The Constitution Whats the US Constitution I Constitutional

The Constitution!

What’s the US Constitution? I) Constitutional Convention – May 1787 A) Meeting in Philadelphia to fix Articles of Confederation B) Delegates: Ppl sent from states to go to the meeting C) G. Washington elected President of convention (meeting) 2

What’s the US Constitution? 3

What’s the US Constitution? II) James Madison (Delegate) A) Father of the Constitution 1. Wants to get rid of Articles of Confederation 2. Studied a lot about gov’t 3. Many of his ideas went into writing the new constitution 4

What’s the US Constitution? III) Benjamin Franklin (Oldest Delegate -81) A) Popular and well respected B) Printer, writer, scientist, inventor C) Helped write Declaration of Independence, and peace treaty to end the Revolution (Treaty of Paris) IV) Alexander Hamilton – NY Lawyer – wants STRONG central government 5

John Green – Constitution (6 min) • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=b. O 7 FQs Ccb. D 8

What’s the US Constitution? • 9

What’s in the US Constitution? Compromises were Made Compromise: Ppl give up some ideas to get other ideas / negotiate The Virginia Plan - (Madison and Randolph – Va. ) 1. National gov’t would have 3 parts (branches) 10

What’s in the US Constitution? Virginia Plan 2. Executive Branch = Enforces Laws President/VP/ Cabinet (Secretaries) 3. Judicial Branch = Interprets Laws Court System (makes sure laws are fair) 4. Legislative Branch = Makes Laws Congress * Arguments about this!!! How many representatives would each state have in Congress? (Bi. Cameral – Split the power into two groups) 11

What’s the US Constitution? • Three Branches of Government 12

What do we do with the Legislative Branch? Virginia Plan (Strong Fed Gov’t) * Two “Houses” (By Population) Big states wanted representation (votes) in each house to be based on population of state -VA is a big state so they would get more ** Small states said “UNFAIR” 13

What do we do with the Legislative Branch? New Jersey Plan (Weaker Fed Gov’t) • One “House” of Congress - EQUAL Representation - Small states think all states should have the same amount of representatives 14

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What’s in the US Constitution? The Great Compromise (Connecticut Plan) 1. Roger Sherman’s idea 2. Congress (Legislative) would be split in two House of Representatives (By Population) * Amount of representatives (votes) depended on population of state (ex: NY has more than Delaware) *Chosen by the people 16

Representatives (House)

New York has 27 representatives in the House of Representatives

What’s in the US Constitution? c) Senate (Chosen By Each State) * Representation is the same for all states regardless of size Each state had two senators 19

New York has 2 Senators in the Senate (so do the other states)

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What’s the US Constitution? d) Three-fifths Rule (3/5 Rule) * Southern states wanted slaves to count in population so they would get more representatives * North said “NO” * Compromise: Three-fifths (3/5) of slaves in a state are part of population 22

What’s the US Constitution? D) Slave Trade Compromise 1. North said, “No more slave trade” 2. South wanted slave trade 3. Compromise: Slave trade would continue for 20 more years, then decide 23

Tree Map Virginia Plan, NJ Plan, Great Compromise

More about the Constitution • 25

What’s the US Constitution? V) The New Constitution – what’s in it? A) “We the People of the US” 1) Plan for government B) Republic: Ppl elect representatives to run gov’t for them 1. Tells rules for being a representative 2. How long you can be a representative 26

What’s the US Constitution? C) Federal System (Federalism) 1. Power is split between national (federal) gov’t and state gov’t a) each decide different things * state decides driving age * national gov’t declares war 27

More about the Constitution • 29

What’s the US Constitution? VI) Three (3) Branches of Gov’t A) Separation of Powers 1. Each branch has its own powers 2. No branch can be more powerful than another 30

How do you organize the gov’t? 31

What’s the US Constitution? • Three Branches of Government 32

What’s the US Constitution? • Executive Branch • Enforces Laws (makes sure laws are carried out) • President/VP are elected • Serve for four years 33

Executive Branch • Power to command armed forces • Can choose Supreme Court Judges • Chooses Cabinet members (advisors) • Pres can veto a bill before it becomes a law

How do you organize the gov’t? Executive Branch: Executive What it does Leader’s Name President Enforces laws President George Washington“Inauguration” ceremony in NYC Vice President Advises the President Vice President John Adams 35

How do you organize the gov’t? Executive Branch Department Name What it does Leader Cabinet (Unofficial department) Advises the President Leader’s Name Department of President State, Treasury, picked top War, Attorney leaders General, Postmaster 36

How do you organize the gov’t? Executive Branch Department Name State Department of Treasury What it does Foreign Affairs – dealings with other countries Finances – collected & spent taxes Leader’s Name Secretary of Thomas State Jefferson Secretary of Alexander the Treasury Hamilton 37

How do you organize the gov’t? Executive Branch Department Name What it does Leader’s Name Department of War (Defense) Run the Secretary of nation’s War armed forces Henry Knox 38

What’s the US Constitution? • Legislative Branch • Makes the Laws • Congress – Made up of Senate(100) and House of Representatives (435) – Congress people are elected – Senate serves for 6 years – House serves for 2 years 39

• Congress declares war • Congress can override (set aside) a presidential veto by 2/3 vote • Senate approves Presidents choice for Supreme Court judge • Congress can impeach (trial) 40

Legislative Branch • Census : Americans must be counted every 10 years to decide how many ppl will go to House of Reps • Sets taxes and how they are spent

How do you organize the gov’t? Legislative Branch - Congress Branch: Legislative Leader Job House of Representatives Speaker of the House Watch over making laws Senate Vice President Watch over making laws 42

Judicial Branch • Supreme Court – 9 judges picked by President • Can settle arguments between states • Decides if laws are unconstitutional • Serve for LIFE!

What’s the US Constitution? • Judicial Branch • Decides court cases about ppl’s rights and the Constitution – NOT Criminal cases • 44

How do you organize the gov’t? Judicial Branch Type of Court Name of Court Description What it does Highest Court Supreme Court 9 Judges deal with constitution cases and rights Deal w/federal laws and treaties Lower Federal Courts District Courts No appeals allowed Allows Appeals – ppl can ask to try case again 45

https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=ZCB 8 EOY 5 d 48

What’s the US Constitution? 47

What’s the US Constitution? Checks and Balances – All Branches Have Equal Power A) No branch has too much power 1. Each branch can “check” the others 2. Example: Making a Bill (idea for a law) a) Congress makes and votes for bill b) President can sign it or VETO it 48

What’s the US Constitution? * VETO = refuse to sign it c) Congress can override (still pass) the veto if enough ppl vote for it d) Supreme Court can judge a law to be unconstitutional (unfair) and it will not be a law 49

Preamble: opening statement • First three words of Constitution – • We the People = popular sovereignty – the ppl hold the final authority 50

“We The People” • Form a more perfect union- a single, UNIFIED national gov’t • Establish Justice – law applies fairly to everyone • Ensure Domestic Tranquility – ensure peace at home 51

• Provide for the Common Defense – be able to support an army/navy • Promote the General Welfare-can collect taxes and use them to benefit people • Secure the Blessings of Liberty-have the right to have freedom 52

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What’s the US Constitution? Constitution Approved!!! A) Federalists: Ppl who wanted a federal (national) gov’t, approved Constitution B) Anti-Federalists: Ppl who did not want a federal gov’t (wanted states to have control), NO Constitution 54

C) States wanted a Bill of Rights added D) Bill of Rights was promised – Constitution is Ratified (Approved!) E) NYC Chosen as First US Capital! 55