Government and the Constitution

1. Government and the Constitution By Mrs. Farr

2. GPS Standards • SS8H4 The student will describe the impact of events that led to the ratification of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. • a. Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of both the Georgia Constitution of 1777 and the Articles of Confederation and explain how weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation led to a need to revise the Articles. • b. Describe the role of Georgia at the Constitutional Convention of 1787; include the role of Abraham Baldwin and William Few, and reasons why Georgia ratified the new constitution.

3. The Articles of Confederation • The Articles of Confederation was the first constitution of the United States. • It was created during the American Revolution to help bring stability to the 13 colonies (states).

4. The Articles = Weak • The Articles of Confederation, however, was very weak! • It had several problems that surfaced after the war.

5. The AoC • The AoC did not establish a president, and it only had a unicameral (one house) Congress. • In the legislature, each state only received one vote. • This was unfair for states that held larger populations than smaller states.

6. $$$$$ • Each state was governing itself! • It was establishing its own money, taxes and tariffs. • Each state was working like 13 little mini-nations as opposed to one big nation with 13 states. • The Articles limited the power of national government.

8. Articles of Confederation Weaknesses • No president • No court system • States have more or equal power to a nation • Could not pay soldiers • Each state was making its own money • Each state had different taxes/tarriffs • There was no representation in Congress based on population Strengths • Each state represented equally • Creation of a postal service • Congress had the power to wage war

9. Because the strengths outnumbered the weaknesses, the government would have to change... • But the leaders of our government did not want to alarm the public of the government’s change. • They planned for a meeting in Annapolis, Maryland and then planned for another meeting in May of 1787 in Philadelphia. • George Washington presided over the meeting.

10. Georgia • Georgia attended the Constitutional Convention of 1787, too. It sent two delegates (or representatives), Abraham Baldwin and William Few, to attend the meeting. Abraham Baldwin William Few

11. There were two plans discussed at the convention... • The Virginia Plan is the first plan we will talk about. • This plan is similar to the Constitution we have today. It broke the government into three branches. • However, representation in the Senate and the House were based on population.

12. The other plan • Was the New Jersey plan. This plan had more of a state-based sentiment. • It had a one house (unicameral) legislature and said that Congress could levy (impose, enforce) taxes. • The Congress was based on state representation.

13. The debate • ...raged on and on.... • Should the US use the Virginia Plan or the New Jersey Plan? The Virginia Plan or the New Jersey Plan? The Virginia Plan or the New Jersey Plan? • Finally, the delegates did what all great politicians do...

14. They compromised!

15. The Great Compromise • Made the Senate (upper portion of Congress) based on state representation and the House (lower portion of Congress) based on population. • There was also the 3/5ths compromise, that made 3/5ths of the African-American population count toward representation.

16. Finally, • The framework of the Constitution was in place. • Let’s talk a little about the our government and Constitution, shall we?

17. 3 Branches of Government • We have three branches of government: the Executive, the Legislative and the Judicial branches. • These branches are all balanced, so one branch doesn’t take over the other. • This is called Checks and Balances.

19. The Executive Branch • This branch has the President, the Vice President, and the Cabinet • The President is the Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces. • The President also approves law and makes treaties.

20. Georgia’s Executive Branch • Georgia’s executive branch contains the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and other executive agencies.

21. The Legislative Branch • This branch contains Congress. Congress is divided into two sessions: the House and the Senate. • The House is based on population. This group of representatives contains over 400 members.

22. The Senate is based on state representation. There are 100 members in the Senate, two for each state. (Remember the Great Compromise? This is how both states and population are represented in Congress!) • The job of Congress is to make laws for the nation. The House creates bills (or, proposals to create a new law), and must pass them on to the Senate. If the bill passes, it goes to the President. If he signs it, it can become a new law.

23. Georgia’s Legislative Branch • Georgia’s legislative branch is called the Georgia General Assembly (or GGA by Mrs. Farr…) • The GGA makes bills (or laws) for our state.

24. The Judicial Branch • The Judicial branch interprets the law. • This branch contains the Supreme Court and other federal court systems. • These courts are the deciding factors as to what is legal or constitutional.

25. Georgia’s Judicial Branch • Georgia’s judicial branch consists of the Georgia Supreme Court, and the state court system.

26. Federal (National) Government

27. State Government

28. Checks and Balances • Our government has a system to keep a branch from taking over the government. This system is called checks and balances (and no, I’m not talking about the bank...) • The President can veto any bill that Congress approves. • Congress can impeach a President if he is committing an illegal or unconstitutional act.

29. The Supreme Court can rule if a law passed by the Congress is constitutional or not. • Congress can impeach and appoint judges in the Judicial branch. • The President nominates people for the Supreme Court.

31. Makes perfect sense, right?

32. The Constitution • The Constitution forms our government. It has three sections: the Preamble, Articles and Amendments. • The Preamble tells about why the Constitution was needed. It is basically an introduction to the Constitution.

33. QUICK!A piece of candy goes to who can tell me what the first three words of the Constitution are! Mmmm..... Candy.

34. Right! • We the People! Good job!

35. The articles of the US Constitution • The articles basically talk about the three branches and what powers they have. • They list the powers of Congress, the age required to serve in public office, and the basic rules and regulations for our country.

36. Georgia • Georgia liked the 3/5ths Compromise, as well as the Great Compromise. Because of this, it was the 4th state to ratify (or approve) the new U.S. Constitution. • This is why you may hear Georgia described as the “4th State.”

37. However... • There were issues with the Constitution. Even today, there are issues with the Constitution. • A document that was written so long ago needed to be updated (and still needs to be updated from time to time). • These updates are called amendments.

38. Amendments • Some of the amendments that you may have heard of include the first amendment, which grants you freedom of speech, religion and of the press. • Women, an amendment that you may have heard of is the 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote in 1920.

39. There are Amendments... • ...covering everything from slavery to the way Congress should spend its money. • There is also an amendment (number 3) about the quartering of soldiers - civilians could no longer house soldiers - the days of the Quartering Act are looong gone! • Amendments cover issues that are not covered in the Constitution.

40. Some other amendments... • 5 - can’t testify against yourself - double jeopardy • 18 - prohibition • 24- poll taxes • 26- the right to vote at 18 (it used to be 21).

41. The End.