1. The United States Constitution
Not long after the Revolution began, Congress realized that the independent colonies would need a plan of government.
In 1777, Congress approved a plan called the Articles of Confederation.

2. For 4 months the delegates worked to write the new constitution.
Revising the Articles
For 4 months the delegates worked to write the new constitution.
They agreed the country would
continue to be a republic.
In a republic, citizens elect their government leaders to carry out their wishes.
They also agreed that the new
constitution would be the supreme law
of the land.

3. Constitutional Convention delegates had to deal with some difficult problems:
How would the states be represented in Congress?
How would enslaved people be counted in determining a state’s population?
What should be done about the slave trade?
How would the power of different branches of government be limited?
How would the national government share power with the states?

4. The Constitution ratify- Republic- popular sovereignty-
checks and balances-
Federalists-
Anti-Federalists-
veto-
amendment-
separation of powers-

5. How would the states be represented in Congress?
Virginia Plan proposed that each state was represented in Congress (2 houses) based on their population. Introduced by Edmund Randolph and other Virginia delegates. It favored large states.
New Jersey Plan proposed each state had the same number of delegates to Congress. (1 house) Introduced by William Patterson of New Jersey.

6. THE GREAT COMPROMISE/THE CONNECTICUT PLAN
A committee of delegates, led by Roger Sherman of Connecticut presented a new plan.
There would be a legislature with two houses:
The Senate would have 2 representatives per state
The House of Representatives would be based on a state’s population

7. Three-Fifths Compromise
How would enslaved people be counted in determining a state’s population? Should they be counted or not?
Three-fifths of the slave population would be counted for the purposes of taxation and representation.

9. How would the power of the different branches of government be limited?
The Constitution provided a strong central government.
The government depended on popular sovereignty (or the will and consent of the people).
Popular sovereignty highlighted the opening sentence in the Preamble to the Constitution: “We the people.”

10. Separation of Powers
The first 3 articles of the Constitution lay out the framework for 3 Branches of Government in a system with separation of powers
separation of powers.

11. The legislative branch creates (makes) laws.
The U.S. Capital
The legislative branch creates (makes) laws.
Legislative Branch
CONGRESS
House of
Representatives
Senate

12. Legislative Branch
Is made up of the Senate (2 per state) and the House of Representatives (based on population)
Has the job of creating the laws
Powers given to Congress include raising an army, declaring war, and coining and printing money. Congress also controls trade. Congress can impeach the President.
Congress has to approve the President’s choice of Supreme Court judges.

13. The Executive branch carries out the laws.
The White House
Executive branch
President
President’s
Cabinet

14. Executive Branch
Is made up of the President, the Vice-President, and the Cabinet
Has the job of enforcing the laws
Is the commander in chief of the military
Powers given to the President include the appointment of justices and his cabinet, making treaties, and the ability to veto (reject) bills from Congress.

15. The Judicial branch interprets laws.
The Supreme Court
The Judicial branch interprets laws.
Judicial branch
U.S. Supreme
Court
Lower Courts
federal & state

16. Judicial Branch Is made up of local, state, and federal judges
The Supreme Court has the job of interpreting the laws (deciding if the laws are constitutional)
The Supreme Court has the power to strike down any law that goes against the Constitution.

19. Checks and Balances
The presidents has the power to veto, (or cancel) any bill passed by Congress. But Congress can override a presidential veto if the bill is supported by a 2/3 majority in both the House and the Senate.
Congress has the power to declare war, but it names the president as the commander-in-chief of the nation’s armed forces.
The president has the power to make treaties and to appoint justices to the Supreme Court, but both are subject to the consent of the Senate.

20. Article IV-Federalism
Federalism is the relationship between the national and state government.
The framers (creators) of the Constitution believed that powers should be shared between the central (national) and state governments.

22. FINALLY the Constitution is Complete!!!
The Delegates to the Constitutional Convention completed the writing of the Constitution in September 1787.
The Delegates knew the Constitution would need to be ratified (approved) by 9 states to become the law of the land.
The Delegates also decided that any amendments (changes), would need 2/3 vote in each house of Congress , and ¾ of the state legislatures.

23. But Wait!! It is not the Law of the land Yet!
Federalists (people who supported the constitution) such as:
James Madison
Alexander Hamilton
John Jay
Wrote the Federalist Papers which were essays in favor of ratification (approval) of the constitution.
GO U.S. CONSTITUTION!!!

24. Anti-Federalists
Others, like Patrick Henry, thought the Constitution went too far in favor of a strong national government.
These people were known as Anti-Federalists. They worried about state’s rights and individual liberties under the Constitution.
Anti-Federalist wanted a Bill of Rights
They didn’t want the National government to be too strong. They wanted the state government to have more power.

26. We have a Constitution!
In mid-1788, New Hampshire's vote gave ratification the needed 9 states!
In order to complete the ratification process, the Federalists promised to agree to a Bill of Rights to protect the freedoms of individuals.

27. The Bill of Rights contains the first ten amendments (changes) to the Constitution.
These amendments were ratified, or approved, in 1791.

28. The Bill of Rights guarantees citizens:
Amendment #1
Freedom of Speech/Press
Freedom of Religion
The Right to Assemble
The Right to Petition the government

29. Amendment #7
The Right to a Trial by a Jury of their Peers
Amendment #2
The Right to Bear Arms
Amendment s #3 and #4
The Right to be Safe in your home -against unlawful searches and seizures
Amendment s#5 and #8
Outlaws the use of Cruel and Unusual Punishment
Amendment # 6
The government cannot force citizens to Testify Against Themselves at a Trial