2014 CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

Setting up speeches Write each speech on a separate sheet of paper. Put your delegate name and state as your heading. Put the Roman Numeral and Letter of the speech as your title. Write the question on the second line. Skip a line and write your delegates’ opinion. List 3 reasons why your delegate might think that way on the next 3 lines. Write your paragraph on the bottom half of the page.

Speech II.A. Options – 1 house, 2 houses; representation equal or based on population. How many houses in the legislature? What would be the benefit of having 2 houses that must agree on all laws? What might be the problem? (what might go wrong?) What might be the benefit of only having 1 house to make laws? What might be the problem? (what might go wrong?) Basis for representation – population or equal What would states with large populations want? Why? What would states will small population fear? What do they want? -emotionally charged language -tie in historical examples -try to project into the future – what can go wrong if you don’t get what you want or what can be fixed if you do

Notes: Compromises, pp A. Slavery B. Trade C. The Executive

Speech II.B. – Legislative Branch Should slaves be counted in the number used to figure how many votes each state should get in Congress? With the growth of America’s population, what will the representation in Congress look like in 20 years if you do/do not count the slaves? What will it do to your state’s/region’s power in Congress if you do/do not count the slaves? Should slaves be counted in the number used to figure how much tax money each state should send to the national government? What will it do to your personal/state’s/region’s/nation’s financial situation if you do/do not count the slaves?

Speech II.C. – READ Pg. 243!!! Should Congress have the power to regulate commerce and the slave trade? –Commerce = trade –Slave trade = the importation of slaves for sale in the US –Regulate = to have the power to make laws about something –Import tax = a tax on goods brought into the country (purchased from another country and brought in) –Export tax = a tax on goods your country sells to other countries Why might you want the new government to regulate trade? Why might you not want the government to have that power? –Should the states or the national government have that power? Why might you want the government to have the power to tax imports or exports? Why not? If you give Congress the power to regulate the slave trade, what will the North want to do with that power?

Speech II.C. – READ Pg. 243!!! Should Congress have the power to regulate commerce and the slave trade? –Regulate trade = to make laws about trade with other countries or betweeen states within the country. –Commerce = trade –Slave trade = the importation of slaves for sale in the US –Regulate = to have the power to make laws about something –Import tax = a tax on goods brought into the country (purchased from another country and brought in) –Export tax = a tax on goods your country sells to other countries Why might you want the new government to regulate trade? Why might you not want the government to have that power? –Should the states or the national government have that power? Why? Why might you want the government to have the power to tax imports or exports? Why not? If you give Congress the power to regulate the slave trade, what will the North want to do with that power? Should the federal government regulate trade in general – No: States to make laws Power issue for states Different states have different needs Imbalances in finances between states Yes More organized – all following the same laws, all trading with other countries using the same laws Slave trade Import & Export taxes

Speech IIC Options Should the federal government regulate trade in general – No: States to make laws Power issue for states Different states have different needs Imbalances in finances between states Yes More organized – all following the same laws, all trading with other countries using the same laws Slave trade Import & Export taxes

III A. How many executives?

one executive One executive means you have one head of government (who we call a president) who performs the outlined duties of the executive. <What would be some advantages of one executive? <What would be some disadvantages of only one executive?

more than one executive More than one executive means you have two or more individuals who perform the outlined duties of the executive. <What would be some advantages of more than one executive? <What would be some disadvantages of more than one executive?

III. A. Executive Branch Options: Single Executive (1) Plural Executive (more than 1 or a committee) No Executive (keep power in states’ hands) How did many people/states feel about a strong national government with one person in charge? What are the advantages/disadvantages of having a single person in charge of the executive branch, representing the authority of the government to enforce laws? What are the advantages/disadvantages of having a group of people in charge of the executive branch, representing the authority of the government to enforce laws? If you know that people fear a single executive, what compromises might you offer to help assuage (calm) their fears? Remember, you can talk about why what you want is good for the country and why what the opposition wants is bad (could be dangerous/what could go wrong).

III. A. Executive Branch – See notes you took over p. 243 Options: Single Executive (1) Plural Executive (more than 1 or a committee) No Executive (keep power in states’ hands) How did many people/states feel about a strong national government with one person in charge? What are the advantages/disadvantages of having a single person in charge of the executive branch, representing the authority of the government to enforce laws? What are the advantages/disadvantages of having a group of people in charge of the executive branch, representing the authority of the government to enforce laws? If you know that people fear a single executive, what compromises might you offer to help assuage (calm) their fears? Remember, you can talk about why what you want is good for the country and why what the opposition wants is bad (could be dangerous/what could go wrong).

III.C. Executive Branch Possible Powers to give the chief executive: –Power to declare war –Power to be commander-in-chief – to direct military policy once war is declared –Power to appoint people to office – advisors, court justices, department heads –Veto power: power to refuse to enact a law Absolute veto – once the executive vetoes a law, the issue is dead Veto with Congressional power to override – once the executive vetoes a law, Congress may reconsider it, and with enough votes, pass the law anyway – overriding the veto –Power to make treaties with foreign nations You may discuss why the executive NEEDS a particular power, or why it might be DANGEROUS to give one person a particular power, based on your delegate’s POV. Read your delegate role sheet carefully. Generally, if it doesn’t list a particular power, you DO NOT want him to have that power. DON’T try to include everything; just refer to what you want and maybe 1 or 2 other items that you don’t want.

III B/E III B – how exec will be chosen Direct election by people National Legislature/Congress, Senate- 240 Electors – p. 243 III E – can exec serve more than one term yes No

III D – Executive Branch & III E How long should the president’s term be? Options: 3 years 4 years 6 years 7 years years Lifetime, on good behavior – don’t break major laws III E Should the president be able to serve more than 1 more term? Yes No Would it be better for the president to serve less than 10 years or most of a lifetime?

IV. A. Judicial Branch Options: 1 Supreme Court (only 1 court to hear all cases about national laws) 1 Supreme Court and some lower federal courts (more than 1 court) No National courts at all (keep power in state courts) How did many people/states feel about a strong national government? What do courts do? Why might you need a national court system? Why might you think you DON’T need a national court? What might be a reason you want more than 1 national court? What might happen if you only have 1 court to hear all cases involving national laws? Tribunal = court Inferior = lower

<The Judicial Branch of government consists of the Supreme Court and lower courts. The Supreme Court interprets (decides if laws are fair) matters concerning the Constitution. Lower courts rule in civil and criminal cases.

IV A. What type of national court system should be created?

<Most delegates favored a Supreme Court. <However, there was disagreement on whether there should be inferior national courts, or if inferior courts should be handled within each state. <National power versus state power was again an issue.

IV. A. Judicial Branch Options: Single, national Supreme Court (will have states courts) Supreme Court and Lower national courts (will have state courts) No national courts – use existing state courts A. 1 national court B. 1 national court C. NO national court, only state courts Lower Federal Courts

IV. A. Judicial Branch Options: Single, national Supreme Court Supreme Court and Lower national courts No national courts – use existing state courts How did many people/states feel about a strong national government? What are the advantages/disadvantages of having a single national court, representing the authority of the government to interpret laws and punish lawbreakers? What are the advantages/disadvantages of having a supreme court and lower federal courts? What might be advantages/disadvantages of having no national courts, just state courts? Remember, you can talk about why what you want is good for the country and why what the opposition wants is bad (could be dangerous/what could go wrong).

III. A. Executive Branch Options: Single Executive (1) Plural Executive (more than 1 or a committee) No Executive (keep power in states’ hands) How did many people/states feel about a strong national government with one person in charge? What are the advantages/disadvantages of having a single person in charge of the executive branch, representing the authority of the government to enforce laws? What are the advantages/disadvantages of having a group of people in charge of the executive branch, representing the authority of the government to enforce laws? If you know that people fear a single executive, what compromises might you offer to help assuage (calm) their fears? Remember, you can talk about why what you want is good for the country and why what the opposition wants is bad (could be dangerous/what could go wrong). IV. A. Judicial Branch Options: Single, national Supreme Court Supreme Court and Lower national courts No national courts – use existing state courts How did many people/states feel about a strong national government? What are the advantages/disadvantages of having a single national court, representing the authority of the government to interpret laws and punish lawbreakers? What are the advantages/disadvantages of having a supreme court and lower federal courts? What might be advantages/disadvantages of having no national courts, just state courts? Remember, you can talk about why what you want is good for the country and why what the opposition wants is bad (could be dangerous/what could go wrong).