1. Articles of Confederation to Constitution
Unit 1 – Foundations 1.4 to 1.6
Articles of Confederation to Constitution

2. Unit 1: Foundations of American Democracy
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3. Topic 1.4 Challenges of the Articles of Confederation
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5. Articles of Confederation
Established a very weak federal government
Established a unicameral Congress in which each state had 1 vote
No executive or judicial branch
Each state was sovereign
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6. Articles of Confederation
Congress could
Declare war & make treaties
Raise an army
Coin Money
Borrow money
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7. Articles of Confederation
Congress could NOT
Tax the states or people
Regulate interstate commerce
States could
Impose tariffs on other states
Create their own currencies
Refuse to recognize federal treaties
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8. Articles of Confederation Video
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9. Shays’ Rebellion
Lack of centralized military power led to a slow response to put down the rebellion
Showed the weakness of the federal government under the Articles of Confederation
Caused more people to support a new Constitution & stronger central government
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10. 1. “Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every Power, Jurisdiction and right, which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled.”
2. “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
For each quote identify whether it more likely came from the Articles of Confederation or the Constitution. Explain your reasoning.
The passages are similar, however the first allows states to have all powers not expressly delegated to the federal government, while the second omits the word expressly. Which of these do you think an anti-federalist would prefer? Why?
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12. Topic 1.5 Ratification of the U.S. Constitution
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14. Do you believe that elected representatives have an obligation to compromise when making important policy decisions? Is it better to be principled and refuse to negotiate & compromise, or is better to negotiate and compromise to get a policy made, even if that policy isn’t exactly what you want?
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15. Constitutional Convention
Stated purpose: “for the sole and expressed purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation
Political negotiation and compromise significantly impacted the development of the Constitution
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16. Constitutional Convention
Virginia plan
Bicameral legislature in which both houses are apportioned based on population
Favored large states
Stronger National Government
New Jersey Plan
Unicameral legislature in which all states are equal
Favored Small states
Merely wanted to amend Articles of Confederation
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17. Great Compromise AKA Connecticut Compromise
Established a bicameral legislature
House: Population; Senate: 2 per state
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18. Grand Committee Negotiated the Great Compromise
Convinced the large states to agree to the bicameral legislature with equal representation in the Senate by requiring that all revenue bills originate in the House
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19. Electoral College
Compromise between those who wanted Congress to vote for the president and those who wanted citizens to directly elect the president
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20. Read the excerpt from Federalist No. 68 and consider the following:
Do you think the Electoral College has accomplished what Hamilton said that it would?
Alternative proposals for the selection of the president included Congress choosing the president, state governors choosing the president, Congress choosing a presidential council made up of multiple people, an election by the people, and a lifetime appointment for the president. Which, if any, of these proposals do you think would be best?
For each of the above proposals, identify whether it better exemplifies participatory or elite democracy.
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21. Three-fifths compromise
Each slave would count as 3/5 a person for the purpose of representation in the House of Representatives
Why do you think that the three-fifths compromise was so important for getting Southern support for the Great Compromise and the Electoral College?
Predict how the three-fifths compromise affected congressional representation.
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22. Compromise on importation of slaves
Congress could not ban the importation of slaves for 20 years from the ratification of the Constitution
Southern states agreed to end the importation of slaves after 20 years if northern states returned fugitive slaves
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23. Amendment process
Debates about self-government during the drafting of the Constitution led to the establishment of an amendment process. The Constitution can be amended by either:
2/3 vote in both Houses of Congress to propose & ¾ of state legislatures ratify
2/3 of the states request a national convention to propose & ¾ of state conventions ratify
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24. Contemporary debates
What is the proper role of the central government?
What are the rightful powers of the state governments?
What rights are retained by individuals?
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25. The debate over the role of the central government, the powers of state governments, and the rights of individuals remains at the heart of present-day constitutional issues about democracy and governmental power, as represented by:
Debates about government surveillance resulting from the federal government’s response to the 9/11 attacks
The debate about the role of the federal government in public school education
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27. Topic 1.6 Principles of American Government
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29. Separation of powers
Governmental powers are assigned to three different branches of government: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial
Congressional powers:
Make laws
Power of the purse
Declare war
Executive powers:
Enforce laws
Make treaties
Commander-in-Chief
Grant pardons
Judicial powers:
Interpret laws
Review decisions of state and lower federal courts
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30. Checks & Balances
Each branch is given the ability to block or influence actions of the other branches
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31. Congressional checks Congress checks on the judiciary:
Alter the # of judges on the Court
Change the jurisdiction of lower courts & the appellate jurisdiction of the S.C.
Propose a constitutional amendment to override Court’s decision
Pass legislation to limit the impact of a Court ruling
Confirm judicial nominees (Senate only)
Impeach federal judges
Congressional checks on the president:
Override presidential veto (2/3 both houses)
Impeach the president
Refuse to pass a bill the president wants
Confirm presidential nominees (Senate only)
Ratify a treaty (Senate only)
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32. Executive checks Presidential checks on the Judiciary:
Nominate federal judges
Ignore a Supreme Court ruling
Presidential checks on Congress:
Veto legislation
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33. Judicial checks Judicial checks on Congress:
Declare federal laws unconstitutional
Judicial checks on the president:
Declare executive orders/presidential actions unconstitutional
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34. From the AP Government Student Ultimate Review Packet
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35. Separation of powers & checks and balances
Prevents any one branch or person from obtaining too much power
Provides multiple access points for stakeholders (citizens) and institutions to influence public policy
Ensure that the people’s will is represented and freedom is preserved
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36. Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993
Congress passed the RFRA to limit the impact of an unpopular Supreme Court ruling, Employment Division v. Smith (1990)
In Employment Division v. Smith, the Court ruled against allowing religious exemptions to state and federal laws
To limit the impact of this ruling, the RFRA states that, “governments should not substantially burden religious exercise without compelling justification”
Essentially this means that if a person claims that a government has infringed on their religious freedom that the government must prove that there is a compelling reason for doing so and that it has used the least restrictive means possible of accomplishing its purpose
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37. Impeachment
Congress can impeach the president for high crimes and misdemeanors
The House of Representatives can impeach a president by a simple majority vote
To be impeach means to be indicted, or charged
The Senate holds the impeachment trial, it requires a 2/3 vote to remove the president (or federal judge) from office
Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were both impeached by the House and acquitted by the Senate. Articles of impeachment were being pursued against Richard Nixon, but he resigned before he could be impeached
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38. Federalist No. 51
Separation of powers and checks and balances limit governmental power, control abuses by the majority, and protect minority rights
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39. Federalist No. 51 Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lz1H4RWD2U
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40. 2012