1. Comparing it to the Articles of Confederation
U.S. Constitution
Comparing it to the Articles of Confederation

2. Articles of Confederation
Our 1st form of government
Had many problems
Congress from 13 states

3. Articles of Confederation
Weak central government
No national courts
No power to tax
No money meant no army
Important laws had to be approved by at least 9 states

4. Articles of Confederation
No executive officer to enforce laws
No way to control trade between states
No way to settle quarrels between states

5. Articles of Confederation
States had more power
They could tax
They had courts
States could make currency

6. to write a new Constitution
It was necessary
to write a new Constitution
Constitution Convention
Held in Philadelphia
Independence Hall
George Washington was president of the convention
The Constitution was written to solve the problem of a weak national government and give the responsibility of government to the people.

7. Basic Ideas of the Constitution
Government comes directly from the people who elect the people to represent them( This is stated in the Preamble)
Set up a Federal System of Government: Government powers need to be shared by State and National Governments
3 branches of government were needed – Executive, Legislative, Judicial
No one branch of government could have more power than the others

8. Article I – Legislative Branch
Purpose - Make laws
2 houses or bodies of Congress
House of Representatives – based on states population (the more people, the more representatives – S.C. has 6)
Senate – each state gets 2 senators (100 in all)

9. Article 2 – Executive Branch
Purpose - Enforce laws
President
Vice President
15 cabinet members

10. Article 3 – Judicial Branch
Purpose-to interpret laws and decide on if the laws support the constitution
Federal court system - 3 levels of courts
Supreme
Court of Appeals
District

11. In Summary The Constitution provided:
3 separate branches of government including a president and courts
No branch could have too much power
A federal system of government
A government run “By the people”