How did the Constitution strengthen the
US Government?
We the people of the
United States, in order
to form a more perfect
union, establish justice,
insure domestic
tranquility, 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.
Constitutional Convention
of
1787
Shay’s Rebellion
(1786) caused the
framers to believe that
the Articles of
Confederation were
ineffective & needed to
be replaced
Delegates gathered in
Philadelphia, PA
(1787) to write a new
Constitution
James Madison he is
known as the “Father
of the Constitution.”
Conflict at the Constitutional
Convention
Delegates disagreed on THREE key issues:
– Representation
– Slavery
– Trade
Conflict @ the Convention:
Representation in the new
Congress
Big States vs. Small
States
Virginia Plan
– Representation based
upon a states population
(favored more populated
states)
New Jersey Plan
– Each state had equal
votes
– Wanted a multi-person
executive branch
Compromise: Representation
The Great (Connecticut) Compromise
– Settled the representation conflict
– Delegates created a 2 house (bicameral) legislature
One house based upon population (House of Reps)
A second house based upon equal votes per state (the
United States Senate)
Conflict: The Slavery Issue
Southern states
supported slavery
– Wanted slaves to
count for
representation, but
not for taxation
Northern states
– wanted slaves to count
for taxation, not
representation
Compromise: The
Slavery Issue
The Three-Fifths Compromise:
settles the Slavery Issue
–3 out of 5 (60%) slaves would be
counted for both representation and
taxation
DEBATE ON RATIFICATION
Federalists argue for a
strong federal system to
replace the Articles of
Confederation
(Madison/Hamilton/Jay)
Anti-federalists believe
that the new constitution
would be too strong and
crush the Peoples rights
(Henry & S. Adams)
Compromise: Federalists vs.
Anti-federalists
Federalists agree to add a Bill of Rights to the
new Constitution in 1791
The Addition of the BOR allowed Anti-Feds to
agree to ratify the new Constitution
The Constitution was ratified in 1789 (9/13
agreed)
The 1st Chief Executive
George Washington was
chosen to be the first
President
The BOR, System of
Checks &
Balances/Written
Constitution all help
create Limited
Government
Electing officials to act as
Representatives creates
Representative
Government
The U.S. Constitution
The New Constitution: allowed for a separate
executive branch (the President), a separate
judicial branch (the Supreme Court), and a
two-house legislative branch (the Congress).
The Federal System/Division of Power
Power was divided between State
governments and the Federal
Government (Article IV = Full Faith
and Credit Clause;VI= Supremacy
Clause
Federal Powers:
•Armed Forces
Both State &
Federal:
•Building roads
•Coining money
•Borrowing money
•Regulated trade
•Collecting taxes
•Making treaties
•Operating courts
Powers
RESERVED for
states:
•Health & Safety
matters
•Marriage/divorce
laws
•Business
regulation
•Licensing of
professions
Breakdown of the Constitution
Preamble – States Purpose of the Document
Article I – The Legislative Branch (Senate and House of
Representatives – Qualifications and Powers of)
Article II – The Executive Branch (President and Vice President,
Qualifications, Powers, Duties, Impeachment of)
Article III –The Judicial Branch (Supreme Court and Lower
Courts, Jurisdiction, and Treason Defined)
Article IV –Relations Among States (Full Faith and Credit, New
States Admitted
Article V - The Amendment Process (Changing the
Constitution)
Article VI –National Debts, Supremacy Clause, Oaths of Office
Article VII- Process for Ratification (How it was adopted)
Bell Ringer – 7 Articles of the Constitution
1. This branch of our government that
2.
3.
4.
5.
interprets the law?
This branch of our government makes the
law?
This branch of our government enforces
the law?
What are the three qualifications for
Representatives? Senators? President?
Explain Federalism.
Basic Principles of the Constitution
Popular Sovereignty – Power is derived from the people (voting)
Limited Government – The only powers the government has is what the
Constitution gives it. No one person or branch is all-powerful.
Federalism – The federal, state, and local governments all share the power to
govern. The federal government is supreme!
Separation of Powers – Three branches of government: Legislative (Makes
Laws), Executive (Enforces Laws), and Judicial (Interprets Laws)
Checks and Balances – Each branch can limit the power of or check the other
two (Veto Power, Power of Appointment (Cabinet Positions, Justices, etc.),
Impeachment, Judicial Review, Pardon Power, etc.)
Republican Government – Citizens elect representatives (legislators) to make
laws for them.
Individual Rights – The Constitution and Bill of Rights protect citizens’ basic or
Natural Rights (Life, Liberty, and Property).
Amendment Process – The Constitution can be changed if necessary. To date
this has only happened 27 times. The last Amendment was ratified in 1992.
Federalism Tic-Tac-Toe!
N
Executive
a
t President of
i U.S.
o
n
a
l
Legislative
Judicial
Senate & H of R Supreme Court
S Governor
t
a
t
e
State Legislature
State Supreme
Court
L Mayor/ Judge
o Executive
c
a
l
City Council/
County
Commissioner
Local and Circuit
Courts
Exit Slip – Basic Principles of the Constitution
1. When the President refuses to sign a bill passed by Congress into law
he used which check and balance?
A. Cloture B. Filibuster
C. Impeachment D. Veto
2. The power of the Supreme Court to decide the constitutionality of
federal law is called
A. Jurisdiction B. Judicial Review C. trial by jury D. Appointment
3. Which house of Congress has the power to approve Presidential
appointments?
A. House of Representatives B. Senate C. Run’s House
4. Which house has the sole power of impeachment?
A. House of Representatives B. Senate C. White House
15th Amendment--gave voting rights to freed
slaves after the civil war.
19th Amendment--gave women the right to vote.
Example: The Necessary & Proper clause has been used
to regulate industries that were unseen in 1789:
auto industry, telecommunications, airline safety ECT...
Brown v Board of Ed. allowing for the desegregation of
schools
Article V – The Amendment Process
Amendment means to change.
The framers were afraid of
quick change. That is why the
process is difficult, but not
impossible as it was under the
Articles.
To date the Constitution has
only been amended 27 times –
last in 1992.
Two Ways to Propose an Amendment
1. 2/3 of both houses of
Congress can propose one.
2. 2/3 of the states can call a
constitutional convention
and propose one.
• You must know this: 2/3 to
propose!
Two Ways to Ratify and Amendment
• Ratify means to adopt or
formally approve.
1. ¾ of the state legislatures
must approve.
2. ¾ of the states must call
individual constitutional
conventions to approve.
• You must know this: ¾ to
ratify!