1. 7 Principles of the Constitution
Popular Sovereignty: Government authority comes from the People! Ex: Decisions made by vote of the people Republicanism: People elect representatives instead of direct participation Ex: Congressmen, Senators, and the President are all elected by the people Limited Government: government has only the powers that the Constitution gives to it. Ex: States Rights Federalism: division of power between the federal government and the states. Ex: Powers the national government has over state governments Separation of Powers: the government is divided into three branches Ex: Legislative Branch makes laws, Executive Branch enforces laws, Judicial Branch interprets laws Checks and Balances: Each branch of government has the power to check, or limit, the actions of the other two Ex: Presidential Veto Individual Rights: The Bill of Rights lists many individual rights, or rights all people have Ex: First Amendment James Madison- Father of the Constitution (Federalist) George Mason- Refused to ratify Constitution until the Bill of Rights was added (anti Federalist)

2. The Great Compromise The Great Compromise
The Virginia Plan
Calls for 3 branches of government:
Legislative- upper and lower houses
Executive- President and vice president
Judicial- court system
The New Jersey Plan
Stilled called for three branches of government but the legislative branch would only have one house and each state would only have one vote.
The Great Compromise
The government would have a legislative branch to make the laws, an executive branch to enforce the laws and a judicial to interpret the laws.
Members of the lower house are the representatives and their amount is determined by a state’s population.
Members of the upper house are the senate and each state is one vote.

3. The 3/5 Compromise Debate
Northern States Disagreed. They argued that slaves should not be counted as population because they are regarded as property.
Southern States
Agreed. If slaves were counted the southern states would have more representatives in the house of representatives.
3/5 Compromise
The 3/5 Compromise said that the southern states should have 3 population votes for every 5 slaves.

4. First Political Parties
Federalists
Wanted power to be with the National Government
Believed that a strong national government would keep order and provide stability
Did not think the Bill of Rights is necessary
James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton expressed their ideas in the Federalist Papers
Democratic Republicans
(Anti-Federalists)
Wanted to keep power with the states
Feared that a strong national government would not protect individual rights
Demanded that a Bill of Rights be added to the Constitution
Lead by John Adams, George Mason, and Patrick Henry

5. The Bill of Rights Amendments
1st-Freedom of Speech, Religion, Press, Petition, and Assembly
2nd Right to bear arms
3rd No quartering of soldiers in times of peace
4th Protection from unreasonable search and seizure
5th Rights of the accused (Due process, no double jeopardy, no self-incrimination)
6th Right to a speedy trial and trial by jury
7th Right to a trial by jury in civil cases
8th No excessive bail or cruel and unusual punishment
9th Individual Rights
10th States’ Rights

6. Two Ways to Amend the Constitution
Proposed by 2/3 of each chamber of Congress
Ratified by ¾ of the states
Proposed by a national convention requested by 2/3 of the states
Ratified by ¾ of the states OR

7. Declaration of Independence
Written by Thomas Jefferson
Signed in 1776
Declared Independence from Britain
Detailed grievances (reasons for declaring independence). Grievances included:
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.”
“He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.”
“He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.”

8. 12th Amendment
Placed the President and Vice President on separate ballots.
The purpose of the Amendment was to make disputed elections less likely