creating the constitution
DESCRIPTION
Creating the Constitution. Chapter 5. The Constitutional Convention. Why the need for the Convention? The Convention was “for the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation.” Main Topics of Discussion An Official National Government Separation of Powers - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Creating the Constitution
Chapter 5
The Constitutional Convention• Why the need for the Convention?• The Convention was “for the sole and express
purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation.”• Main Topics of Discussion• An Official National Government• Separation of Powers• National and State Governments• Representation
The Constitutional Convention• George Washington was selected as the
Presiding Officer in order to keep the peace during the convention
• Rules were created to try to give everyone an equal voice in the creation of the Constitution
The Virginia Plan• Proposed by James Madison• Proposed a strong national government• Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branches• Legislative branch would have two parts; a house and a senate.• Number of seats in each would be based on state population• Who would agree with this plan?
The New Jersey Plan• Proposed by William Patterson• Called for a One House Legislature in which
each state would have an equal number of votes
• Who would agree with this plan?
The Great Compromise• Proposed by Roger Sherman of Connecticut• Called for a bicameral - two house legislature• House of Representatives would be elected based on state population• In the Senate each state would have two seats• Great Compromise - each side gave up part of what it wanted for the benefit of the common good
Slide Break!!!Here’s a picture of a pug wearing pug slippers
The Three-Fifths Compromise• The problem was that nobody agreed on how
to count slaves when considering a state’s population
• Three-Fifths Compromise - counted each slave as three fifths of a person when a state’s population was calculated
• Why do you think this was such an issue?• Voters: White property owning men
Signing the Constitution• The delegates of the Constitutional
Convention are often called “the Framers.”
• The Constitution is still the basic framework of our Government
Struggle for Ratification• Ratified - approved• Federalists - those who supported the
Constitution and a strong national government• Anti-Federalists - those who opposed the
Constitution and a strong national government• Pushed for a Bill of Rights
The Federalist Papers• Written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay• A series of essays that outlined the need for a strong national government• Ratification was not an easy process• Many states passed the Constitution by only a few votes• Federalists agreed to add a Bill of Rights
Goals of Our Government: The Preamble• To Form a More Perfect Union - better than
simply to unite the 13 states• To Establish Justice - to create a legal system
that fairly handles disputes• To Ensure Domestic Tranquility - to establish a
peaceful society
Goals of Our Government: The Preamble• To Provide for the Common Defense -
national security• To Promote the General Welfare - create
conditions to benefit all• To Secure the Blessings of Liberty to
Ourselves and Our Posterity - give people the freedom to choose their occupation, where they live, and what they believe
Article 1 - The Legislative Branch• Describes and organizes the powers of the national legislature (Congress)• Congress is divided into a House of Representatives and the Senate• The most important power of Congress is to make laws• Delegated Powers - the powers assigned to Congress (coin money, declare war, regulate trade and others necessary and proper)
Article 2 -The Executive Branch• Established the Office of President• Unlike a King, the powers of the President are
limited and shared• Job is to execute and carry out the law, NOT to
make laws• Generally the President’s freedoms are not
listed in detail because the office of President was a new idea
Article 3 -The Judicial Branch• Created a national court system• The President could appoint judges, but the
Senate had to approve them• Created the Supreme Court which would have
the final say in all cases involving the Constitution
• The Supreme Court is designed to be an Appellate Court (appeal)
Article 4 - The States• Each state must honor the laws of the other
states• For example, a marriage in one state must be
recognized in another state
Article 5 - Amending the Constitution• Amendments - changes• The Constitution was designed to be a flexible
document that changes with the times• Three Fourths of the states must agree to
amend the Constitution
Article 6 - The Supremacy of the Constitution• State and national government officials must
take an oath to support the Constitution as the supreme law of the land
• No state law may violate the Constitution• Federal law takes priority over all other laws
Article 7: RatificationThe process of Approval
Limitations of Government• Popular Sovereignty - allowing the people to rule• The Constitution was designed to allow the people to rule• Federalism - the division of power between the states and the federal or national government• Some powers belong only to the federal government; some belong only to the states
Limitations of Government• Concurrent Powers - powers shared by the
federal and state governments• Reserved Powers - powers that the
Constitution neither gives to Congress nor denies to the states
Separation of Powers• Checks and Balances - gives each branch of
government ways to limit the powers of the other branches
• Impeach - to accuse