The Constitution of the United States

Bellwork:Compromise: A settlement or agreement reached between two sides, where each side gives something to the other side.Journal: Describe a time when you had to compromise with someone. Who did you compromise with and what was the compromise?

The Great Compromise

Essential QuestionWhat were the results of the Great Compromise?

Upcoming Change By the mid 1780’s most political leaders agreed the Articles of Confederation need to be changedConfederation Congress invited each state to send delegates to a convention in Philadelphia

Would discuss ways to improve Articles of Confed.

Meeting was called The Constitutional Convention

12 states sent 55 delegates to the convention

Would lead to the creation of the U.S. Constitution

Constitutional Convention

Key figures present:James MadisonBenjamin FranklinGeorge Washington

Key figures absentJohn AdamsThomas Jefferson

How is our country being represented?

The Great CompromiseSome members wanted to make small changes to the Articles of ConfederationSome wanted to rewrite the Articles completelyThere were also disagreements between:

small and large states; based on how they would be represented in the new governmentabout slaveryEconomic issues such as tariffsHow strong to make the national government

Virginia PlanLarge-state plan

Written by James MadisonWould give sovereignty-supreme power, to the national governmentDivided the gov’t into three branches:

Executive, Judicial, LegislativeLegislature would be bicameral- two houses

# of representatives of the legislature would depend on state population

This would benefit large states, giving them more representatives

New Jersey PlanSmall-state planProposed keeping Congress’ structure the same

Unicameral-one house legislatureThis would give each state an equal # of votes

This would benefit smaller states, as large population had no effect on the # of votes

Convention could not agree after months of debateA compromise was reached

Great Compromise Cont’d

The Great Compromise-Broke the government into 3 Branches of GovernmentBicameral legislature:

Every state, regardless of its size would have an equal vote in the upper house of the legislature

SenateEach state would have a # of representatives based on its population in the lower house of the legislature

House of Representatives

The Three-Fifths Compromise

The debate over representation (how to count people) also led to problemsSome Southern delegates wanted to count slaves as part of their state populationsNorthern delegates disagreed, thought it was unfairDelegates accepted the Three-Fifths compromise.

Each slave would count as 3/5 of a person (100 slaves = 60)

Main ConceptsMost of the delegates wanted

a strong national governmentPopular Sovereignty- idea that political authority belongs to the peopleBalance power of national government with power of the states

Federalism- sharing of power between a central government and the states

Federal gov’t has power to enforce lawsStates must obey authority of Federal gov’tFederal gov’t has the power to use the military to enforce lawsTroops are under the command of the presidentStates have control over areas not assigned to Federal gov’t

Balance of PowerLegislative Branch: Congress

Proposes and passes laws2 houses: Senate and House of Representatives

Executive Branch: PresidentEnforces laws, assures they are carried outCommander-in-Chief of the military

Judicial Branch: CourtsInterprets laws, punishes criminalsSettles disputes between states

Checks and BalancesKept one branch from gaining too much powerEx:

Congress proposes and passes lawsPresident can veto, or reject, that lawCongress can override veto with a 2/3 majority vote

Judicial Branch interprets laws to keep other branches from abusing power

Supreme Court reviews laws passed by Congress

Federalists vs. Antifederalists

Antifederalists- those that opposed the constitution

Felt the central gov’t had too much powerUpset that no Bill of Rights was included

Federalists- supported the constitutionFelt it offered a good balance of power

Federalist Papers- essays written supporting the Constitution

Many written by James Madison and Alexander HamiltonPropaganda supporting the Constitution

RatificationThe Constitution needed approval of 9 states to become ratifiedEach state held conventions to give citizens the chance to discuss the ConstitutionThey could then vote whether or not to ratify itJune 1788, Constitution was ratified

Bill of RightsAmendments- official changes, corrections, or additionsThe Bill of Rights would appear as a series of Amendments to the ConstitutionThe first 10 amendments to the Constitution are known as the Bill of Rights

Made sure the abuses listed in the Declaration of Independence would be illegalWould protect citizens’ individual rights

Constitution’s flexibilityHas clear guidelines and principlesCan be changed and updated to stay current with new times and challengesOften called a “living constitution”