Ratifying the Constitution
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Federalists
- supporters of the Constitution
- supported strong national government
Argument
- protection for individual states against
foreign nations
- provide protection, maintain order, regulate
trade, and guarantee rights of citizens
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Anti-Federalists
- opponents of the Constitution
Argument
- strong national government would endanger
liberties
- national government not truly a government
by the people (location)
- Bill of Rights needs to be added to
Constitution
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Constitution
- begins with the Preamble, or introduction
- Framers list six goals of our government
“We the people of the United States, in order to form a
more perfect union, establish justice, insure
domestic tranquillity, provide for the common
defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the
blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity,
do ordain and establish this Constitution for the
United States of America”
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Six Goals
1. To Form a More Perfect Union
2. To Establish Justice
3. To Insure Domestic Tranquility
4. To Provide for the Common Defense
5. To Promote General Welfare
6. To Secure the Blessings of Liberty to
Ourselves and Our Posterity
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Following the
Preamble…
- Articles (7 Parts)
- divided into
subsections called
clauses
- Amendments

Article 1: The Legislative Branch
- National Legislature- called the Congress of the
United States
- House of Representative
- Senate
- most important power- make laws
-other powers…
- coin money, declare war, regulate trade
*Not all powers are listed. What is the elastic clause?
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A Bill (proposed law)
- must gain a majority vote in both houses of
Congress before the President approves it
- President signs the bill- becomes a law
- President may veto, or reject, the bill
- Congress can still pass as long as they
vote again with majority
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Article 2: The Executive Branch
- President
- 4 year term (re-elected)
- power to execute- or carry out laws
- head of armed forces (does not declare war)
- make treaties (has to be approved by
Senate)
- nominate judges (Senate can reject)
- appoint ambassadors to foreign countries
(Senate must approve)
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Article 3: The Judicial Branch
- National Court (Supreme)
- settle disputes between states
- President nominates/Senate approves
- judges serve for life
- final say in all cases involving Constitution
Article 4: The States
- Each state must honor the laws of others
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Article 5: Amending the Constitution
- instructions for making amendments
- 3/4ths of states must approve an amendment
Article 6: The Supremacy of the Constitution
- oath supporting Constitution as “supreme law of
the land”
- no state law may violate constitution
- federal law takes priority
Article 7: Ratification
-procedure for approval of Constitution
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1. Federalism
- division of power between the states and federal
(national) government
2. Separation of Powers
- executive, legislative, judicial
3. Checks and Balances
-limiting powers of branches