The Constitutional Convention

Jamie MonoganUniversity of Georgia

August 24, 2015

ObjectivesBy the end of this meeting, participants should be able to:•Explain the causes and reasoning behind the institutions the framers crafted.•Describe the major provisions of the U.S. Constitution.

What Do Constitutions Accomplish?• Establish “rule of law” in a

society• Provide basics of policy making–How law is made and by whom

• Outline responsibilities of government institutions

• Determine who is eligible to serve in government positions

Articles of Confederation (AOC)

• First U.S. governing document, ratified in 1781• Each state had one vote• Had powers, but no

means of enforcement• Required unanimous

consent to amend

Origins of American System• Articles of Confederation set up a

weak national government• Could not compel states to pay

their share of debt/taxes• Articles lacked effective means

of coordination and preventing free-riding–Failure led to Convention of 1787

Constitutional Convention• Met in Philadelphia in 1787 to

consider amendments to AOC• Quickly decided to scrap the AOC

and write new document• Founders wrestled with how to

combine strong national government with protections of individual liberty

Virginia Plan• First proposal at convention by

James Madison• Set up strong legislature

apportioned by population• Bicameral legislature with upper

chamber elected by lower chamber• Advantaged large states at expense

of small states

New Jersey Plan

• Small states proposed this plan• Plural executive• Legislature based on equal

representation by states• The idea: Revise the Articles of

Confederation instead of start fresh

Slavery

• Major issue at convention• Northern states that favored

abolition feared Southern states would refuse to sign if slavery were banned or restricted

• Compromises allowed convention to succeed, but set country on path to the Civil War

Three Major Cleavages

Connecticut Compromise• Bicameral legislature• House representation based on

population–Slaves count as 3/5

• Equal state representation in Senate–Senators elected by state legislatures

• Unitary executive

Assignments

• Chapter 2 concept map exercise due at 11:59pm on Wednesday.–Login to ELC to complete.

• Also for Wednesday: Read Kollman, pp. 50-65• For Friday: Read Bullock &

Gaddie, Chapter 4