Chapter 2: Section 4
Ratifying the Constitution
Federalists and Anti-Federalists
Federalists:
• Led by many who attended the convention.
• Stressed weakness of Articles.
• Believe current issues facing country would be
fixed with the Constitution.
Anti-Federalists:
• Unhappy with increased powers of central
government and new limits on state powers.
• Unhappy with the lack of a Bill of Rights to
protect individuals from the new government.
Image-Analysis
• Take a moment to look at the image below and
consider what is says about the ratification process of
the Constitution in 1788.
• Jot down your ideas and the we will discuss.
The Key States
• Due to their size and influence Virginia and New
York ratification of the Constitution were vital to
the process.
• Virginia narrowly approved ratification, in part
due to strong support by George Washington.
• New York, a month later, also ratified the
Constitution by a narrow margin. The Federalist,
a series of 85 essays, supporting ratification are
seen to have be highly influential on state
delegates.
• With these two states on board the Constitution
had the required support to be implemented.
Inaugurating the Government
• New Congress convened March 4, 1789 in New York
City.
• George Washington is elected President by unanimous
vote, April 6, 1789.
• April 30, 1789 Washington official sworn in.
Chapter 3: The Constitution
Section 1: The Six Basic Principles
The Constitution is based on six basic principles.
So far we have discuss all of these ideas, though
some more than others.
Think for a moment and jot down the six principles
you think the Constitution is based on.
Basic Principles
Popular Sovereignty
• All political power resides with
the people.
• Government can only govern
with the consent of the
people.
Limited Government
• A government may only do
those things that the people
have given it power to do.
• AKA the Rule of Law:
government and its officers
are always subject to – never
above – the law.
Basic Principles
Separation of Powers
• Basic powers of government are
divided among three distinct
branches of government,
Legislative, Executive, and
Judicial.
Checks and Balances
• Each branch of government is
subject to constitutional checks
by other branches.
Basic Principles
Judical Review
• The power of a court (Supreme
Court) to determine the
constitutionality of a government
action.
• Unlike other checks and balances,
Judicial Review is not expressly
provided by the Constitution, but is
viewed to be a clear intent of the
Framers.
Federalism
• The division of power among the
central government and several
regional governments (States)
Chapter 3: The Constitution
Section 2: Formal Amendment
Formal Amendment Process
• Take a worksheet for Chapter 3: Section 2
• Using the textbook fill out the worksheet.
• After that any time remaining is quiet study
time (fill out your objective sheets!).