THE
CONSTITUTION OF
THE UNITED
STATES OF
AMERICA
BIRTH OF A NATION
• Articles of Confederation
(confederal government)
1777
• Annapolis Convention (1786,
trade)
• Shay’s Rebellion (1787)
• Constitutional Convention
(1787)
• Negotiation and
Compromise
• New Jersey and Virginia
plans
• 3/5ths Compromise (tax. and
rep.)
• The Great Compromise
(representation)
• Federalist Papers (1787)
Hamilton, Madison and Jay
• Ratification
GEORGE THE FIRST?
Under the 1st and 2nd
Continental Congress
(1774-81):
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Peyton Randolph
Henry Middleton
John Hancock
Henry Laurens
John Jay
Samuel Huntington
Thomas Mckean
Under the Articles of
Confederation
(1782-88)
•
•
•
•
•
•
John Hanson
Elias Boudinot
Richard Henry Lee
Nathaniel Gorham
Arthur St. Clair
Cyrus Griffin
Under U.S. Constitution
• George Washington+(1789)
THE SMALL STATES BATTLE
THE LARGE STATES
New Jersey Plan
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Equal votes from each state
Unicameral legislature
Some power to levy taxes,
regulate commerce
Executive-more than one, elected
by legislature, removed by state
majority of governors
National judiciary appointed by the
president
No power over states
Ratification by the states
Virginia Plan
•
•
•
•
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Popular representation
Bicameral legislature
Executive (including cabinet) size
undetermined, elected and
removed by congress
Judicial-life tenure, can override
state laws, elected by legislature
Ratification by citizens
THE ART OF COMPROMISE
•
Virginia Plan: House representation based on population favoring the
_______ states. Strong national government, single executive and a
judiciary (James Madison).
•
New Jersey Plan: Representation equally allocated to each state
favoring the ________ states. Weak national government, multiple
executives and a supreme court. Retained the Articles of
Confederation (William Patterson).
•
Connecticut Plan (Great Compromise): ????????
•
3/5th’s Compromise: for the purposes of taxation and house
representation, slaves would be counted as 3/5th’s of a person. No
slave importation after 1807. (note: slaves comprised 3/5’s of the
southern population)
•
Signed on September 17, 1787 (Constitution Day)
THE CONSTITUTION….
• What is it?
• What is it used for?
• Who developed it?
• What was the first?
U.S. CONSTITUTION
a framework….
•
THE
UNFOLDING…
•Magna Carta (1215) compelling King John of
England to agree to some governmental
restrictions and subjects’ rights.
•Mayflower Compact (1620) Mayflower
pilgrims agree to a set of laws governing
behavior for the “good of the people”.
•The Colonial Charters (1624-1732) various
colonial constitutions
•Declaration of Independence (1776)
•Articles of Confederation (1781-1789)
•The Constitution (1788)
PREAMBLE
• 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.
CONSTITUTION
• Federalists vs. AntiFederalists
• Adoption (1788)
• Bill of Rights (1791)
• Articles I, II, III
• Legislative, Executive
and Judicial branches
• Balance of power and
checks and balances
ARTICLES IV-VII
• IV: States’ rights between states
• V: Amendability
• VI: Supreme law of the land
• VII: Ratification (9 of 13)
AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION
Note: 21st amendment repealed the 18 th with congressional and state conventions’ approval .
h.
RATIFICATION
ORDER OF RATIFICATION
BALANCE OF POWER
• Shared government
• Checks and balances
BILL OF RIGHTS
• Amendments 1-10
• Civil Liberties
CHECKS & BALANCES
OTHER CHANGES…………
• ERA
• Continuity of
Congress
• Abortion
• Marriage
• Presidential
qualification
• Marital definition
CONGRESS
• Article I the legislative
branch
• Sections 1-10
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
• Article II the
presidency
• Sections 1-4
THE JUDICIAL BRANCH
• Article III the
Supreme Court
• Sections 1-3