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Constitutional ConventionConstitutional Convention
Creating a new system of Creating a new system of governmentgovernment
Philadelphia, Pa 1787 Philadelphia, Pa 1787
• Aims of the conventionAims of the convention
• Revise the ArticlesRevise the Articles
• Lack of authority Lack of authority
• Meetings kept secretMeetings kept secret
The DelegatesThe Delegates
• 55 delegates from 12 states55 delegates from 12 states
• Only Rhode Island not representedOnly Rhode Island not represented
• Washington selected as president of Washington selected as president of conventionconvention
• James Madison took minutesJames Madison took minutes
Virginia PlanVirginia Plan
• Proposed by Edmund Randolph of Virginia Proposed by Edmund Randolph of Virginia and Authored by James Madisonand Authored by James Madison
Three branches of GovernmentThree branches of Government
A. Legislative Branch or Congress would A. Legislative Branch or Congress would make the lawsmake the laws
B. Executive Branch would carry out the lawsB. Executive Branch would carry out the laws
C. Judicial Branch – system of courts to C. Judicial Branch – system of courts to interpret the lawsinterpret the laws
Executive BranchExecutive Branch
• Randolph proposed a group of three Randolph proposed a group of three be appointed by Congressbe appointed by Congress
• A single executive was agreed upon A single executive was agreed upon to be able to act more quicklyto be able to act more quickly
• Perhaps the greatest debate Perhaps the greatest debate undertaken by the delegates to the undertaken by the delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1787 Constitutional Convention in 1787 centered on how many representatives centered on how many representatives each state should have in the new each state should have in the new government's lawmaking branch, the government's lawmaking branch, the U.S. Congress. As is often the case in U.S. Congress. As is often the case in government and politics, resolving a government and politics, resolving a great debate, required a Great great debate, required a Great Compromise Compromise
Legislative branchLegislative branch
• Change from a single legislative body Change from a single legislative body to a 2 house legislature- lower and to a 2 house legislature- lower and upper houseupper house
• How to select-How to select-
• Peoples Vote or appointed by state Peoples Vote or appointed by state legislatureslegislatures
• How Should Representation in The How Should Representation in The Houses of Congress be determined?Houses of Congress be determined?
• Representation based on population Representation based on population greater the population the more greater the population the more representatives a state would haverepresentatives a state would have
• Favored by large statesFavored by large states
GREAT COMPROMISEGREAT COMPROMISE
• New Jersey PlanNew Jersey Plan
• William Patterson propose a single William Patterson propose a single House with one vote per stateHouse with one vote per state
• Powers to include raise money and Powers to include raise money and regulate traderegulate trade
Terms of CompromiseTerms of Compromise
• Roger Sherman of ConnecticutRoger Sherman of Connecticut
• 2 house congress2 house congress
• House of representatives based on House of representatives based on population –Chosen by people (2 yr population –Chosen by people (2 yr Term)Term)
• Senate equal representation 2 seats Senate equal representation 2 seats for each Chosen by state for each Chosen by state legislatures(6 yr Term)legislatures(6 yr Term)
Slavery IssueSlavery Issue
Representation – who should be Representation – who should be counted counted
Southerners wanted slaves countedSoutherners wanted slaves counted
Northerners did not since they couldn’t Northerners did not since they couldn’t votevote
3/5ths compromise3/5ths compromise
• Each slave would be counted as Each slave would be counted as 3/5ths of a person for representation 3/5ths of a person for representation purposespurposes
• Southern states would then receive Southern states would then receive more representativesmore representatives
Slave tradeSlave trade
• Northerners wanted to ban slave Northerners wanted to ban slave tradetrade
• Southerners claimed it would destroy Southerners claimed it would destroy its economyits economy
Compromise AgainCompromise Again
• Slave trade would be allowed for a Slave trade would be allowed for a period of 20 years (1808) and period of 20 years (1808) and Congress could then bar slave trade Congress could then bar slave trade from outside the United Statesfrom outside the United States
• Trade within would not be affectedTrade within would not be affected
New ConstitutionNew Constitution
• Final wording of preamble by Gouverneur MorrisFinal wording of preamble by Gouverneur Morris• Authority from the people not the statesAuthority from the people not the states• The The Preamble to the United States Preamble to the United States
ConstitutionConstitution is a brief is a brief introductory statementintroductory statement of the of the Constitution'sConstitution's fundamental purposes and fundamental purposes and guiding principles. It states in general terms, guiding principles. It states in general terms, and courts have referred to it as reliable and courts have referred to it as reliable evidence of, the evidence of, the Founding Fathers'Founding Fathers' intentions intentions regarding the Constitution's meaning and what regarding the Constitution's meaning and what they hoped the Constitution would achieve. they hoped the Constitution would achieve.
PreamblePreamble
• We the People of the United States, in We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. United States of America.
• Delegates sign on September 17Delegates sign on September 17thth 17871787
• Ten Months of Debate would ensue Ten Months of Debate would ensue before the Constitution would be before the Constitution would be adopted by the statesadopted by the states
