CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
A ‘Grand Convention’ – Philadelphia, May 1787
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
A ‘Grand Convention’ – Philadelphia, May 1787
WHO
WHEN
…showed up?
…did it take place?
WHY
WHAT
…did it take place?
…happened?
WHERE
…did it take place?
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
The Founding 55 – Framers of the Constitution
WHO “…were the ‘Framers’ of the U.S. Constitution?”
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Some BIG NAMES were absent!
RI boycotted! WHY?
Big names?
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
The Virginia Plan – The ‘Blue Print’
JAMES MADISON’S ‘BLUE PRINT’
Constitutional Issue
VIRGINIA PLAN
Source of Legislative Power
Rep. Dem. based on POPULATION **
Legislative Structure
Bicameral * *
Executive?
Parliamentary
Judiciary?
Life tenure; veto power
State Laws?
Congress can override
Ratification Method
By the people
BACKGROUND INFO “Why did MADISON propose plan?”
SIGNIFICANCE “What is the significance of the VA PLAN?”
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
The New Jersey Plan – The Alternative Solution
THE SMALL STATE ALTERNATIVE
Constitutional Issue
NEW JERSEY PLAN
Source of Legislative Power
States & EQUAL SUFFRAGE * *
Legislative Structure
Unicameral * *
Executive?
Multiple executives, States could remove
Judiciary?
No power over States
State Laws?
Ratification Method
Gov’t has power to compel States
By the States
BACKGROUND INFO “Why did PATTERSON propose plan?”
SIGNIFICANCE “What is the significance of the NJ Plan?”
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
The Connecticut… aka ‘Great Compromise’
THE CONNECTICUT COMPROMISE
Constitutional
Issue
VIRGINIA
PLAN
NEW JERSEY
PLAN
COMPROMISE
Source of
Legislative Power
Rep. Dem. based
on POPULATION *
States & EQUAL
SUFFRAGE *
A mix – BOTH! People in one house;
States in other! * *
Bicameral
Unicameral
Bicameral – POPULAR & EQUAL
Representation * *
Executive?
Parliamentary
Multiple
executives, States
could remove
Single Executive; Impeachment
Judiciary?
Life tenure; veto
power
No power over
States
Life tenure
State Laws?
Congress can
override
Gov’t has power
to compel States
National/Federal Supremacy
Ratification
Method
By the people
By the States
Ratification conventions in each state –
composed by the PEOPLE!
Legislative
Structure
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
Slavery & the Three-Fifths Compromise
BACKGROUND INFO “What was a HUGE ISSUE at the
Constitutional Convention?”
EXPLAIN “What was the 3/5 Compromise?”
SIGNIFICANCE “What is the significance of the 3/5
Compromise?”
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
Electing the POTUS & the Electoral College
BACKGROUND INFO “Electing the Executive…”
EXPLAIN “…How did the original Electoral College work?”
SIGNIFICANCE “Why is this system significant? Did it
change? Why do you think?”