Chapter Introduction
Section 1: The Nation’s First
Government
Section 2: The Road to the
Constitution
Section 3: The Structure of
Our Constitution
Section 4: Principles
Underlying the
Constitution
Visual Summary
The Constitution outlines the
ideals of American
government and describes
how they should be achieved.
It tells you what your rights
and privileges are. The
Constitution affects you, your
family, and your friends as
much today as it affected
those who wrote it more than
200 years ago.
Section 1:
The Nation’s First
Governments
Political principles and
major events shape how
people form governments.
Americans faced the task of
forming independent
governments at both the state
and national levels.
Section 2:
The Road to the
Constitution
Political principles and
major events shape how
people form governments.
American leaders decided
that a new constitution was
needed.
Section 3:
The Structure of Our
Constitution
A constitution reflects the
values and goals of the
society that creates it. The
Constitution is this nation’s
fundamental law.
Section 4:
Principles Underlying the
Constitution
A constitution reflects the
values and goals of the
society that creates it. The
Constitution sets forth the
basic principles of
government.
Guide to Reading
Big Idea
Political principles and major events
shape how people form
governments.
Guide to Reading
Content Vocabulary
• constitution
• confederation
• bicameral
• ratify
Academic Vocabulary
• convert
• area
• impact
Do you think writing a plan for
government is a good way to
start organizing a government?
A. Yes
A. A
B. B
0%
B
0%
A
B. No
The First State Constitutions
Americans faced the task of forming
independent governments at both the
state and national levels.
The First State Constitutions (cont.)
• When the colonies organized as states,
they wrote constitutions, which were
written plans for government.
• Most state constitutions:
– Specified bicameral legislatures
– Provided for an elected governor
– Based on the ideas of the Declaration of
Independence
– Included a bill of rights
What do you think is the
most important thing that a
constitution provides?
A. A way of electing a governor
0%
0%
D
A
B
C
0%
D
C
D. A method for setting up a
court system
A
C. A bill of rights
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
B. A plan for creating a
legislature
The Articles of Confederation
The weaknesses of the Articles of
Confederation created problems for the
new country.
The Articles of Confederation (cont.)
• The Articles of Confederation were the
first constitution of the United States.
• The Articles:
– Established a “league of friendship”
among states
– Ratified by all thirteen states
The Articles of Confederation (cont.)
– Set up a one-house legislature called
the Confederation Congress
– Withheld the powers to enforce laws and
to tax from the Confederation Congress
• Ordinance of 1785:
– System created by the Confederation
Congress for surveying and selling land
– System still used today
The Articles of Confederation (cont.)
• The Northwest Ordinance:
– Provided a way for territories to organize
and become new states
– Outlawed slavery in the Northwest
Territory
The Articles of Confederation (cont.)
• Weaknesses of the Articles of
Confederation:
– Votes from nine states needed to pass
a law
– Unanimous vote needed to change the
Articles
– Congress unable to enforce laws
Weaknesses of the Articles of the Confederation
The Articles of Confederation (cont.)
• National and state debt after the
Revolutionary War
• Shay’s Rebellion:
– Led by Daniel Shays
– Sparked by debt due to heavy state
taxes
– Armed attack on a federal arsenal
– Arguments for a stronger national
government
Do you agree that the Articles of
Confederation were too weak?
A. Agree
B. Disagree
A. A
B. B
0%
B
A
0%
Guide to Reading
Big Idea
Political principles and major events
shape how people form
governments.
Guide to Reading
Content Vocabulary
• Constitutional • Electoral
Convention
College
• Great
Compromise
• Three-Fifths
Compromise
• Federalists
• federalism
• Anti-Federalists
Academic Vocabulary
• process
• despite
Do you think that people in
government should try to
compromise?
A. Yes
B. No
A. A
B. B
0%
B
A
0%
The Philadelphia Convention
American leaders decided to create a
new plan of government.
The Philadelphia Convention (cont.)
• The Congress asked each state to send
delegates to Philadelphia to fix the problems
with the Articles of Confederation.
• Constitutional Convention began in
Philadelphia’s Independence Hall in 1787.
Who Were the Delegates?
The Philadelphia Convention (cont.)
• Delegates:
– 55 in all
– Benjamin Franklin as the oldest delegate
– George Washington and James Madison
as future presidents
The Philadelphia Convention (cont.)
• Leaders not in attendance:
– Thomas Jefferson in Paris
– John Adams in London
– Patrick Henry against the convention
The Philadelphia Convention (cont.)
• Important decisions made by the
delegates:
– George Washington presided over
convention.
– Each state got one vote and a simple
majority would decide any issue.
– Work was kept secret.
– Created a new constitution, thus called
the Constitutional Convention.
Why do you think delegates decided a
simple majority could decide an issue?
A. It prevented larger states
from having a bigger influence.
B. It helped states with
more delegates push
through their ideas.
0%
C
0%
B
0%
A
C. It streamlined the process,
making it easier to move
forward with a constitution.
A. A
B. B
C. C
Creating the Constitution
Many of the provisions of the
Constitution were arrived at through a
series of compromises.
Creating the Constitution (cont.)
• The Constitution was the result of a series
of compromises that combined the best
ideas of different plans.
• The Virginia Plan:
– Called for a government similar to the
one we have today
– Two-house congress
Creating the Constitution (cont.)
– Representation in the two houses of
congress based on each state’s population
– Favored by larger states
Creating the Constitution (cont.)
• The New Jersey Plan:
– One-house congress
– Equal representation and equal votes
– Favored by smaller states
Creating the Constitution (cont.)
• The Great Compromise settling the
structure of Congress
• The Three-Fifths Compromise settling
that every five enslaved persons would
count as three free persons
• Congress able to regulate trade between
states and other countries
Creating the Constitution (cont.)
• Congress unable to tax exports or interfere
with the slave trade before 1808.
• Electoral College created to select the
president and vice president
Which plan is also known as the
Great Compromise?
A. Virginia Plan
B. New Jersey Plan
0%
D
A
B
C0%
D
C
0%
A
D. Three-fifths
Compromise
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
C. Connecticut
Compromise
Balancing Viewpoints
Writing the new Constitution and
getting the American people to approve
it was not an easy task.
Balancing Viewpoints (cont.)
• Signing of the Constitution
• Various factions interpreted the new
Constitution differently.
Balancing Viewpoints (cont.)
• Federalists:
– Supported dividing power between
federal and state governments
– Supported the Constitution as it was
written in Philadelphia
Balancing Viewpoints (cont.)
• Anti-Federalists:
– Opposed a powerful central or national
government
– Opposed the Constitution as it was
written in Philadelphia
Balancing Viewpoints (cont.)
• Bill of rights added to the Constitution
• Ratification of the Constitution
Ratification of the Constitution
Do you agree that the United States
needs a strong national government?
A. Agree
B. Disagree
A. A
B. B
0%
B
A
0%
Guide to Reading
Big Idea
A constitution reflects the values and
goals of the society that creates it.
Guide to Reading
Content Vocabulary
• Preamble
• judicial branch
• legislative
branch
• amendment
• executive
branch
Academic Vocabulary
• consist
• assume
Do you think it should be easy to
change or amend the Constitution?
A. Yes
B. No
A. A
B. B
0%
B
A
0%
The Sections of the Constitution
The Constitution is a remarkable
document that serves as an adaptable
blueprint for governing the United
States.
The Sections of the Constitution (cont.)
• The Constitution is divided into three
sections: the preamble, the articles, and
the amendments.
• Preamble:
– Establishes that power of government
comes from the people
– States six purposes of government
The Sections of the Constitution (cont.)
• Article I:
– Creates a two-house legislative branch
– Outlines the duties of the Congress in
making laws
The Sections of the Constitution (cont.)
• Article II:
– Provides for the executive branch
– President carries out and enforces the
laws made in Congress
– Explains how leaders are elected to
office and how they can be removed
The Sections of the Constitution (cont.)
• Article III:
– Establishes the judicial branch
– Judicial branch interprets laws
– Creates a court system and lists its
powers
The Sections of the Constitution (cont.)
• Articles IV-VII:
– Explains relationship between state and
national government
– Tells how the Constitution can be
changed
– Declares the Constitution as the
“supreme Law of the Land”
Comparing Governments
Do you agree that the Constitution is
a symbol of our nation?
A. Agree
B. Disagree
A. A
B. B
0%
B
A
0%
Amending the Constitution
The Framers wrote the Constitution so
that it could be adapted to meet
changing needs.
Amending the Constitution (cont.)
• The Constitution can be changed or
amended to adapt to the country’s
changing needs, but amending it is a
difficult process.
• 27 amendments ratified
• Amendments in safeguarding freedoms
Amending the Constitution (cont.)
• Process for amending the Constitution:
– Proposal by congressional action or
national convention
– Ratification by three-fourths of states
Amending the Constitution
Amending the Constitution (cont.)
• Interpretation:
– Necessary and proper clause allows
Congress to exercise implied powers
– Supreme Court interpretations of the
Constitution
– Legislative and executive interpretations
of the Constitution
– Changes made to the Constitution
through customs that develop over years
How do you view the ability to amend
the Constitution?
A. It is very necessary
B. It is not very necessary
0%
D
C
A
D. No opinion
A. A
B. B
C.0% C0%
0%
D. D
B
C. It is somewhat necessary
Guide to Reading
Big Idea
A constitution reflects the values and
goals of the society that creates it.
Guide to Reading
Content Vocabulary
• popular
sovereignty
• expressed
powers
• rule of law
• reserved
powers
• separation of
powers
• checks and
balances
• concurrent
powers
Guide to Reading
Academic Vocabulary
• ensure
• assign
Should one branch of government
hold more power than the others?
A. Yes
B. No
A. A
B. B
0%
B
A
0%
Major Principles of Government
The Constitution sets forth the basic
principles of government.
Major Principles of Government (cont.)
• The Constitution establishes the basic
principles of the government of the
United States.
• Five fundamental principles of
government:
– Popular sovereignty
– The rule of law
– Separation of powers
Major Principles of Government (cont.)
– Checks and balances
– Federalism
• Changes in the meaning of republic
Foundations of Rights
Major Principles of Government (cont.)
• Popular sovereignty:
– Power lies with the people
– Ensured by the Constitution through
elections
Major Principles of Government (cont.)
• Rule of law:
– Power of the government is limited
– Law applies to everyone
• Separation of powers:
– Branches of government have different
functions
– Idea influenced by philosopher
Montesquieu
Major Principles of Government (cont.)
• Checks and balances:
– Prevents one branch from becoming too
powerful
– Each branch able to limit the power of
the others
A System of Check and Balances
Which principle of the Constitution do
you think is the most important?
A. Checks and balances
B. Popular sovereignty
C. Rule of law
D. Separation of powers
0%
A
A.
B.
0%
C.
D.
B
A
B
0%
C
D
C
0%
D
The Principle of Federalism
The Constitution created a federal
system of government. Under
federalism, power is divided between
national and state governments.
The Principle of Federalism (cont.)
• The Constitution establishes a system of
federalism where power is divided
between national and state governments.
The Principle of Federalism (cont.)
• Three types of government power:
– Expressed powers granted to the
national government
– Reserved powers kept by the states
– Concurrent powers exercised by both
national and state governments
Federal and State Powers
The Principle of Federalism (cont.)
• Supremacy clause:
– Constitution is the highest law
– National government or state
governments cannot violate the
Constitution
• The Constitution is both durable and
adaptable.
How do you view the powers given to the
government by the Constitution?
A. The Constitution gives
the government balanced power.
A
0%
0%
0%
0%
D
D. No opinion
A
B
C
D
C
C. The Constitution gives the
government not enough power.
A.
B.
C.
D.
B
B. The Constitution gives
the government too much power.
The Constitution
The Constitution is this
nation’s fundamental law. It
established that our nation
is a republic that includes:
• an elected president;
• a bicameral legislature;
• a system of courts.
The Constitution is made up of three parts:
• the Preamble
• the Articles
• the Amendments
The Constitution (cont.)
The Constitution sets forth the
five basic principles upon
which the American system of
government rests.
1. popular sovereignty
2. the rule of law
3. separation of powers
4. checks and balances
5. federalism
The Constitution (cont.)
In setting up a federal system, the writers of the
Constitution divided the powers of government into
three types:
• Enumerated powers are those powers the
Constitution specifically gives to the national
government.
• Reserved powers are those that the Constitution
gives to the states.
• Concurrent powers are those that the national and
state governments share.
The Supremacy Clause
Found in Article VI, the
supremacy clause states that
the Constitution and the laws
of the national government
are the “supreme law of the
land.” In any conflict between
national law and state law,
the national law has the
higher authority.
Amending the Constitution
Any change in the Constitution is called an
amendment. The Constitution has 27 amendments.
It set up a two-house
legislature in which
representation in one
house was the same
for all states and
representation in the
other house was
based on population.
constitution
a detailed, written plan for
government
bicameral
a legislature consisting of two parts,
or houses
confederation
a group of individuals or state
governments
ratify
to vote approval of
convert
to change from one belief, form, or
use to another
area
a region or section
impact
to influence or effect
Constitutional Convention
meeting of state delegates in 1787
leading to adoption of new
Constitution
Great Compromise
agreement providing a dual system of
congressional representation
Three-fifths Compromise
agreement providing that enslaved
persons would count as three-fifths of
other persons in determining
representation in Congress
Electoral College
a group of people named by each
state legislature to select the
president and vice president
Federalists
supporters of the Constitution
federalism
a form of government in which power
is divided between the federal, or
national, government and the states
Anti-Federalists
those who opposed ratification of the
Constitution
process
an action or a series of actions
directed toward a result
despite
in spite of
Preamble
the opening section of the
Constitution
legislative branch
the lawmaking branch of government
executive branch
the branch of government that carries
out laws
judicial branch
the branch of government that
interprets laws
amendment
any change in the Constitution
consist
to be made up of
assume
to take over a job or responsibility
popular sovereignty
the notion that power lies with the
people
rule of law
principle that the law applies to
everyone, even those who govern
separation of powers
the split of authority among the
legislative, executive, and judicial
branches
checks and balances
a system in which each branch of
government is able to check, or
restrain, the power of the others
expressed powers
powers that Congress has that are
specifically listed in the Constitution
reserved powers
powers that the Constitution does not
give to the national government that
are kept by the states
concurrent powers
powers shared by the state and
federal governments
ensure
to secure or make sure
assign
to dole out or give as a task
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