• Proposed by two-thirds vote of House and Senate • Ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures

1. Which of the following is the best title for the information above?

A. Constitutional Amendment Process B. Procedures for Impeaching the President C. Procedures for Appointing Federal Judges D. President’s Role in the Legislative Process

2. The opening sentence of the Constitution which explains its purposes is known as the:

A. Preamble B. Article C. Amendment D. Branch

A group of people gathered in their cars on a parking lot every Saturday night around midnight and played their radios so loudly that they woke up the people who lived nearby. When the residents asked the music lovers to stop making noise, the music lovers claimed that the 1st Amendment guarantees, “The right of the people peaceably to assembly.” However, the police made the people turn their music down.

3. The police were correct in making the people turn their music down because:

A. The 1st Amendment only applies to political issues. B. The 1st Amendment does not allow citizens to violate other people’s rights. C. A city permit is needed to have a meeting in a public place. D. City laws overrule the Bill of Rights when dealing with crowds and public safety.

Journal (left page)

• Imagine that when you awoke this morning you discover that everyone in the city of Houston over the age of 18 have vanished! You are in charge of maintaining the city and ALL of the people in it until help arrives. You need to decide the following:

• What are the four most important things you have to do?

• WHY?• What problems might you encounter?

Problems of the Young Nation

1789-early 1800’s

Problem 1: Establish the Authority of the Federal Government

• Problem 1: Establish the Authority of the Federal Government.

2 ways to look at the Constitution:

• “strict construction”

• “loose construction”

They create a plan…….

VS.

• States do NOT want to give up the power

–limiting the power of the federal gov’t to those specifically listed in the Constitution.

-expanding the power of the federal gov’t by using the elastic clause to increase federal power

WHAT Happened?• 1. Cabinet departments

organized by President Washington

• 2. Loose construction was used

• 3. The Supreme Court established

• (Treasury, State, War, and Justice) to carry out the laws. These departments reported to the President (increasing the power of the executive branch)

• to begin a national bank as part of the Alexander Hamilton’s financial plan (increasing the power of the legislative branch).

• the idea of judicial review (increasing the power of the judicial branch).

Practice the principle of federalism Enforce delegated powers to declare war, coin money, and make treaties

Problem 2: Implementing a uniform Court/Justice System

Problem 2: Implementing a uniform Court/Justice System

They create a plan…….

• There were no details in the Constitution about the Supreme Court or the courts underneath the Supreme Court.

• How should they run?????

What Happened?

1. In the Judiciary Act of 1789,

2. The size of the Supreme Court was set

3. The U.S. was divided into districts

• Congress organized the Federal Courts.

• at 6 judges (now 9).

• there was a federal judge in each region of the country to preside over federal cases from that region.

Problem 3: Creating a stable economy and paying off debt

• Problem 3: Creating a stable economy and paying off debt

• States and Congress had borrowed money during the American Revolution from individual people and foreign countries.

• The new government also needed money for current operations.

• The estimated amount owed by the U.S. in 1789 was between $75 and $80 million, but the gov’t only had an income of $4 million.

{Do you see a problem here????}{Do you see a problem here????}They created a plan……….They created a plan……….

• Factors that define a stable economy:

– Money keeps its value – Money borrowed is

repaid – Credit is available for

future loans

Alexander Hamilton Secretary of the Treasury

1. Paying off all federal and state debts from the Revolution.

2. Placing a protective tariff on imports to raise revenue (income).

3. Taxing whiskey (known as an excise tax – tax on products produced in the country).

4. Establishing a National Bank to handle the government’s money – printing money and handling loans to the federal government and private businesses.

Hamilton’s Financial Plan to stabilize the US economy::

What Happened????• A compromise between

Jefferson and the Southern states was created by Hamilton’s plan. The National Bank was established using loose construction.

• The tax on whiskey resulted in the Whiskey Rebellion; farmers in western Pennsylvania refused to pay the tax and attacked tax collectors. President Washington led the army to quickly put down the rebellion –

• The Southern states got the new capital of the U.S. to be located in the South, on land donated by Virginia and Maryland.

• proving the new gov’t under the Constitution had the power and will to enforce its laws. ( unlike during Shay’s rebellion and the A of C!)