The Constitution

1. The Constitution Everything you wanted to know, but were afraid to ask.

2. Important Documents • Magna Carta: king had to obey laws, how to limit government’s power • Mayflower Compact: first document to establish self-government in North America • Articles of Confederation: established first federal government and provided a U.S. congress to pass laws for the U.S. • All states were represented, 100% (unanimous) state vote for amendments • Created to better unite the 13 states as a nation

3. Major Principles of the Constitution • Federalism: divides power between the central & state governments • Believed state government would better understand needs of people • Government should be limited and representative of the people • Separation of Powers: Representatives at the Constitutional Convention created a national government that divided power into three separate branches. Each Branch has different powers. • Checks and Balances: each branch can limit the power of the others. For ex., Presidential veto, Congressional override (2/3 vote) This way, no one branch becomes too powerful. • Compromise: when 2 or more sides make a deal to agree on something. They have to give up something to get what they want. • The Great Compromise: Settled the debate between the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan about state representation in Congress

4. Important leaders and their Ideas • George Washington: President of the Constitutional Convention • James Madison: “Father,” or “architect” of the Constitution, also authored most of the Federalist Papers

5. The Bill of Rights • Guarantees individual liberties, added to protect states and its people from potential government abuse. The federal government’s power became limited. Liberties of individuals and states were now forever protected. • Many representatives at the Constitutional Convention did not want to, or were reluctant, to approve the Constitution unless there was a list of rights that would protect the people and states from a government that became too powerful

6. Federalists/Federalist Papers • Federalists supported the Constitution and strong central government • Anti-federalists believed the Constitution created a government that was too powerful • Federalist Papers: primarily authored by James Madison, written to support of the Constitution • Federalist Papers #47: stated that if power was accumulated (gathered together) by only one or a few hands, then tyranny(absolute power) would result. That’s why there is a separation of powers!

7. Powers of Congress (Legislative Branch) • Writes/creates laws • Enumerated powers: punish counterfeiters, create post offices, declaring war, coin money

8. Powers of the President (Executive Branch) • Carries out/enforces the law • Can command the military, appoint judges to Supreme court (with Senate approval) • Can veto a bill created by Congress, which “checks” their power

9. Powers of the Supreme Court (Judicial Branch) • Interprets/explains laws • Declares laws unconstitutional, “checking” the power of Congress • Has power of Judicial Review • Settles disputes between states

10. Laws of the Constitution • Framers of the constitution counted slaves as 3/5ths of a person to determine a state’s representation and taxes • Slave trade could not be banned for 20 years after the signing of the Const. • “Laws of the Federal government are supreme above all others • Constitution: a living document, it’s always changing to meet the needs of the people