1. A New Plan for Government
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A New Plan for Government

2. The New Plan of Government was based off different countries governments.
Writers mainly drew on John Locke’s Two Treastises of Civil Government.
“Life, Liberty, and property”
Sound familiar?

3. Federalism
The Constitution created a federal system of government that divided powers between the national/central/federal government.
Constitution is the supreme law of the land.
Federal government gained the power to tax, regulate trade, control currency, raise an army, and declare war.
ALSO could pass laws that were “necessary and proper” for carrying out its own responsibilities.
Why do you think the necessary and proper clause is so important?

4. State’s Power under the CONST.
Regulate trade within its own borders, marriage and divorce laws, education, tax, and local government.

5. Government Structure
The Framers (the writers) of the Constitution used Montesquieu’s idea of a division of powers.
What are the three branches of government?
The first three parts of the Constitution describe each branches powers and responsibilities.

6. Government Branches
Article I of the Constitution declares Congress to be the Legislative Branch. The legislative branch establishes taxes, coins money, and regulates trade.
Article II of the Constitution sets up the Executive Branch. The president and vice president are in charge of the executive branch.
The Electoral College elects the president and vice president.
Article III deals with the Judicial Branch.

7. Checks and Balances
The Constitution contains a system of checks and balances.
Each branch of government has the power to limit or check all of the other branches.
Which branch do you believe has the most power? Which branch do you think deserves the most power?

8. Debate and Adoption
Before the Constitution could go into effect, nine states had to ratify it.
The ratification of the Constitution was hotly debated.

9. The Federalists and Antifederalists Debate
People who supported the new Constitution were called the Federalists.
George Washington, Ben Franklin, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay.
The Antifederalists opposed the new Constitution.
Antifederalists argued that the Constitution gave the national government too much power thus taking away the liberties that they just won.

10. Bill of Rights?
The strongest criticism of the Constitution may have been the lack of bill of rights.
Some states refused to ratify the Constitution if a Bill of Rights were not included.
On December 7, 1787 Delaware became the first state to approve the Constitution.
Virginia would only approve of it if they agreed they would include a Bill of Rights.