Constitutional Convention Philadelphia May – September 1781

What document do these quotes critique? "It does not provide against foreign attacks." "It does not secure Harmony to the States." "It is incapable of producing certain blessings to the States." "It cannot defend itself against encroachments." "It is not superior to State constitutions."

Purpose of Meeting Framers in Philadelphia to decide how to reorganize the national government. They also agree that all proceedings will be kept secret and confidential. Why do you think? Framers resolve that the government must have enough power to: Deal effectively with nation’s needs Protect rights Promote welfare

Purpose of Meeting But Framers did not want government to: Abuse its powers Framers also did not want to be limited to improving the Articles of Confederation. After much thought/debate, they decided to create a new constitution. Most important question was, How will it work? What is it?

Virginia Plan: A National Government Three branch government: Legislative, Executive and Judicial Bi-Cameral (2 House) Legislature: House of Representatives (direct) and Senate (based on legislative vote) Members in both houses based on proportional representation National legislature would have power to strike down state laws if conflict with national laws

Virginia Plan Make all laws that individual states were unable to pass Call forth armed forces Elect people to serve in the executive/judicial branch National government would have power to collect taxes, make laws and enforce them in its own court system Essentially, citizens would be under two governments: National and State Both would get their authority from the people

New Jersey Plan Improve upon the Articles of Confederation Legislative Branch: 1 House with equal representation Taxes: National govt. would have power to levy certain taxes especially power to raise if they refuse Control over states: laws and treaties passed would be supreme law of nation

NJ Plan Executive Branch: Made up of several persons selected by Congress Judicial: A supreme court would be appointed by leaders of executive branch

Virginia Plan The National Legislature should consist of two branches. The people of each State should elect the First Branch of the National Legislature. The Second Branch of the National Legislature should be elected by the first. The National Legislature shall have power "to legislate in all cases to which the separate States are incompetent," and "to negative all laws passed by the States, contravening in the opinion of the National Legislature the articles of Union." The National Legislature shall elect a National Executive.

Virginia Plan The Executive and a number of National Judiciary will form a Council of Revision. This Council will review laws passed by the National Legislature and have the power to reject the laws, unless the National Legislature can pass the act again. The National Legislature will create the National Judiciary. The structure will consist of one or more supreme tribunals and inferior tribunals. Judges will be appointed for life, during good behavior. State Legislatures, Executives, and Judges are to be bound by oath to support the Articles. The new plan for government should be ratified by the people, through assemblies of representatives chosen by the people.

New Jersey Plan The New Jersey Plan supporters had to contend with the question, why are states qua states entitled to equal representation? There are two answers. 1) The colonies became the States and the States have been equally represented in every continental scheme from the start, so why the move to alter tradition? 2) The Declaration of Independence declared the independence, equality, and sovereignty of each state. And the Treaty of Paris recognized the independence of the states as part of the principles of the peace.Declaration of Independence

Hamilton Plan / Great Compromise Hamilton stated that there are five "great & essential principles necessary for the support of government." 1. " An active & constant interest in supporting it," 2. "The love of power. Men love power," 3. " An habitual attachment of the people," 4. "Force by which may be understood a coercion of laws or coercion of arms," and 5. "Influence." According to Hamilton neither plan meets these five objectives.Hamilton

Review Why was the rule of secrecy important to the Framers during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 if a goal of the Convention was to produce a Constitution for the United States that would reflect a representative democratic republic? How did the Virginia Plan, New Jersey Plan, and Hamilton Plan address the structure and powers of Congress? How did the Virginia Plan, New Jersey Plan, and Hamilton Plan address if states should send an equal or proportional number of representatives to Congress? How did the Virginia Plan, New Jersey Plan, and Hamilton Plan address if the people or the state legislatures should elect representatives? Why the Virginia Plan was introduced and then amended and explain why the New Jersey Plan was introduced and then rejected.