Upload
casner15
View
280
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Citation preview
Constitution ConventionPhiladelphia : May 1787
• 12 states show (no R.I.)• 55 men • Mostly wealthy, political
and social elite (lawyers, educators, slave owners, planters, merchants, etc.)
• Most under 50 and served in Revolutionary War
• secrecy
Who was there?
• James Madison – “Father of the Constitution”
• Hamilton, Gouverneur Morris
-too much power to the common people and states
*wanted authority in the hands of well educated white male land owners
• George Mason-too strong a central
government
• Washington-President of Congress
Patrick Henry (VA) “smelled a rat”
Proposals for a New Government
• Delegates agreed to get rid of the Articles and create a whole new government.
• 2 plans presented by delegates
A. The Virginia Plan:
• Presented by James Madison
• 3 Branches:
1. Legislative: (Congress) Make the laws.
• -Bicameral: • a. Lower House: Rep.
elected by people. • b. Upper House:
Selected by lower house. • # of reps. would be based
on state population.
2. Executive: (President) Enforce laws.
3. Judicial: (Courts) Interpret the laws.
• System based on population (smaller states oppose)
B. The New Jersey Plan:
• William Patterson• 3 Branches• Legislative Branch
(Uni-Cameral)a. Equal representation
• -Favored by the smaller states.
C. The Great Compromise
• Roger Sherman “Connecticut Compromise”
• 3 Branches• 1. Legislative: Congress
was to be bicameral.
A. House of Representatives: # of reps. based on states population. Elected by the people every 2 years
B. Senate: 2 reps. per state chosen by people in state every 6 years
2. Executive: President chosen by the Electoral College
3. Judicial
Slavery
• Three Fifths Compromise
• Slaves in population for purpose of House (more electoral College votes)
• Fugitive slave clause• Slave importation for 20
more years
• South wanted because of new lands
• North was more concerned with regulating commerce
The Federal System
• Shared Powers-Federalism is shared
powers between federal and state
-Constitution gained power to tax, trade, currency, regulate commerce, and raise an army
• Constitution: The Supreme Law of the Land
-States could not make laws that contradict Constitution
-Constitution was final authority
Executive Branch
• 4 year term (no discussion of number of times)
• Electoral College-people of the United States vote for the electors who then vote for the President-same amount of electors as in House of Representatives
Checks and Balances
• Each branch of government has some control over the others
• Example: Congress may pass laws, but the President may veto those laws
• In turn, Congress may refuse to provide funds the President requests for implementing programs.
Legislative (Congress) Powers
• Tax• Coin money• Borrow money• Regulate commerce
• Declare war• Raise armies• Make treaties• Establish courts
Federalism
System of government in which powers are divided and shared by a central government and its sub-
divisional governments
Federalism
The National Government
The State Government
Local Government
What is the primary responsibility of each level of government?
State Government:Promotes public health,
safety and welfare
National Government:Conduct foreign policy and
regulates commerce