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Ready Work 8/16/18 • What is your goal for this year? • What steps will you need to take to achieve you goal? • What can Coach Clark do to help you achieve your goal? • You will type one of these each day. Keep up with Date each day and save your work. Save as Ready work. I will take this up. • Name date and question
U.S. Constitution September 17, 1787
Constitutional Convention In May 1787, representatives from the states met in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation. The representatives quickly agreed on throwing out the Articles of Confederation. Instead, they decided that a new national constitution was needed.
Many notable framers at the Constitutional Convention including: Benjamin Franklin: 81 years old, (oldest delegate) wise, and well respected. George Washington: elected president of the convention. Many thought that he would be able to best control the debate. Alexander Hamilton: a staunch advocate for a stronger federal government. He had served as Washington’s personal secretary during the Revolution.
James Madison Constitutional Contributions: • Called the Constitutional Convention to order • Showed up two weeks early to prepare for the convention • Wrote down every speech • Known as the “Father of the U.S. Constitution”
Agreement, Disagreement, and Compromise • Compromise – an agreement where each side settled. Something accepted rather than wanted. • Great Compromise • A compromise between the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan V.
Agreement, Disagreement, and Compromise Great Compromise • A compromise between the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan • Congress would have 2 houses: the Senate and House of Representatives • Determined how states would be represented in Congress • All laws needed the approval of both house of Congress Congress Senate Equal representation 2 senators per state House of Reps. # of reps. depends on state’s population
Agreement, Disagreement, and Compromise • Three-Fifths Compromise • A compromise between the Northern and Southern states on how slaves should be counted.
Agreement, Disagreement, and Compromise Three-Fifths Compromise • A compromise between the Northern and Southern states on how slaves should be counted.
Agreement, Disagreement, and Compromise • Three-Fifths Compromise • A compromise between the Northern and Southern states on how slaves should be counted. • The states compromised by agreeing to count every five slaves as three free persons for both taxation and representation purposes.
How the Constitution is set up: r U.S Constitution Preamble. The Preamble states the purpose of the document. Article I. Defines the powers and structures of the legislative branch (Congress). Article II. Creates the executive branch of government (U.S. President). Article III. Established the judicial branch of the gov’t (Supreme Court). Article IV. Outlines the obligations of the states to each other. Article V. Changing the U.S. Constitution (amend). Article VI. The Authority of the Const. – U.S. Const will become law of the land, once it’s approved. Article VII. Ratifying the Constitution – 9 out of 13 states must ratify
Organization of the new gov’t under the U.S. Constitution Preamble • The delegates at the Constitutional Convention created a new system of government. • The Preamble, or introduction, to the Constitution began with the words “We the People,” emphasizing that the members of the Constitutional Convention were acting as the representatives of the American people as a whole. • The Preamble gave six purposes for the new constitution and the government it created. These purposes were to: • “form a more perfect union.” • “establish justice.” • “insure domestic tranquility (peace).” • “provide for the common defense.” • “promote the general welfare (well-being of citizens).” • “secure the blessing of liberty.”
Branches of the New Government Legislative Branch
Branches of the New Government Executive Branch • The new national executive was the President. • The President would be elected for a four-year term. • The President was made the Commander-in-Chief of the nation’s army and navy. • The President was given the power to appoint ambassadors, negotiate treaties, and appoint Supreme Court Justices. • As chief executive, the President would also enforce the nation’s laws. • New laws by Congress also required the President’s signature.
Branches of the New Government Executive Branch • The delegates at the Convention did not trust the common people, so they arranged for the President to be chosen by an indirect election. • Voters would first choose members of the Electoral College. • Once selected, these electors would then vote to choose the President. People vote for Electors who vote for U.S. President
Branches of the New Government Judicial Branch • A new national judiciary was created, consisting of the Supreme Court and any lower courts later created by Congress. • The Supreme Court could rule on cases involving either the new Constitution or laws passed by Congress. • Its Justices (judges) were to be appointed for life by the President, with the approval of the Senate. • Life tenure meant that the Justices would not have to run for election so they could think independently and not feel obligated to side with a political party. As long as Justices did their job they had a job FOR LIFE.
Constitutional Principles • Limited Government – the people give their gov’t leaders specific powers. Where the people limit the powers of the gov’t.
Constitutional Principles • Republicanism – A democratic gov’t chosen by the people. A republic describes a gov’t in which decisions are made by elected representatives, not handed down by a king.
Constitutional Principles • Popular Sovereignty – People hold supreme power. The powers of gov’t come from the consent of the governed.
Constitutional Principles • Federalism – The sharing of power between the national (or federal) gov’t and state governments.
Constitutional Principles • Separation of Powers – Following the writings of the Baron de Montesquieu and the example of most constitutions, the delegates decided to divide the powers of gov’t into 3 separate branches: Legislative, Executive and Judicial Branches.
Constitutional Principles • Checks and Balances– Created to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. How the system of checks and balances works
Constitutional Principles • Individual Rights – The first ten amendments to the Constitution are known as the Bill of Rights….we will get to that later. • Ratify- to approve by voting • Amendment - a change or addition to a motion, bill, constitution, etc.
Constitutional Principles • Amendment Process (how we change/ add to the U.S. Const.) • The U.S. Constitution has been around so long because it is a document that can change with the times. But how do we amend the U.S. Const.?
THE DEBATE OVER RATIFICATION • In order for the U.S. Constitution to become the law of the land, nine states must ratify (approve) it. • Once the U.S. Constitution was released and read by the American public two groups emerged.
THE DEBATE OVER RATIFICATION • Anti- Federalists - opposed the new Constitution. • Included Patrick Henry and George Mason • Did not want a strong federal gov’t, believed that the power should lie with the state governments. • Demanded a bill of rights be added to protect individual liberties
Federalists – were for the Constitution. • Included Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison • Favored a strong federal gov’t • Believed that individual liberties were protected through federalism and the separation of powers.
Federalists • Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison wrote the Federalist Papers to help persuade Americans and the states to ratify (approve) the new Constitution.
Ratification • To obtain the necessary votes for ratification, Federalists promised to add a bill of rights, which satisfied a lot of the Anti-federalists.
Ratification • By the end of 1788 eleven states had voted and ratified (approved) the U.S. Constitution. • The U.S. Constitution had become the new law of the land.
