2. Splash Screen

3. Section 1-3 Click the Speaker button to replay the audio. Charles Pinckney

4. Section 1-8 Early Decisions The delegates chose George Washington to preside.  Washington chose a committee to set rules for conducting the convention.  The committee decided that decisions would be made by majority vote, with each state having one vote.  Delegates agreed to keep all discussions secret to enable all to speak freely. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. (pages 53–54)

5. Section 1-9 Early Decisions (cont.) No formal records were kept.  Most of what we know comes from James Madison’s personal notebook of events.  The delegates decided to discard the Articles of Confederation and write a new constitution.  Thus the meeting came to be known as the Constitutional Convention. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. (pages 53–54)

6. Section 2-3 Click the Speaker button to replay the audio. Roger Sherman

7. Section 2-4 Two Opposing Plans James Madison designed the Virginia Plan.  It called for a government with three branches: the legislative branch (lawmakers), executive branch (to carry out the laws), and judicial branch (a system of courts to interpret and apply the laws).  The legislature would have two houses, with the states represented by basis of population in each. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. (pages 55–56)

8. Section 2-5 Two Opposing Plans (cont.) The Virginia Plan appealed to the large states.  The small states feared a government dominated by large states would ignore their interests.  The New Jersey Plan also called for three branches of government.  The legislature would have one house and each state would get one vote.  This plan would give equal power to large and small states. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. (pages 55–56)

9. Section 2-7 Constitutional Compromises Roger Sherman’s committee proposed a Senate and a House of Representatives.  Each state would have equal representation in the Senate. Representation in the House would be based on population.  The delegates accepted this Great Compromise. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. (pages 56–58)

10. Section 2-8 Constitutional Compromises (cont.) Southern states wanted to count enslaved African Americans as part of their population in determining representation in the House.  Northern states opposed this plan.  In the Three-fifths Compromise, delegates agreed that every five enslaved persons would count as three free persons for determining congressional representation and figuring taxes. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. (pages 56–58)

11. Section 2-10 Constitutional Compromises (cont.) Delegates disagreed on whether Congress or the voters should choose the president.  The solution was the Electoral College, a group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president.  Today, the voters in each state, not the legislators, choose electors. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. (pages 56–58)

12. Section 2-12 Approving the Constitution Ratification required at least 9 of 13 state conventions to vote “yes.”  Supporters of the constitution called themselves Federalists to emphasize that the Constitution would create a system of federalism, a form of government in which power is divided between the federal, or national, government and the states.  Federalists argued for a strong central government. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. (pages 58–59)

13. Section 2-13 Approving the Constitution (cont.) Opponents, the Anti-Federalists, wanted more power for the states and less for the national government.  They also wanted a bill of rights to protect individual freedoms.  Both agreed to add a bill of rights. This promise turned the tide.  The Constitution took effect when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. (pages 58–59)

14. Section 3-3 Click the Speaker button to replay the audio. Patrick Henry

15. Section 3-4 The Constitution and Its Parts The main purpose of the Constitution is to provide a framework for government, but it is also the highest authority in the nation.  The powers of all branches come from it. It has three main parts: the Preamble, seven articles, and amendments.  The Preamble states the goals and purposes of government.  The first part makes clear that government gets its power from the people and exists to serve them. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. (pages 82–85)

16. Section 3-5 The Constitution and Its Parts (cont.) The Preamble states six purposes:  Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. (pages 82–85) –“To form a more perfect Union”  –“To establish Justice”  –“To insure domestic Tranquility”  –“To provide for the common defense”  –“To promote the general Welfare”  –“To secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity”

17. Section 3-5 The Constitution and Its Parts (cont.) The articles explain how government is to work.  Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. (pages 82–85) The first three articles describe the powers and responsibilities of the three branches of government.

18. Section 3-6 The Constitution and Its Parts (cont.) Article I describes the legislative branch as two houses with lawmaking authority.  It then describes how members will be chosen.  The article also lists specific powers Congress does and does not have.  Article II establishes the executive, or law- enforcing, branch headed by a president and vice president.  It explains how these leaders will be elected and can be removed and describes their powers and duties. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. (pages 82–85)

19. Section 3-7 The Constitution and Its Parts (cont.) Article III establishes the judicial branch to interpret and apply the laws.  It calls for one Supreme Court plus lower courts and describes the powers of federal courts. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. (pages 82–85)

20. Section 3-8 The Constitution and Its Parts (cont.) Article IV says that all states must respect one another’s laws and explains the process of creating new states.  Article V specifies how the Constitution can be amended.  Article VI declares that the Constitution is the “supreme Law of the Land” and federal law prevails over state law.  Article VII states that the Constitution would take effect when nine states ratify it. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. (pages 82–85)

21. Section 3-10 Amending the Constitution An amendment is any change to the Constitution.  The first 10 amendments are the Bill of Rights.  The Sixteenth Amendment allows Congress to collect an income tax–a tax on people’s earnings.  The Framers made sure that the Constitution could not be altered without overwhelming support of the people.  Only 27 amendments have become law. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. (pages 85–86)

22. Section 3-11 Amending the Constitution (cont.) The amendment process involves two steps: proposal and ratification.  An amendment may be proposed by a vote of two-thirds of both houses of Congress or by a national convention requested by two-thirds of the state legislatures.  Once proposed, an amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the states.  The states can do this by a vote of either the state legislature or a special state convention. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. (pages 85–86)

23. Section 3-13 Interpreting the Constitution The Constitution is a general document and open to interpretation.  Article I gives Congress the power “to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper” to carry out its duties.  This necessary and proper clause allows Congress to exercise implied powers not specifically listed in the Constitution. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. (pages 86–87)

24. Section 3-14 Interpreting the Constitution (cont.) Americans disagree on what laws are “necessary and proper.”  Loose interpreters believe Congress can make any laws not specifically forbidden.  Strict interpreters believe Congress can make only the kinds of laws mentioned by the Constitution.  The Supreme Court has the final authority on interpreting the Constitution.  Each new interpretation, whether strict or loose, changes our government. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. (pages 86–87)

25. Section 3-15 Interpreting the Constitution (cont.) Actions by Congress and the president have also caused new interpretations.  For example, the president requests legislation from Congress.  This action is not directed by the Constitution.  Custom also changes the interpretation of the Constitution.  For example, political parties, not mentioned in the Constitution, are part of today’s political system. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. (pages 86–87)

26. Section 4-3 Click the Speaker button to replay the audio. Benjamin Franklin

27. Section 4-5 Popular Sovereignty (cont.) Article IV guarantees a republic, in which supreme power belongs to the people (popular sovereignty).  The people express their will through elected representatives.  Provisions, such as those about the right to vote, ensure popular sovereignty. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. (pages 89–90)

28. Section 4-7 Rule of Law The Framers believed the government should be strong but not too strong.  The Constitution sets limits by stating what government may and may not do.  Government is also limited by the rule of law.  This means that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. (page 90)

29. Section 4-9 Separation of Powers To keep any one person or group from becoming too powerful, the Framers divided government into three branches with different functions.  This split of authority among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches is called the separation of powers. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. (page 91)

30. Section 4-11 Checks and Balances Checks and balances keep any one branch from becoming too powerful.  Each branch can check, or restrain, the power of the others.  For example, the president can veto laws, Congress can block presidential appointments, and the Supreme Court can overturn laws it finds contrary to the Constitution. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. (page 91–92)

31. Section 4-13 Federalism Under federalism, power is shared by the national government and the states.  Americans must obey the laws of both.  Enumerated or expressed powers are powers the Constitution specifically grants to the national government.  Powers not given to the national government are reserved powers kept by the states.  Powers that both levels of government can exercise are concurrent powers. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. (pages 92–93)

32. Section 4-14 Federalism (cont.) When national and state laws conflict, the Constitution is the final authority.  Neither the national nor state governments may act in violation of it.  The Constitution is both durable and adaptable.  It provides the government sufficient power to keep order, protect, and defend, yet sets limits to avoid tyranny. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.