Problems in the New Nation

Purpose

• To understand the role the framers played in writing the Constitution and how the Constitution was set up to govern our country effectively for over 200 years and counting. We need to know how our government functions and serves the people.

What problems arose under the Articles of Confederation? Pages 194 -199

Lack of Respect Problems with Trade

Economic Problems Problems in Massachusetts

What was the result of these problems?

A Call for a Constitutional Convention:

The Constitutional Convention Read Pages. 200-201 (1st paragraph of The Great Compromise)

Why ? To improve/ REVISE the Articles of Confederation

When ?May 1787

Where ? Philadelphia—independence Hall or Pennsylvania State House Who ? 55 delegates from 12 states (not RI)—Franklin, Madison, Washington Concerns : regional issues-slavery - Economic issues: tariffs - strength of

government

What would the new Federal Government look like?

The Virginia Plan1. Who

1. Edmund Randolph and James Madison

2. Who is in favor of this plan ?

2. Large state plan

3. What type of government did the large states want?

3.Strong central government—federal constitution

4. How many branches did they call for ?

4. 3 branches – Executive, Legislative, Judicial Branch

5. What type of legislature did they call for?

5. 2 house legislature—Senate (Upper House)and the

House of Representatives (Lower House)

6. in their plan what was their proposal on how many

representatives there would be?

6. All representatives determined by state’s

population

The New Jersey Plan

1. Who

1. William Paterson

2. Who is in favor of this plan

2. Small state plan

3. What type of government did the small states want

3. Wanted the State governments to have more power than federal government

4. How many branches

4. one branch of government – Legislative Branch - (congress - supreme power, they would control taxing and commerce)

5. What type of legislature

5. one house legislature

6. in their plan what was their proposal on how many representatives there would be?

6. Every state would have an equal number of votes

How could the Constitution serve all people? Either Explain, describe or define each of the governmental

terms below

Pgs. 202-204 (read up to Delicate Balance then stop)

The Great CompromiseIn the Senate-all states equal representation (2); In the House the

number of representatives would be determined by the state’s population

The Three-Fifths Compromise3/5 of the slaves in each state would count toward the state’s

population, increasing the number of representatives the states would have in the House; slave trade not banned

popular sovereigntypolitical power belongs to the people even with a strong central

government; the states would have sovereign power of their ownFederalismshared power between central and state government

What does Federalism look like according to the Constitution? Page 204 last paragraph under OUR

LIVING CONSTITUTION

Federal Powers

1.

1. Enforce the Constitution

2.

2. Use military to enforce laws

3.

3. Issue money and impose taxes

State Powers

1.1.Local government and

education2. 2.Charter corporations - "charter"

and "articles of incorporation". 3. 3. Civil and criminal law4.4. Provide for welfare of citizens

Checks and Balances

Pgs. 204-205

Why 3 branches?1. It creates a system of checks and balances to keep any one branch from

becoming too powerful How it works

What are the 3 branches of government?

• Legislative

• Executive

• Judicial

Legislative Branch• Congress• Which is made up of• A TWO house Legislature• The Senate or Upper House – 100 members 6 yr term and each

state is representative equally must be 30 years old to run for office

• The House of Representatives or Lower House – # of representatives is based on the state’s population – 2 year term – house of the people - must be 25 years old to run for office

• Their Main Job is to • Propose and pass laws• To make tax laws and decide how to spend the tax revenue

collected by the government

Executive Branch

• President is the head of the Executive Office• The President of the United States is called our

countries ;• “Chief Executive”• The President is also our countries;• “Commander-in-Chief” of the military• His main job is to -• Enforce and Carry out the laws• He appoints judges to fill vacancies in courts

Judicial BranchAll national courts

• The Supreme Court is the Highest Court in the land, and all decisions are FINAL!

• How many Justices sit on the Supreme Court bench?• 9 justices -8 associate justices – and the lead Justice

of the court is called the “Chief Justice” • They serve a ______ term? • Their main Job is to?• To interpret laws and decided if they are

Constitutional or not, and oversee Presidential actions

The Constitution is the known as

“The Supreme Law of the Land”

Ratifying the ConstitutionFederalists• Why did they support the

Constitution? • The separation of powers into 3

independent branches protected the rights of people and checked the balance of power between the 3 branches

• The 2 house legislature protected states’ rights and powers regardless of population

• A listing of states’ rights can be dangerous , especially listing specific rights because if the government were to protect specific rights, what would stop it from violating other rights not listed?

• Since we can’t list specific rights it’s better to list none at all

Anti-Federalists• Why were they against ratifying the

Constitution? • Gave the national government too

much power at the expense of the states

• Congress wielded too much power• The President held too much power• The national government could

maintain an army in peacetime• Just fought a war to defend rights and

they did not want an intimidating government taking those rights away again

• The lack of a Bill of Rights was the focus of the Anti-Federalists campaign against ratification