FridayJanuary 4, 2013

• This Day in History 1/4/13

Which headline best illustrates the system of checks and balances?A. "Senate Rejects Supreme Court Nominee"

B. "State Legislature Fails To Adopt Budget on Time"

C. "Congress Votes To Reduce Income Taxes"

D. "United States Peacekeeping Troops Sent to Bosnia"

• Essential Question:–What powers are granted to the

national government in the Constitution?

Article I of the Constitution created the Legislative Branch (Congress)

Congress has “expressed powers” to make lawsmake laws, levy taxeslevy taxes, coin moneycoin money,

regulate traderegulate trade, declare wardeclare war, admit new states to the Unionadmit new states to the Union

The “Elastic Clause” allows Congress to

create laws that are “necessary and proper”

Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate

The House of Representatives is based on state population size

Representatives serve two year terms and must be 25 years old

All revenue bills must originate in the

House of Representatives

Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate

Each state has two Senators Senators serve six year

terms and must be at least 30 years old

The Senate has the power to approve treaties and

presidential appointments

Article II of the Constitution created the Executive Branch which is made up of the President, Vice-President, and bureaucracy

The role of the President is to enforce the lawenforce the law, , conduct foreign policyconduct foreign policy, , serve as commander-in-chief serve as commander-in-chief

of the militaryof the military, , appoint judges and ambassadorsappoint judges and ambassadors, , provide leadership for the nationprovide leadership for the nation

The President is aided by numerous federal agencies and 15 executive departments each with a

secretary who serves on the President’s cabinet

The President is elected to a four year term and must be a native-born American

at least 35 years old

The President is not elected directly by the

people, but by an Electoral College

Article III of the Constitution created the Judicial Branch which is made up of

Supreme Court and other federal courts The role of the judicial

branch is to interpret the law and promote justice

There are no specific qualifications to be a federal judge; Judges serve for life

The Supreme Court has the power to declare laws unconstitutional (called judicial review)

The Supremacy Clause of Article V states that the Constitution is the “the supreme law of the land”

From May to September 1787, the delegates at the Constitutional Convention worked out a

framework for a new federal system of government

But, this plan for government had to be ratified by 9 states if it was to

replace the Articles of Confederation

Many Americans were concerned about the possibility of tyranny because the Constitution gave more power

to the national government over the states

Those who opposed the Constitution, feared a stronger

national gov’t , and wanted states to

remain power were called Anti-Federalists

The Anti-Federalists were led by

Patrick Henry and Samuel Adams

“Show me that age and country where the rights

and liberties of the people were placed on the sole

chance of their rulers being good men, without a

consequent loss of liberty?”Patrick Henry, speech in

opposition to the Constitution, 1788

Those who supported the new Constitution

and a stronger national gov’t were

called the Federalists

Federalist leaders James Madison,

Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay wrote a series of essays called the Federalist Papers

to counter the arguments of the Anti-Federalists

“Nothing is more certain than the indispensable

necessity of government… People must cede some of

their natural rights in order to vest it with requisite powers.”

(Federalist #2)

“[If the] federal gov’t is entrusted with the care of the common defense…that gov’t ought to be clothed with all the powers

requisite to complete execution of its trust.”

(Federalist #23)

“…the smaller the number of individuals composing a

majority, the more easily will they execute their plans of

oppression. Extend the sphere, and you take in a greater variety

of parties and interests; you make it less probable that a

majority of the whole will invade the rights of other citizens.”

(Federalist #10)

Some states ratified the Constitution quickly, but states with large majorities of Anti-Federalists

refused without a Bill of Rights to protect their liberty

New Hampshire was the 9th state to ratify the Constitution which went into effect in 1789, but the

Federalists wanted all 13 states to ratify the new gov’t In 1789, the Bill of Rights was introduced and the last two states ratified the Constitution by 1790

The Bill of Rights was approved in 1791

Today, the Constitution is the oldest existing written gov’t in the world and is a model for other nations

Closure Activity: Create a symbol or cartoon that describes the

main idea of each amendment

The first amendment of the Constitution deals primarily with

A. states’ rights

B. property rights

C. rights of the accused

D. rights of self-expression