Virginia Plan
Author: James Madison
Branches of Government
Legislative, Executive, Judicial
Structure of Legislative Branch
Bicameral Upper and Lower
Houses
Representation of States
Based on population of the state
Powers assumed by Federal
Government
Tax States
Raise an army
New Jersey Plan
Author: William Patterson
Branches of Government
Legislative
Structure of Legislative Branch
Unicameral
Representation of States
1 representative per state
CONSTITUTIONAL ERA
Place the following events of the Constitutional Era on the time
line
Northwest Ordinance
Treaty of Paris
Ratification of the Constitution
Shay’s Rebellion
Constitutional Convention
Land Ordinance of
1785
Ratification of the Articles of Confederation
1775
1790
1780
II. Constitutional Convention
1785
A. Leaders Attending
George Washington
Alexander Hamilton
James Madison
Benjamin Franklin
B. Leaders Absent
Thomas Jefferson (France)
John Adams (England)
III. Constitutional Compromises
Virginia Plan
New Jersey Plan
The Great Compromise
(The Connecticut Compromise)
The Great Compromise settled the conflict over the issue of
Representation.
Senate
2 per state
choosen by the lower house
Upper House Represented How members would be
choosen
Bicameral
House of Repres.
Lower House
Population for every 30,000 would equal 1
Representative per state and or 1 per state if
less
Three Fifths Compromise
Conflict: How should the slave population be counted?
Southern States Southern states wanted the slaves to be
counted as population for representation even though they
did not have rights under the Constitution
Northern States Didn’t believe that it was fair for the slaves
to be counted for population
Compromise 3/5ths of the slaves population would count
for representation and they would also have to pay federal
taxes on the slaves. The South gained with representation
and the North felt they gained because the South was
paying taxes into the federal government for the
representation
C. Commerce Compromise
Conflict: How much control should the national government
have over trade?
Northern States
Southern States
Compromise:
1. Federal or National Government’s Authority
2. Resolution of the tariff question
3. Provisions to protect the slave trade Congress was
forbidden to tax exports and to
pass laws against slave trade for at least 20 years
4. Senate Majority required to enact Treaties of Commerce
Overview of the Constitution and Article I
The Legislative Branch
1. List six purposes of the Constitution. Form a perfect
union, establish justice, secure the blessings of liberty,
domestic tranquility, provide for defense, promote
welfare
2. How many articles are included in the Constitution? 7
How many Amendments? 27
3. What powers are given Congress in Article I, Section I? All
legislative powers
4. Article I, Section 2 organizes which House of Congress?
House of Representatives
5. How long does a representative serve? 2 years
6. What are the qualifications for being a representative? 25
years old, citizen 7 years, inhabitant of the state chose.
7. How does a state determine how many representatives it
may have? 1 for every 30,000 and each state has at least
1
8. The size of the House of Representatives is limited to how
many members? It is not limited
9. Who is the leader of the House of Representatives?
Speaker of the House
10. What power does the House of Representatives have?
Sole power to impeach
11. Article I, section 3, organizes which House of Congress?
Senate
12. Each state has how many Senators?
2
13. How long does a Senator serve?
6 year terms
14. What are the qualifications for Senators?
30 years old, 9 years citizen of US, live in state elected
15. Who serves as President of the Senate?
Vice-President of US
16. What is the duty of the Senate President?
To break a tie vote/ Preside over Senate
17. Define impeachment. Which House impeaches? Which
House tries?
House charges a government official of wrong doing,
and the Senate acts as a court to decide if the official is
guilty
18. Article I, Section 6 lists several restrictions and privileges
for the congressmen. What are these restrictions and
privileges?
1.) Compensation for their services
2.) Except for Treason, felony and Breach of the Peace
3.) Can’t be appointed to any civic office
19. How does a Bill become a law? Passes the House and
Senate and then be presented to the President to be
signed.
20. What is in Article I, section 8? Lists the powers given to
Congress
21. Why is Article I, Section 8, clause 18 called the “elastic
clause”? because it stretches to fit many different
circumstances
22. List several powers denied congress. Writ of Habeas
Corpus not suspended, no bill of attainder, ex post facto
laws
23. List several powers denied the states. No state treaty’s,
coin money, emit Bills of Credit
24. Where is the 3/5 Compromise incorporated in Article I?
Section 2 Representation for the House of
Representatives
25. At the time the Constitution was ratified, which state had
the greatest population? VA with 10
26. How does the United States government resemble the
British Parliament? 2 Houses and President
27. How is most business of the House of Representatives
accomplished?
Committees
28. What are some special duties of the Senate? Sole House
to try impeachment cases
29. What is a “Filibuster”? a member of the legislature
who obstructs a bill by making long speeches.
30. What matters require a 2/3 majority vote from either or
both houses of congress? Impeach votes, bills,
appointments, approval
31. What was the purpose of the 20th Amendment? Change
in dates for Presidential and Congressional terms in
office
32. Why did the delegates to the Constitutional Convention
create a government based on “Separation of Powers”?
Why has this system been criticized?
To keep the government from becoming too powerful
Keep government from getting work done
33. What is a federal system? A system of a union of states
in which each member is subordinate to a central
government
34. What is a strict constructionists? A loose
constructionists? What are implied powers?
Strict Constructionists is someone who believes you
should interpret the Constitution as is.
Loose Constructionist is someone who believes if it isn’t
stated you can do it
Implied powers are not stated but which are implied
and therefore can be used.
35. Article I, section 8, clause 11 gives Congress the power to
declare war. However, on several occasions Presidents
have conducted war without a formal declaration. What
were these occasions? Vietnam, Tripolian War, Korean
Executive and Judicial Branches
_____________________
Name:
1. What is the duty of the Executive Branch? Enforce the
laws
2. How long is a presidential term? 4 years
3. How do amendments 22 and 25 relate to the presidency?
2- term limit on President and deals with the president’s
disability
4. How many possible votes in the electoral college and what
do they represent? 538 Representatives
5. How does a state determine the number of electoral votes it
has? Representation on population
6. How many electoral votes must a candidate win in order to
become president?
270
7. In the rare case a candidate does not receive the required
number of electoral votes, how is the election decided?
goes to the House of Representatives
8. List the three Constitutional requirements for the
presidency.
35 years old, citizen of the US, 14 years resident in the
US
9. List three Constitutional duties of the President.
Commander in Chief, State of the Union Address,
Enforces laws, grants reprieves, pardons, makes
treaties, appoints ambassadors and judges
10. List three duties or responsibilities the president has that
are outside the Constitution.
Head of Political party, Nation’s spokes person,
responsible for the economy
11. What is the duty of the Judicial Branch?
interpret the laws
12. What is Judicial Review? Why is it such an important
power?
Power of the courts to declare an act of Congress
unconstitutional
13. How are the Supreme Court Justices selected and how
long do they serve?
By the President approved by the Senate and they serve
for life
14. How many justices sit on the Supreme Court? Who
presides over the Supreme Court?
9 Chief Justice
15. How does the Constitution define Treason?
Only in levying war against them, adhering to the
enemies giving them aid and comfort
16. What are the three levels of courts in the federal system?
District Courts, Circuit Courts of Appeals, Various
other courts
American History Quiz
______________________
Checks and Balances
Name:
A.Veto Laws
B. Declare laws unconstitutional
C. Refuse to ratify (accept) a presidential treaty
D.Grant pardons and reprieves to federal offenders
E. Impeach Supreme Court Justices
F. Declare presidential acts unconstitutional
G.Override a presidential veto
H.Refuse to ratify an appointment to the Supreme Court
I. Call special sessions of Congress
J. Refuse to confirm presidential appointments
EXECUTIVE
LEGISLATIVE
JUDICIAL