Unit 10: Constitution

Articles of Confederation• First gov’t of US after Revolution

– Unicameral legislature – Each state had one vote.

• Strong state gov’t & weak federal gov’t– Federal system: Power is divided into levels.

Could and could not chartWhat powers did the federal gov’t have?

Under the Articles of Confederation, the Federal government:

Could Could Not1. Make laws * 1. Enforce laws2. Control the military 2. Collect taxes3. Organize treaties 3. Elect a single leader4. Amend the Articles~ 4. Establish a national court* Needed 9 out of 13 approval 5. Regulate trade~ Needed unanimous approval 6. Regulate the money

supply

Unit 10 W-T-L

Write-To-Learn

1. Why would the Founding Fathers create such a weak federal government?

2. Why do you think the Articles of Confederation did not last?

Constitutional Convention• 1787: Delegates from 12 states met in

Philadelphia.– RI refused to send delegates

• Why do you think?• Purpose was to create a new form of government• Kept the information discussed secret for 25

years

Plan and Compromise Charts

What ideas were used to develop our Constitution?

Constitutional Compromises

Write-To-Learn3. Which compromise had the biggest effect

on our country? Why?

Federalist vs. Anti-Federalists

• Federalists supported the Constitution. – Wrote the Federalist Papers defending the

Constitution.– Led by Alexander Hamilton

• Anti-federalists opposed the Constitution. – Worried that too much power

was given to the fed. gov’t– Wanted a Bill of Rights

to protect individuals• What are some of these

rights?– Led by Thomas Jefferson

Ratification

• 9 out of 13 states had to ratify the Constitution.– RATIFY: to approve

• 1788: Constitutionwas ratified. – RI was the 13th state to ratify it in 1790, but only after the

Bill of Rights was added.

The Constitution• Supreme law of the land.• Provides the framework for government in the

United States.

Constitution Breakdown

1. Preamble (Video 1 & 2)- You must recite the Preamble by Friday, April 12th

2. Seven Articles3. Twenty-seven amendments

Seven Articles

I. Legislative BranchII. Executive BranchIII. Judicial BranchIV. Relations among statesV. Amending processVI. National SupremacyVII. Ratification process

Four Basic Principles

• The Constitution was designed on four basic principles:– Popular Sovereignty– Limited Government– Federalism– Separation of powers

1. Popular Sovereignty• The right of the people to rule themselves (by

voting).• Voters elect representatives• The president and representatives are there

to serve the people.

2. Limited Government• The gov’t is there to serve the people, so it

should only be able to do what we allow– Cannot control every aspect of an individual’s life

• The Bill of Rights protects individual liberties• Rule of law: everyone must follow the law,

even the members of gov’t

3. Federalism• National government is the most powerful level

– Why do we even need state government?• Sectional differences• Specialization

• Types of Power:– Enumerated: National gov’t.

• Can be expressed or implied (Elastic clause).– Reserved: State gov’t.– Concurrent: Shared between national and state.

• Info on pg 89 in your textbooks is fair game on the test

Implied Powers

• Necessary and Proper Clause – aka Elastic Clause– Article I, Section 8, Clause 18– pg 99

• Expressed Powers (Clause 1-17) + Implied Powers (Clause 18) Enumerated Powers

4. Separation of Powers• French philosopher, Baron de Montesquieu

believed that executive, legislative, and judicial powers should be separated.

• The Constitution separates powers so the gov’t can be more effective– Division of labor

(Specialization)

Checks and Balances

• The powers of the government are divided into three branches:– Legislative: Congress (House of Reps and Senate)

Make laws– Executive: President. Enforce laws.– Judicial: Supreme Court. Interpret laws.

• The system of checks and balances keeps one branch of government from becoming too powerful.

Write-To-Learn

4. According to the Constitution, all of the branches of government are equal in power. Do you believe this is true or false?

• If you say true, why?• If you say false, which branch do you believe is

actually most powerful and why?

Partner Activity

• Choose from the following list of children’s songs.– Children’s Songs

• Re-write the lyrics to create a song about your assigned topic

• You must perform your song with your partner.