1. From King to Constitution

2. Monarchy King is at the top of the hierarchy
Nobles and their Serfs serve him
King has absolute authority
Tax
War
Confiscation of property
Imprisonment

3. King John Abuses Power Declares war without support of those under him
Demands more taxes and sale of lands to pay for wars
Imprisons without trial or charges

4. Magna Carta (1215) Nobles force King to sing contract
Taxation with consent
Trials with peers
No imprisonment without charges/ trial
1st time in History a rulers authority is limited
The people have rights the government must recognize

5. Fast forward to 1770s America was a British Colony
King is subjecting colonists to
Taxation without consent
Imprisonment without charges
Searches without cause
Trial without peers
Colonist want the rights of Englishmen!
American Revolution

6. Articles of Confederation (1781)
First American Constitution
Power is shared equally by the states
Wanted weak federal government
No President
No power to tax
No power to raise an Army
No judicial system
Cannot change Articles without unanimous consent of ALL states
Very inflexible

7. Constitution of the United States(1787)
3 branches (Executive, Legislative, Judicial)
Checks and Balances (each branch is assigned powers that check the others)
Amendments
2/3 of Congress
¾ of States
Difficult but allows for flexibility