The US ConstitutionThe Origins of Our Government
Constitutional Convention
• Where: Philadelphia at Independence Hall
• When: Summer of 1787
• Who: 52 Delegates from each of the states, primarily whit, e male landowners
• Described as “well bred, well fed, and well read.”
• Why: Articles of Confederation were too weak
Three Parts of Government
• Called Madison Model
• Executive Branch - carry out laws
• Legislative Branch - make laws
• Judicial Branch - interpret laws
• Each branch would have checks and balances over the others to prevent one branch from being too strong.
• New plan for government had stronger President than old Articles and new constitution was more powerful than state legislatures.
The Great Compromise
• Debate over representation: big states wanted Congress selected by population
• small states wanted equal representation in Congress
• Great compromise: two house legislature
• Senate: two senators for each state• House of Representatives based on
population
Debate over slavery• Southern delegates wanted slaves
counted in their population (but not to vote)
• Northern delegates- some opposed slavery
• 3/5ths compromise: slaves counted at 3/5ths of person for purposes of voting for House of Representatives and taxation
Bill of Rights
• Federalists wanted strong central government.
• Anti federalists feared a strong central government would violate individual rights.
• Compromise: Bill of Rights (first 10 amendments to the constitution was added to protect individual liberties.
• States ratified the Constitution
Beard’s Thesis• Historian wrote an “Economic
Interpretation of the Constitution.”
• Thesis that Constitution was produced by wealthy property owners who desired stronger government to protect their property rights
• Restricted voting to white property owners
• No direct elections of president or senators
Adding Amendments• The Constitution can be
amended by:• Proposed by 2/3rd vote of
both houses of Congress • or proposed by 2/3rds vote of
states legislatures at National Convention (never used)
• Ratification: 3/4th of state legislatures or Convention with 3/4th of state legislatures
Informal Changes• Congressional
Legislation• Presidential Actions and
Executive agreements• Judicial Review- US
Courts can examine the Constitutionality of a law
