Constitutional Convention

When/Where/Who

Why

•September 1787

•Congress met for a Constitutional Convention

•Articles of Confederation were not working•A stronger central government was needed

PrinciplesSeparation of powers with 3

branches of governmentChecks and balances so that no

branch was too powerfulGuarantees equality under the

law with majority rule and the rights of the minority protected

Constitutional Convention

They created the U.S. Constitution

A written plan for the structure of the U.S.

government.

Political Ideas and Traditions that influenced our gov't.

U.S. Government

Political Ideas and Traditions that influenced our gov't.

Ancient Greek

Democracy

U.S. Government

Greek Democracy

Political Ideas and Traditions that influenced our gov't.

British Parliament

Ancient Greek

Democracy

U.S. Government

British Parliament

Political Ideas and Traditions that influenced our gov't.

Magna Carta

British Parliament

Ancient Greek

Democracy

U.S. Government

Magna Carta

Political Ideas and Traditions that influenced our gov't.

English Bill of Rights

Magna Carta

British Parliament

Ancient Greek

Democracy

U.S. Government

English Bill of Rights

Political Ideas and Traditions that influenced our gov't.

Enlightenment Thinkers

English Bill of Rights

Magna Carta

British Parliament

Ancient Greek

Democracy

U.S. Government

Enlightenment ThinkersJohn Locke and Baron de Montesquieu

Political Ideas and Traditions that influenced our gov't.

Enlightenment Thinkers

English Bill of Rights

Magna Carta

British Parliament

Ancient Greek

Democracy

U.S. Government

FEDERALISM

The Federal System The division of power between the

national government and the governments of the states.

Shared Powers

Federal Government

• Power to tax• Regulate trade• Control currency• Raise an army• Declare war• Pass laws

• State Government• Pass/enforce laws• Regulate trade

within their borders• Establish local

governments, schools, etc.

Supreme Law of the Land

Constitution - Final and supreme authority

Settled disputes between the states and federal government

A “living document”

Separation of Powers

Organization of Government

Distributes power equally among three branches of government

Ensures no person or branch of government is

too powerful

Legislative Branch• Created in Article I

• Congress is the lawmaking branch

• Made up of 2 houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives

Powers of the Legislative

Branch

• Collects Taxes• Coining Money• Regulates trade• Declares war• Confirms presidential

appointments• Makes the laws

Executive Branch• Created in Article II

• Executes the country’s laws

• Headed by the President

Powers of the Executive Branch

• Commander in chief or the armed forces

• Conducts foreign policy

• Approves or vetoes laws

• Administers and executes the laws

• Appoints ambassadors, federal judges and others

Judicial Branch• Created in Article III• Interprets laws and

punishes lawbreakers• Supreme Court is the

head of the judicial branch

Powers of the Judicial Branch

• Hears cases involving the constitution

• Interprets the Constitution and other laws

• Reviews lower court decisions

System ofChecks and

Balances•Ensures that no branch becomes too powerful •Each branch has powers that limit the powers of the other two branches•The world watched to see if self-government could work

Federalists vs. Anti-federalistsFederalists vs. Anti-federalists

FederalistsFederalists: :

• Favored ratification of the Favored ratification of the Constitution. Constitution.

• Wanted a strong national Wanted a strong national government. government.

• James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay strong supportersJohn Jay strong supporters

•Wrote a series of essays “Wrote a series of essays “Federalist Federalist PapersPapers” explaining constitution” explaining constitution

•Sent to state conventionsSent to state conventions

Federalists vs. Anti-federalistsFederalists vs. Anti-federalists

AntifederalistsAntifederalists: :

• Opposed ratification of ConstitutionOpposed ratification of Constitution

• Wanted a Bill of Rights to protect the Wanted a Bill of Rights to protect the peoplepeople

FederalistsFederalists AntifederalistAntifederalist

Feared DisorderFeared Disorder Feared Feared OppressionOppression

Adopting the ConstitutionAdopting the Constitution

June 21, 1788June 21, 1788

• The ninth state approves – New The ninth state approves – New HampshireHampshire

• New York / Virginia had not ratified New York / Virginia had not ratified ConstitutionConstitution

Two largest statesTwo largest statesWanted a Bill of RightsWanted a Bill of Rights

• Bill of Rights was added in 1791Bill of Rights was added in 1791