Constitutional Convention Members Principles Agreements and Compromises

Members White 55 delegates Males Statesmen, lawyers, planters. bankers, businessmen Most under age 50 ABSENT from the Convention John Adams- ambassador to England Thomas Jefferson- ambassador to France Patrick Henry- “smelled a rat” Sam Adams- not chosen by state to be part of the delegation

Famous Members Alexander Hamilton- leader of strong government George Washington- chairman of the convention James Madison- ‘father of the Constitution’ Benjamin Franklin- oldest member at 81 was also at the 2nd Continental Congress

Agreements and Compromises All agreed that rights to property should be protected. Ben Franklin proposed universal suffrage for all males, but most wanted only those with land to vote Most delegates favored a bicameral legislature

Agreements and Compromises Virginia Plan- favored by large states Proposed by Edmund Randolph Written by James Madison Endorsed by Alexander Hamilton Wanted Government with a bicameral legislature Large house elected by popular vote Smaller house chosen by larger house members from nominees chosen by state legislatures Number of Representatives based on wealth

Agreements and Compromises New Jersey Plan- favored by small states Proposed by William Paterson Unicameral house Each state one vote Did not require a strong central government

The Great Compromise Aka: Connecticut Compromise Bicameral house- benefit all states One house called Senate (Small states happy) Members chosen by the state legislatures Each state gets one vote One house called House of Representatives(Lg. States) Members chosen by population Number of members based on population

Agreements and Compromises Three-fifths clause favors Southern states All slaves would be counted in the census for representation in the House as 3/5ths of a man

Agreements and Compromises Electoral College People chosen by the state legislatures Vote for president and vice-president Supposed to reflect the will of the people

Agreements and Compromises Amendment compromise 2/3 vote of each house of Congress and ratified by ¾ of the state legislatures 2/3 vote of both houses and ratified by state conventions of ¾ of the states (used 21st amendment)

General Contents of the Articles of the Constitution Provides organized structure of how the government is supposed to work PREAMBLE – States the purposes of government Article 1: Legislative Branch Article 2: Executive Branch Article 3: Judicial Branch Article 4: Relations among the States Article 5: Amending Process Article 6: National Supremacy Article 7: Ratification of the Constitution

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH – makes laws CONGRESS HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES 435 members Based On Population TERM LEVEL – 2 years SENATE 100 members 2 per state Each state has equal representation TERM LEVEL – 6 years Each member serves on committees

EXECUTIVE BRANCH Enforces Laws PRESIDENT TERM LEVEL – 4 years VICE PRESIDENT President of the Senate TERM LEVEL – 4 years 15 Executive Departments (Cabinet) Each headed by a “Secretary” Independent Agencies (NASA, Post Office, FDA, CDC, etc)

JUDICIAL BRANCH– interprets laws SUPREME COURT 9 Justices TERM LEVEL – Life terms COURT of APPEALS Appeal Courts DISTRICT COURTS Trial Courts

The Bill of Rights The First 10 Amendments to the Constitution Take notes on the slides as they appear.

1st Amendment The 1st Amendment guarantees freedom of religion, speech, the press, assembly, and petition. This means that we all have the right to: practice any religion we want to to speak freely to assemble (meet) to address the government (petition) to publish newspapers, TV, radio, Internet (press)

1st Amendment Personal Freedoms (Speech, religion, press, assemble)

2nd Amendment The 2nd Amendment protects the right to bear arms, which means the right to own a gun.

3rd Amendment The 3rd Amendment says “No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.” This means that we cannot be forced to house or quarter soldiers.

4th Amendment The 4th Amendment protects the people from unreasonable searches and seizures. This means that the police must have a warrant to enter our homes. It also means the government cannot take our property, papers, or us, without a valid warrant based on probable cause (good reason).

5th Amendment The 5th Amendment protects people from being held for committing a crime unless they are properly indicted, (accused) You may not be tried twice for the same crime (double jeopardy) You don’t have to testify against yourself in court. (Self-incrimination)

6th Amendment The 6th Amendment guarantees a speedy trial (you can’t be kept in jail for over a year without a trial) an impartial jury (doesn’t already think you are guilty) that the accused can confront witnesses against them the accused must be allowed to have a lawyer

7th Amendment The 7th Amendment guarantees the right to a speedy civil trial. A civil trial differs from a criminal trial. A civil trial is when someone sues someone else. A criminal trial is when the state tries to convict someone of a crime.

8th Amendment The 8th Amendment guarantees that punishments will be fair and not cruel, and that extraordinarily large fines will not be set.

9th Amendment All rights not stated in the Constitution and not forbidden by the Constitution belong to the people. This means that the states can do what they want if the Constitution does not forbid it.

10th Amendment The 10th Amendment states that any power not granted to the federal government belongs to the states or to the people.

FREEDOM of Religion, Press, Speech, Assembly, Petition "BILL OF RIGHTS" First 10 Amendments to the Constitution in 1791 Rights and freedoms won in the Revolution are preserved and protected… Bill of rights FREEDOM of Religion, Press, Speech, Assembly, Petition RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS No QUARTERING of soldiers in peacetime NO UNREASONABLE SEARCH and SEIZURE PROTECTION of ACCUSED RIGHT TO A SPEEDY, PUBLIC TRIAL BY JURY TRIAL BY JURY IN CIVIL SUITS NO EXCESSIVE FINES or CRUEL PUNISHMENT POWERS RESERVED TO THE PEOPLE POWERS RESERVED TO THE STATES

AMENDMENTS

AMENDMENTS