1. A New Plan of Government Objective: identify the documents, ideas, and people that influenced the creation of the Constitution

2. Sources Britain provided the Framers with the most background knowledge

3. European Influences English Magna Carta (1215) – limited the power of the king or queen English Bill of Rights (1689) John Locke – believed people had natural rights and government is based on an agreement between people and ruler Baron de Montesquieu (France) – governments power should be divided and balanced making it difficult for one person or group to have too much power

4. Federalism Federal and state governments share power States: control trade inside their borders, set up local governments and schools, make laws about marriage and divorce Federal: tax, manage trade, control the supply of money, form an army, declare war, pass laws that are ‘necessary and proper’ Shared powers: taxes, arrest and punish criminals

5. Supreme Power Constitution is the highest law of the land States cannot make laws that go against the Constitution Disagreements between federal government and states settled by federal courts Decisions based on what the Constitution says

6. Government Structure Based on Montesquieu’s ideas of division of power Federal government divided into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial

7. Name 3 branches of government and their jobs Draw a tree with three limbs – one for each branch of the government Draw leaves(4 per branch) to show which Article of the Constitution explains the powers, what the powers are, and who is in charge of each branch Use textbook page 197 to find the information

8. Checks and Balances Each branch has ways to check or limit the power of the other two Prevents any branch from having too much control in the government

9. Summary Explain the principal of Federalism. Why is the system of checks and balances important? What is the supreme law of the land? Why is it called that? Activity Suggestions: create a venn diagram showing the powers of the states and federal governments and the shared powers; create a chart showing sources of influence to the Constitution: compare/contrast the Locke’s and Montesquieu’s ideas about government