THE CONSTITUTION

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

• Philadelphia – May 1787• 55 delegates

“Founding Fathers”• Only Rhode Island not there• G. Washington led the convention• James Madison kept historical record

“Father of the Constitution”

VIRIGINIA PLAN

• 3 branches of gov’t

Legislative, executive, judicial

• Congress (legislature) made up of 2 houses

people elect lower house;

lower house elects upper house

• Representation based on population

NEW JERSEY PLAN•Legislature with only 1 house

•Each state has same number of representatives

GREAT COMPROMISE(CONNECTICUT)

•Proposed a bicameral legislature

•House of Representativesbased on population

•Senate2 from each state

Three-Fifths Compromise•5 slaves would count as 3 people•Taxation and representation

Electoral College•Indirect election of president•Did not trust ordinary people

Federal System = FederalismFederal System = FederalismSharing power between central & state Sharing power between central & state

gov’tsgov’ts

– Only Congress can:make treatiescoin money $tax importsdeclare war

– If conflict between national & state,states must follow national laws

Popular sovereigntyPopular sovereignty• Political authority belongs to the Political authority belongs to the

peoplepeople

BRANCHES OF GOV’T• Legislative – makes laws (Congress)

House of Representatives (2 yr term)

Senate (6 yr term)• Executive – enforces laws

President & Vice President (4 yr term)

Limit of 2 terms• Judicial – interprets laws (Courts)

(some have life appointments)

Separation of Powers

• Keeps each branch from

becoming too powerful

Checks & Balances

• Limits power of each branch

• Watches other branches

Antifederalists• Those who opposed Constitution• Too much power in nat’l gov’t• Feared loss of citizens’ freedoms

Federalists• Supported Constitution• Believed citizens’ rights safe because:

each state had bill of rights

House of Rep. chosen by people• Promise of Bill of Rights = ratification

Federalists Papers

• 85 organized essays

• written by

Alexander Hamilton – 50

James Madison – 30

John Jay – 5

• written to convince the public that the new central gov’t would not overpower the people

Anti-Federalist Writings

written by people using pen names Patrick HenryRichard Henry LeeSamuel AdamsJames Monroe

written to convince the public of the danger that the new central gov’t would be without a statement of individual rights (Bill of Rights).

Ratification – approval

under Constitution – only 9 states needed

Some states ratified w/ promise of a bill of rights

• Amendments – way of changing the Constitution

Bill of Rights

• First 10 amendments

• List of guaranteed rights of individuals

• Restricts gov’t action against citizens

Any powers not in Constitution are given to states & people

National Archives – Washington DC

Declaration of Independence

Constitution

Bill of Rights