WARM-UP
Did we keep the Articles of Confederation? Why or why not?
Did we create a strong central government? Why? What powers does the central government have?
Did we establish a leader? Did we call him king? What did we call him? What if he gets too powerful? What can the leader do? How do we make sure he isn’t tyrranical?
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION & THE 3 BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT
THE PHILADELPHIA CONVENTION
The Constitutional Convention (May-Sept. 1787) Purpose: Meeting to fix the Articles of Confederation
How Conducted: 12 States represented (55 delegates) Rhode Island refused
Leader: George Washington elected president of the convention
John Adams, Ben Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison all present (no Jefferson)
JAMES MADISON
After short debate, delegates agree to scrap the AOC
“The Father of the Constitution”
Primary writer
PROBLEMS AT CONVENTION
1. Representation2. Slavery3. Executive Branch4. Trade5. Checks and Balances/Separation of
Powers
CONSTITUTIONAL COMPROMISES
1. Representation*Virginia Plan – Representation based on population*Bicameral -- 2 house legislative branch* “Big State Plan” – unfair to small states* New Jersey Plan – Equal representation* Unicameral – 1 house legislative branch* “Small State Plan” – unfair to large population states
THE GREAT COMPROMISE
The “Connecticut” Compromise, written by Roger Sherman of Connecticut
Structure: Bicameral legislature (2 houses) One house based on
population (House of Reps)
One house based on equal representation (Senate)
OTHER COMPROMISES2. Slavery
*3/5 Compromise – of every 5 slaves, three counted toward population
What would the free states have wanted?
What would the slave states have wanted?
ELECTORAL COLLEGE
Would we have a president? How do we pick the president?Executive Branch
*Electoral College – our method for electing a president
RATIFICATION (PASSAGE)
9/13 states must ratify to pass DE, NJ, GA, CT 1st to adopt PA 1st Large State MA, MD, SC, NH
June 21, 1788 – Constitution is officially adopted
*NY, VA, RI, NC adopt because they have no choice!
FEDERALISTS VS. ANTI-FEDERALISTS
1st 2 political parties Federalists – supported the new
Constitution Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay Write Essays under penname Publius
(Federalist Papers) Argue for the new constitution
Anti-Federalists – wanted more protections for individual rights (AKA Democrat-Republicans) Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, Richard Henry
Lee Write papers known as the Anti-Federalist
Papers Argue for individual rights
WHAT WAS MISSING?
Will not be added until 1796
THE BILL OF RIGHTS (1791) – WASHINGTON’S MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT
1. RAPPS Freedom of Religion,
Assembly, Press, Petition, Speech
2. Right to Bear Arms 3. No Quartering of
Soldiers 4. No illegal Search
and Seizure 5. No Double
Jeopardy, Self Incrimination, Eminent Domain, etc…
6. Speedy Public Trial, Lawyer
7. Trial by Jury 8. No Cruel/Unusual
Punishment or Excessive Bail or Fines
9. Constitution is not a limited document
10. Reserved Powers
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BACK TO PHILOSOPHY
Montesquieu: “Spirit of the Laws” Believed that there are 3 types of
gov’t:
Republic (democratic or aristocratic), Monarchy, and Despotism (dictator)
That is order to have the best gov’t, power should be separated within gov’t
INTRODUCTION U.S. Constitution divides powers among three branches
“Separation of Powers”
Why was this done?
SEPARATION OF POWERS
Limits government powers
Prevents any one branch from having too much power
THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT
Legislative Branch Executive Branch
Judicial Branch What does each branch
do?
THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENTLegislative Branch – makes the nation’s laws
Executive Branch – carries out the laws
Judicial Branch – interprets the laws
3 Branches of Government
ExecutiveBranch
LegislativeBranch
JudicialBranch
CongressPresident &
Vice PresidentSupreme Court
Advisors & Appointees
SenateHouse of
RepresentativesFederal Court
System
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
Article 1 of the Constitution
Congress – law-making branch
Two houses Senate House of Representatives
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EXECUTIVE BRANCH Article 2 of the Constitution
Executes, or carries out, nation’s laws
President, Vice President, appointees & advisors
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JUDICIAL BRANCH Article 3 of the
Constitution U.S. Supreme Court &
federal court system1. Interprets laws2. Punishes law-breakers3. Determines if laws are constitutional
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CHECKS & BALANCES Each branch has its own powers
Yet, no branch can become too powerful
How does the Constitution balance the powers?
CHECKS & BALANCESEach branch has powers to check, or limit, the powers of the other 2 branches
HOW DOES THIS WORK? Congress has power to make laws
President has power to veto, or turn down, proposed laws
President can check power of Congress
CAN CONGRESS CHECK THE PRESIDENT’S POWER? Congress can override, or pass a law over President’s veto
2/3 majority vote in both houses needed
IS THE SUPREME COURT INVOLVED IN LAW-MAKING?
Supreme Court can check the powers of Congress and the President
Interprets laws Determines if laws are constitutional
WRAP-UP1. What are the three
branches of government?2. What are the primary
responsibilities of each?3. Why does the U.S.
Constitution provide for a separation of powers?
4. How does the system of checks and balances work?
Homework:
Think of 3-5 things you would add, remove, or change in the U.S. Constitution. Nothing needs to be turned in yet, just reflect on what you think needs to be addressed and come in tomorrow with some ideas.
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