu Divide power between 3 branches Americans are still afraid of too much power in the hands of one person or group (A of C…remember?)

Checks and Balances Branches can “check” or limit other branches’ power Limits the threat of tyranny from other branches

Clauses Necessary and Proper Clause Congress has the power to “make all laws which shall be necessary and proper” Aka the Elastic Clause Supremacy Clause National law is “supreme law of the land” National law is given high authority Conflict between state and national government