1. CONSTITUTIONAL
CONVENTION

2. After Revolution a new government had to be created
*first was Articles of Confederation
Why did the Articles fail?

4. Meeting of the colonies was called to revise the Articles.
Rhode Island did not send delegates
Meet in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at
Independence Hall
May-September, 1787
Shay’s Rebellion had convinced people that the Articles government could not deal with country’s economic problems

5. The delegates would quickly realize that the Articles were so weak, that a whole new form of government must be written.
The Constitution would end up being a bundle of compromises that no one was really happy with.
This new government would balance power between State and National governments.

7. THE DELEGATES
55 men
Well educated
Professionals, government experience
DID NOT have faith in common man

8. KEY DELEGATES George Washington-President
Edmund J. Randolph-Virginia Plan for large
states
William Paterson-New Jersey Plan for small
Roger Sherman-Great Compromise

9. KEY DELEGATES
James Wilson-3/5’s Compromise
Alexander Hamilton-Strong central
government-King
Charles C. Pinckney-States’ Rights advocate
James Madison- “Father of the
Constitution”
Major William Jackson-secretary

10. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

11. *makes the laws
*composed of Congress
*House of Representatives
*lower house
*Senate
*upper house

12. ISSUES
How many houses should be in Congress?
*Virginia Plan-2 houses with representation based on population of state
States with larger populations such as Virginia, New York and Pennsylvania tended to support Virginia plan

13. *New Jersey Plan-1 house with representation based on equality for each state
States with smaller populations such as Delaware, Connecticut and New Hampshire tended to support the New Jersey plan

14. Great Compromise-2 houses, Lower House-population and Upper House-equality

15. ISSUES
2. Should slaves count as property to tax and/or as population for representation?
*South-count for representation, but not
for taxation
*North-count for taxation but, not for
representation
*3/5’s Compromise-3/5’s of states’ slave
population count for both

16. ISSUES 3. Who regulates trade and commerce? *commerce-business
*tariff-tax on imports
*North-Congress regulates commerce and
slave trade
*South-State governments regulate both

17. EXECUTIVE BRANCH

18. *enforces the law
Executive checks state governments
*President
*Vice President

19. ISSUES How many executives? Assistants or not?
If assistants, equal power or not?

20. ISSUES 2. Is Executives power limited? If so, by whom?
Why should power be limited?

21. ISSUES
3. Who selects Executive?
Electoral College
compromise to ensure that
the people would have a
check on their power

22. ELECTORAL COLLEGE
Popular election held
Electors appointed
Electors meet and vote-do not have to vote same as popular election
Electors elect President and Vice President

24. JUDICIAL BRANCH

25. *interprets the laws
*Supreme Court
*inferior courts
inferior means they are lower or
have less power

26. Main power of the Supreme Court
Judicial Review-authority of the
Court to decide if a law violates the Constitution. If it does, it cannot be a law.

27. ISSUES
Should the Justices serve a life term?
*they could retire
2. Can they be impeached?
*impeach-ACCUSE a government official
of a crime. Punishment is to
remove from office.

28. How is it all going to work?