1. Honors Civics and Citizenship
The Constitution
Honors Civics and Citizenship

2. Constitutional Convention
1787
55 delegates (12 states)
Revise the Articles of Confederation
Rhode Island a no show
Did not like strong central government
Days went on and on
Virginia-we need a new government
Everyone realized what they were doing could be seen as treason (enter…secret meetings)

3. Two Plans for Government
Virginia and New Jersey!

4. Virginia Plan Powerful central government with 3 branches of govt
2 House Legislature (hello Parliament!)
Bicameral (like bicycle…two wheels)
One house chosen by the PEOPLE!
One house chosen by state legislatures
Representation based on POPULATION
Legislature selects executive and judiciary
James Madison

5. New Jersey Plan Strengthen Articles…don’t replace them!
One House Legislature
Each state gets one vote
Reps chosen by state legislatures
Multi-person executive branch (1 person? No way!)
Congress gets to raise revenue from duties and postal service
Supreme Court appointed for life by executive officers

6. Disagreements The most serious one were Representation Slaves
How do we count? Who is included?
Slaves
Do they count toward representation? Taxes?

7. The Great Compromise AKA The Connecticut Plan 2 house legislature
Senate=same # of reps, no matter state population
House of Representatives=# of reps based on state pop
Power divided between national and state governments (Federalism)
National power declared “Supreme”

8. 3/5th Compromise
Southern states REALLY wanted slaves counted in their representation (duh…more representatives = more power!)
Northern states said NO WAY
How can slaves be counted if they have NO political recognition?
It was decided that every slave would be equal 3/5 of a free person
Slave trade would not end for 20 years in exchange for Congress getting to be in charge of foreign commerce

9. Mysteries still exist Length of President? Election of President?
Who knows???
Delegates feared putting too much power into the hands of the lower classes
Small states feared that giving the power to the legislature would again place power in the large states

10. Choosing a President Electoral College
Each state gets to select electors (however they want) who would vote for the President
This way they won’t have to fear the “tumult and disorder” of the “masses voting”
Remember the mob behavior of Shay’s Rebellion?

11. Removing a President (or VP)
House of Representatives
power to investigate
power to impeach (start the process of removal)
Senate
Power to hold trial, convict and remove
Usually called “impeachment”
But being impeached does not mean you are kicked out!

12. Another argument…
Two groups emerge during the Constitutional Convention
One really, really likes the Constitution
One really really doesn’t…

13. Federalists (love the Constitution)
Favor stronger national government
Became the first political party in US
Wrote a series of essays called The Federalists Papers
Informing the public on how great the Constitution is
James Madison
Alexander Hamilton
John Jay

14. Anti-Federalists (anti-Constitution)
Favored strong state government, weak national
Wanted to protect states and the people from the tyranny of a powerful national government
Wanted a Bill of Rights
List of all the things people are entitled to

15. Themes!
Coming of age, darkness and light…wait…that’s for English class

16. Popular Sovereignty People should have the right to govern themselves
Power to choose their rules (voting and elections)
Power to remove governing officials from office
Where did we steal this from?
Magna Carta
J Locke
Declaration of Independence

17. Limited Government Basic rights should be protected
People were afraid those in government would deny the rights to the average joe, ya know?
Bill of Rights is created due to this fear
Also a list of what the President and Congress cannot do

18. Federalism-see Great Compromise
Enumerated Powers
National government only
Ex. maintaining an army, treaties with other countries
Reserved Powers
States only
Ex. schools, marriage/divorce laws, marijuana
Concurrent Powers
Shared by BOTH!
Ex. taxes and courts

19. Separation of Powers Who did we steal this from? Montesquieu
Divide power between 3 branches
Americans are still afraid of too much power in the hands of one person or group (A of C…remember?)

20. Checks and Balances
Branches can “check” or limit other branches’ power
Limits the threat of tyranny from other branches

22. Clauses Necessary and Proper Clause
Congress has the power to “make all laws which shall be necessary and proper”
Aka the Elastic Clause
Supremacy Clause
National law is “supreme law of the land”
National law is given high authority
Conflict between state and national government