The Constitution
A nation without a national
government is, in my view, an
awful spectacle.
-Alexander Hamilton, The
Federalist Papers, No. 85
History for the Constitution
• Salutary Neglect: Distance from England
allowed relaxed control.
• Declaration of Independence: established
key principles for a federal system of
government.
• Articles of Confederation:
– Allowed the fear of a strong government
– Gave the state governments more power than the
central government
The Constitution
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The Preamble states the purpose of government
Article I: Legislative Branch (make laws)
Article II: Executive Branch (enforce law)
Article III: Judicial Branch (interpret law)
Article IV: Relations among states
Article V: Provisions for amendments
Article VI: Debts, Supremacy, & Oaths
– “Supremacy Clause” Article VI, sec. 2
The Constitution
• Expressed Powers: specifically written in the
Constitution
• Implied Powers: Elastic Clause
– Congress has the power to tax, therefore it can
make tax evasion a crime.
• Inherent Powers: just because it’s a nation
– Congress regulates immigration
• Which of the three powers is less likely to
be challenged by checks & balances?
The Federalist Papers
Read the article and answer the two
questions.
Make 4 appointments
Federalist Paper 23
Alexander Hamilton
1. Where in the Constitution can you find
these principles listed together?
2. Why did Hamilton need to convince the
states to have a strong central government?
3. Explain which one of Hamilton’s purposes
of government you think is the most
important for the United States today.
Federalist Paper 47
James Madison
1. According to this excerpt, do you think
Madison supported or opposed the
principle of “separation of powers”?
2. Why do you think Madison held this
view of the “separation of powers”?
3. What parts of the Constitution address
each of the three branches?
Federalist Paper 51
James Madison
1.
Which of the following statements would Madison
agree with based on the views in the excerpt?
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Government is necessary.
The people should elect governmental leaders who act like
angels.
Elected government officials should be controlled by a system
of “checks & balances”.
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3.
What would you say was Madison’s general
opinion of people in government: angels? Devils?
Something else?
Cite (include Article and section) an example of
checks and balances.
Federalist Papers 72 & 78
Alexander Hamilton
1. Why doesn’t Hamilton want term limits?
2. What branch of government is the
Federalist 78 addressing?
3. Look up the following sections of the
Constitution and write down which branch it
refers to, and what it says about terms and
term limits.
A. Article I, section 2.1 B. Article I, section3.1
C. Article II, section 1.1 D. Article III, section 1
E. 22 Amendment