2. The United States Government

3. Common Features of State Constitutions Civil Rights and Liberties Popular Sovereignty Limited Government Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances The principle of popular sovereignty was the basis for every new State constitution. That principle says that government can exist and function only with the consent of the governed. The people hold power and the people are sovereign. The concept of limited government was a major feature of each State constitution. The powers delegated to government were granted reluctantly and hedged with many restrictions. In every State it was made clear that the sovereign people held certain rights that the government must respect at all times. Seven of the new constitutions contained a bill of rights, setting out the “unalienable rights” held by the people. The powers granted to the new State governments were purposely divided among three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. Each branch was given powers with which to check (restrain the actions of) the other branches of the government.

4. How does this list reflect a fear of strong central government?

5. Framers of the Constitution

6. Framer Facts 55 of them public experience many had fought in the Revolution members of the Cont. Congress 8 had helped to write their state const. 31 had college educations Average age was 42 (1/2 were in 30’s) Most were relatively wealthy All were white, male, landowners Well read, well fed, well bred, well wed

7. Different Constitutional Plans were put forward The Virginia Plan Bicameral legislature-both houses based on population. Three branches of government “National Executive” (one) and “National Judiciary” The New Jersey Plan Unicameral Congress Equal representation for States of different sizes More than one federal executive sessions were held in secret –why????? James Madison was the floor leader – Why? Basic Plans for the new government

8. Constitutional Compromises The Connecticut Compromise – Delegates agreed on a bicameral Congress, one segment with equal representation for States, and the other with representation proportionate to the States’ populations. The Three-Fifths Compromise – The Framers decided to count a slave as three-fifths of a person when determining the population of a State. The Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise – Congress was forbidden from taxing exported goods, and was not allowed to act on the slave trade for 20 years.

9. Influences on and Reactions to the New Constitution Influences The Framers were familiar with the political writings of their time, such as works by Jean Jacques Rousseau and John Locke. They also were seasoned, variously, by the Second Continental Congress, the Articles of Confederation and experiences with their own State governments. Reactions When the Constitution was complete, the Framers’ opinions of their work varied. Some were disappointed, like George Mason of Virginia, who opposed the Constitution until his death in 1792. Most agreed with Ben Franklin’s thoughts when he said, “From such an assembly [of fallible men] can a perfect production be expected? It…astonishes me, Sir, to find this system approaching so near to perfection as it does…”

10. The fight for ratification: The Federalists and Anti-Federalists The Constitution was very controversial at first, with some groups supporting it, and others attacking it. Federalists thought that the Articles of Confederation were weak, and argued for the ratification of the Constitution. Anti-Federalists objected to the Constitution for many reasons, including the strong central government and the lack of a bill of rights.

11. In the ratifying documents of five states, requests or demands for a bill of rights were included in the text, along with suggested lists (see the ratifying documents of Massachusetts, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, and New York). MassachusettsSouth CarolinaNew HampshireVirginiaNew York Rhode Island also included a list, but they ratified the Constitution after the first Congress approved the Bill of Rights).Rhode Island

12. The Constitution is Ratified -movie Empire of Reason Chapter 2, Section 5 4 Nine States ratified the Constitution by June 21, 1788, but the new government needed the ratification of the large States of New York and Virginia. Great debates were held in both States, with Virginia ratifying the Constitution June 25, 1788. New York’s ratification was hard fought. Supporters of the Constitution published a series of essays known as The Federalist.

13. Articles of the U.S. Constitution

14. Basics Executive – Enforces laws – Establishes cabinet to enforce laws Legislative Makes laws Senate and House of Representatives 100 and 435 Judicial Intreprets laws Supreme Court established by Constitution Other federal judges appointed and approved

17. George Washington, who appointed a Cabinet of four people (Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson; Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton; Secretary of War Henry Knox; and Attorney General Edmund Randolph) to advise and assist him in his duties. Cabinet officers are nominated by the President and then presented to the United States Senate for confirmation or rejection by a simple majority. If approved, they are sworn in and begin their duties. George WashingtonSecretary of StateThomas JeffersonSecretary of the TreasuryAlexander HamiltonSecretary of WarHenry Knox Attorney GeneralEdmund RandolphUnited States Senateconfirmation or rejectionsimple majoritysworn in

18. The tradition of the Cabinet dates back to the beginnings of the Presidency itself. Established in Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution, the Cabinet's role is to advise the President on any subject he may require relating to the duties of each member's respective office. The Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments — the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Attorney General.

19. The Electoral College 538 total votes = # House + #Senate +3 for DC 269 is ½ One candidate needs one more than ½ --a majority 435100 270 is magic number A state’s total is equal to its’ representation in Congress. 3