Constitution Day September 17
The Constitution Pages 61-71 How many articles are there? What are each of the first THREE articles about? ( What( it Means boxes) Based on their length, which seems most important? How many people signed the Constitution? Anyone familiar?
The Three Branches Legislative Branch Executive Branch Judicial Branch Makes the Laws Enforces the Laws Interprets the Laws
Seven Articles Laughing elves join Santa and Santa s Reindeer. L - Legislative E - Executive J - Judicial S - States (relations between the states) A - Amendment process S - Supremacy Clause R - Ratification process
Articles of Confederation March 1, 1781- goes into effect No Executive Branch-No single leader No Judicial Branch-No national courts No power to collect taxes No power to regulate trade No power to enforce its laws Laws needed 9 states approval to pass Approval by all 13 to amend
Problems under the AoC Shay s s Rebellion Aug 1786- Feb 1787 Cause: unfair tax practices by Mass. State Governments were in debt and taxed their citizens heavily. If a state decided to ignore a law, the national government could do nothing The national government could not raise an army. The national government was greatly in debt from the revolution and had to rely on donations
Answer these Questions? Why was it so difficult to pass laws under the AoC? Why was the national government unable to pay its debts from the revolution? Without a national court system: what would happen if two states had a dispute? What would happen if someone had a complaint against his/her state? Where would the trial take place?
Land Ordinances Land Ordinance of 1785 Set size and price limits for land sales Reserved a section of each town for a school Public education? Northwest Ordinance of 1787 Established conditions for statehood Guaranteed settler s s civil rights Banned slavery from the area North of Ohio River
Constitutional Convention When it became apparent that there were problems with the AoC,, 12 states sent delegates to a meeting in Philadelphia to revise them. They quickly became aware that a whole new document would be needed, a NEW constitution. Which state sent no delegates?
Constitutional Convention James Madison and the Virginia Plan William Paterson and the New Jersey Plan How were these two plans different?
The Virginia Plan Three branches of government A Bicameral legislature The number of representatives a state would have would be based on that state s population and the amount of money that state contributed to the national government Which states would be against this? Why?
The New Jersey Plan Three branches of government A Unicameral legislature The number of representatives a state would have would be the same, one per state Which states would be against this? Why?
The Great Compromise A committee headed by Roger Sherman (Why is his name familiar?) Connecticut Compromise Bicameral Legislature Upper House (Senate)-Equal representation for each state (TWO) Lower House (House of Representatives)- Each state would have a number of delegates based on that state s s population.
Three/Fifths Compromise Problem: Slaves are people. Slaves are property Should they count for the population of a state in order to determine the number of representatives a state gets in the House of Representatives? Should they count as property for determining taxes? Compromise: Every 5 slaves will count as 3 people for determining the number of representatives, and only 3/5 of your slaves will be counted as property to determine your taxes.
Commerce and Slave Trade Problem: Should the national government taxes imports and exports? If we tax exports, it makes out goods more expensive in foreign countries and people may not buy them. People are still being sold into slavery from Africa. Isn t t this a violation of the Natural Rights? Compromise: The government will only tax imports, not exports. The government will not interfere with the African slave trade before 1808.
Electoral College Problem: Some delegates thought that Congress should choose the President Some thought that the people should vote for the President Compromise: An Electoral College made up of persons selected by each states legislature, would select the President and Vice President They are supposed to vote based on popular vote, but that has not always been the case.
Key Terms Republicanism: the idea or belief that a republic is the best type of government. Factions: Interest groups (PETA, NRA)
How would Representatives be picked? Virginia Plan Lower House-Popular Vote Upper House-Chosen by the Lower House New Jersey Plan Representatives chosen by State Legislature Connecticut Compromise Lower House-Popular Vote Upper House-Chosen by State Legislature **
Virginia Plan New Jersey Plan Connecticut Plan Number of houses in legislature 2 (Bicameral) 1 (Unicameral) 2 (Bicameral) Basis for determining representation in the legislature. How many representatives will your state get? -Based on that states population -Amount of money the state gives to the national Government Equal Representation - One from each state -Upper:: Equal Representation (2 per state) -Lower:: based on states population Basis for choosing representatives for the legislature. How will the representatives be picked / chosen -Lower house: popular vote -Upper house: chosen by lower house members - Chosen by each states legislature -Upper:: Chosen by that states legislature -Lower:: Chosen by Popular vote