Creating the Constitution

The Constitutional Convention Creation of a federal system with limited

power Montesquieu

Three Branch System Legislative – make laws Executive – enforce or carry out laws Judicial – interpret laws (what does it mean)

Each would be able to check the power of the other two – Checks and Balances –

The Constitutional Convention Issues to resolve

1. How would the new legislative body be structured?

2. How to provide representation in the legislature?

3. How to elect the executive?

Virginia Plan Presented by Edmund

Randolph Two houses

bicameral Representation would

be based on population Favored by larger

states – Why?Governor of Virginia

(lawyer)

New Jersey Plan Presented by William

Paterson single house

unicameral Representation would be

equal for each state Favored by smaller states

– Why?

Attorney General of NJ

Great Compromise Presented by Roger Sherman

Connecticut Compromise Attempt to gain support of large and small

states Keep most of the Virginia Plan but split

representation by the two houses

United States Congress

House of Representatives

lower housebased on pop.

Senate

upper house2 per state

The Population Question

House of Representatives membership is based on population

What about slaves? People Property

Three-Fifths Compromise

Creation of the Electoral College An indirection election for the chief executive

President States chose delegates to the Electoral

College Electoral College cast votes for the states

More educated/informed Representation of the general population