1. Writing the Constitution May-September 1787 What were important plans and compromises made during the Constitution? What were motivations of the Framers? What was the fear surrounding the Executive branch?

2. The Constitutional Convention  “the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation”  Constitution: document establishing the structure, functions, and limitations of a government  Prepared for treason? (completely new plans for gov’t)  Fifty-five delegates from across the colonies attend; sworn to secrecy (accompany Ben Franklin to meals)  Refer to delegates as “Founding Fathers” or Framers, although average age was 32  Has been debate about Framers’ motives:  Economic?  Social factors? (order & stability)

3. What point is the cartoonist trying to communicate in this cartoon?

4. Virginia Plan  Major issue of Convention: how to treat differences between large and small states in the new union; regional differences  Plan favored by the large states; proposed by Randolph and Madison of VA (European nation-state model—power from the people, not indiv. states)  Three-branch government (leg, exec, jud)  Two-house legislature  One house chosen by people, one by legislatures  Legislature can choose executive and judiciary

5. New Jersey Plan  Strengthen Articles—don’t replace them  One house legislature with one vote for each state  Representatives chosen by state legislatures  Congress can raise revenues from duties (taxes) on imports and postal service  Supreme Court with life terms appointed by executive

6. The Great Compromise  Two-house (bi-cameral) legislature: House and Senate  House chosen by people, Senate by state legislatures  House based on population, two per state in Senate  Revenue bills (spending/raising money) originate in the House  National government is supreme  Chief executive chooses Supreme Court  Appeases both large and small states

7. Other compromises  Three-Fifths Compromise regarding slavery  Apportionment of taxes by adding number of free people+3/5 of “other Persons”  Balance southern commercial interests with northern concerns  20 years more slave trade (1807); ban on taxing exports to protect cotton trade  South to hold 47% of House (prevent slavery attack, but not to foster spread of slavery)  Committee on Unfinished Portions handles executive  President with four-year term (could be reelected)  Electoral College (“to avoid tumult and disorder” of mass election; FP #68)  President can be removed from office by Congress  House: impeachment; Senate: conviction and removal