The Constitution

1. Section 3 Chapter 7 The Constitution

2. Focus Questions • Why did the delegates meet for the Constitutional Convention? • What were some of the main issues debated and compromises reached at the Constitutional Convention? • How is the federal government balanced under the U.S. Constitution?

3. The Constitutional Convention • By mid 1780s many new it was time for a change to the Articles of Confederation • In 1787 there was a meeting called in Philadelphia to discus improving the Articles • The Constitutional Convention was held in May of 1787 and was held in Independence Hall

4. The Constitutional Convention • Rhode Island was the only delegation not present • Benjamin Franklin was the oldest member • James Madison proved to be the most important delegates at the convention

5. The Constitutional Convention • George Washington was a Virginia representative and was elected president of the convention • John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were serving as ambassadors and were not there • Patrick Henry was also not in attendance because he did not believe the meeting was necessary

6. The Great Compromise • Some delegates wanted to rewrite the Articles, some wanted to make small changes • The Virginia Plan was proposed four days into the convention • New Federal government that gave supreme power to the central government • Divided the government into executive, judicial, and legislative branches • Legislative would be bicameral and each state would be represented based on population

7. The Great Compromise • The New Jersey Plan was offered after two weeks of debate • Unicameral legislature and each state would get the same amount of representatives • Central government could tax citizens and regulate commerce • The debate over the two types of government waged on

8. The Great Compromise • The Great Compromise was when a new plan was constructed that called for a lower house to be based off of population and a higher house that was equally represented by all states

9. The Three-Fifths Compromise • Southern states wanted slaves to be counted as their population when it came to determining Congressional seats but did not want to count them when it came to paying taxes • The Three-Fifths Compromise counted each slave as three-fifths of person • Northern delegates had to also agree to wait 20 years before seeking to end the slave trade

10. Our Living Constitution • Most delegates wanted a strong national government but also wanted to protect popular sovereignty—political authority belongs to the people • They also formed a federalist system- the power is shared between a central government and the states that make up a country • Under the Constitution, states have control over government functions not specifically assigned to the Federal Government

11. A Delicate Balance • The Federal Government has three branches • The legislative branch is responsible for proposing and passing laws • Senate has two representatives • House of Representatives– represented according to population • Executive Branch– includes the president and that help run the government • Judicial Branch– national courts– interpreting the laws

12. A Delicate Balance • The framers crated a system of checks and balances– keeps any branch from becoming too powerful • The framers new the Constitution was not a perfect document

13. A Delicate Balance • In September of 1787 the delegates signed the final draft of the Constitution • The Constitution was then sent to the states for ratification

14. Focus Questions • Why did the delegates meet for the Constitutional Convention? • What were some of the main issues debated and compromises reached at the Constitutional Convention? • How is the federal government balanced under the U.S. Constitution?