Hobbes

• What is the Social Contract Theory?

• How does it play a role in the founding of American government?

• Why are governments necessary?

• Should government have the right to intrude upon people’s rights? Why or why not?

John Locke

• (1632-1704) British Philosopher

• Original State of Man in Nature• Perfectly free and equal

• Why Governments?• Nature is uncertain• Property is unsafe

• Governments: Protect Property• Lives, Liberties, Estates

• Who creates governments?• The people• People are supreme

• When governments abuse those powers…• People can change government

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

• 1781-1789

• State Supremacy

• Legislature• Unicameral

• 9 of 13 votes to pass laws. (2/3)

• Each state one vote.

STRENGTHS• Land Ordinance of 1785• Surveyed and sold western

lands.

• Northwest Ordinance of 1787• Admission of new states

• Kept the states together• Treaty of Paris, 1783

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION• WEAKNESSES

• No power to tax

• No separate executive

• No federal courts

• Shays’ Rebellion

• British Retention of forts in the Northwest

• No regulation of interstate commerce

• Weak Continental dollar

• Separate state currencies

• Inability to protect settlers from Indians

• Inability to repay French loans

Constitutional ConventionBegan in May, 1787

• Original Purpose: • Amend Articles

• 55 Delegates

• None from Rhode Island

• Most Powerful Group/Interest:• Federalists• Stronger Central Government

Federal Census of 1790

• At the Constitutional Convention, each delegate was primarily representing his state’s interests.

• Based on the figures from the census, what significant differences exist among the states?

• What issues might surface at the Convention because of these differences?

Constitutional Convention: Great Compromise• Large and Small States: Representation

• Virginia Plan (Large States)• Legislature: 2 chambers

• Upper House: Appointed• Lower House: Popular Vote• ** Number of reps. in both based on population

• New Jersey Plan (Small States)• One chamber; each state one vote.

Great Compromise• Legislature

• Upper: Appointed by State Legislature• 2 per state (help small states)

• Lower: Voted by people• Based on population (help large states)

3/5 Compromise• Settled issue of counting slaves for taxes and

representation.

Legislative Branch– Article I Constitutional Requirements

House Senate• Age 25 30

• Citizenship 7 years 9 years

• Residency In state In state

• Length of Term 2 years 6 years

• Impeachment• House:

Impeaches (Bring Charges Against)majority vote

• Senate:Trial2/3 vote

• Can only remove from office

Article I, Section 8

• Powers of Congress• Power to tax• Regulate interstate commerce• Coin money• War Powers• Declare War• Raise an army/navy• Maintain an army/navy• Regulate an army/navy

• Necessary and Proper Clause (Sec. 8)• AKA: Elastic Clause• Expands powers of Congress

• Raising Revenue (Sec. 7)• Must begin in the House• Closest to the people (no taxation w/o representation)

Article II: EXECUTIVE BRANCH• Length of Term• 4 years

• Term Limits• NONE in ORIGINAL Constitution• 22 Amendment (1951)

• “Two Terms”

Electoral College• Number per state:• Equal to # of Reps. and Senators

• Who Wins?• Receive MAJORITY of votes

• No Majority?• House Decides

Constitutional Requirements• Age• 35

• Citizenship• Natural Born Citizen

• Residency• Live in U.S. 14 years

Powers of the President• Foreign Policy

• Commander-in-Chief (CINC)

• Make Treaties• 2/3 of Senate

• Appoint Ambassadors• Majority of Senate

• Judicial• Appoint federal Judges• Majority of Senate

• Pardons

• Legislative• Veto• State of the Union

Impeachment/Removal• Treason, Bribery, High Crimes and Misdemeanors

Article III - Judicial Branch

• Constitutional Requirements• None

• Length of Term• Life

• Constitution Establishes Supreme Court

• Lower Courts:• Created by Congress

ARTICLE IV• State Relations• Extradition• New States• Consent of current

state AND Congress

ARTICLE V

• Amend the Constitution• 2/3 House & Senate• ¾ of States

ARTICLE VI

• Supremacy Clause• National over State

ARTICLE VII

• Ratification• 9 of 13