Creation of a New Nation

Creation of a New Nation

Aim: What were the weaknesses with the Articles of Confederation?

• Background:o Issue: What would be the

relationship between the new states and the national government?• Regional loyalties

o Republic: a government in which citizens rule through their elected representatives• Republicanism: the idea

that governments should be based on the consent of the people

Aim: What were the weaknesses with the Articles of Confederation?

• Weaknesses under the Articles of Confederation:o Congress could not enact and collect taxeso Congress could not regulate interstate or

foreign tradeo Regardless of population, each state had only

one vote in Congresso Two-thirds majority need to pass any law

• 9 out of 13 stateso Articles could be amended only if all states

approvedo No executive branch to enforce the laws of

Congresso No national court system to settle legal

disputeso No national unity

Aim: What problems did the Articles of Confederation have to deal with?

• Shay’s Rebellion 1787:o Daniel Shay leads a rebellion of

farmers in Western Massachusetts

o Caused by economic problems• Lack of currency• Shut down courts that were

step up for debt collection and taxation

• 1,200 farmers begin to rebel• Militia used to put down the

rebellion• Revision of the Articles of

Confederation viewed as necessary

Aim: What problems did the Articles of Confederation have to deal with?

• Western Land:o Western land ordinance: plan for surveying the

lando Northwest Ordinance: procedure for dividing

the land into territories• Set stages for statehood

oCongress appoints governor and judgeso5000 voting residents, a temporary

constitution, and government could be formed

o60000 settlers could write a state constitution and be granted statehood

How did the problems created by the Articles of Confederation lead to the

drafting of a new Constitution?• Philadelphia Convention:

o James Madison-Virginia plan• Bicameral legislator- based on

populationo William Paterson-New Jersey Plan

• Unicameral legislator-based on equal representation

o Roger Sherman- Great Compromise• Bicameral legislator

oOne house based on population (House of Representatives)

oOne house based on equal representation (Senate)

How did the problems created by the Articles of Confederation lead to the

drafting of a new Constitution?• Philadelphia

Convention: (cont.)o Three-Fifths

Compromise• Three-fifths of a

state’s slaves were to be counted as population

How did the problems created by the Articles of Confederation lead to the

drafting of a new Constitution?• Philadelphia Convention: (cont.)

o Division of powers• Federalism: the division of power between

national and state governments• Delegated Powers or Enumerated powers: powers

granted to the national government by the Constitutiono Ex: foreign affairs, national defense,

regulating trade, between states, coining money

• Reserved Powers: powers kept by individual stateso Ex: providing/supervision of education,

marriage laws, regulating trade within the state

• Shared Powers: powers that both federal and state governments enjoyo Ex: taxation, borrowing money, paying debts,

establishment of courts

How did the problems of created by the Articles of Confederation lead to the

drafting of a new Constitution?• Separation of Powers:

o Three branches of government• Legislative-to

make the laws• Executive- to

carry out the laws• Judicial- to

interpret the lawso Checks and

balances

Aim: What were the obstacles to ratification of the newly formed Constitution?

• Ratification procedure:o All states hold

ratification convention

o Ratification- official approval • Required nines

states

Aim: What were the obstacles to ratification of the newly formed Constitution?

• Federalists:o Favored ratification

• Balance of power between states and national government

• Division of Power and Checks and balances

• George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay

• Supported by urban population

• Smaller states • The Federalist Papers

o 85 essays defending the Constitution

Aim: What were the obstacles to ratification of the newly formed Constitution?

• Antifederalists:o Opponents to ratificationo Opposed strong central

governmento Doubted that a single

government could manage affairs of country

o Lacked protection for individual rights

o Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, Richard Henry Lee

o Supported by rural areaso Large stateso The Federal Farmer

Aim: What are the powers given to the President by the

Constitution?• Powers of the President:

o Chief Executive• Enforce or put the laws

into effect• Act as administrator of the

federal bureaucracy• Issue executive orders

that have the effect of laws

• Appoint judges and diplomats

• Remove appointed government officials within the executive branch

Aim: What are the powers given to the President by the

Constitution?• Powers of the President:

(cont.)o Chief Diplomat

• Make treaties with the advice and consent of the Senate

• Make executive agreements with nations without Senate approval

• Extend or withdraw diplomatic recognition to a nation

Aim: What are the powers given to the President by the

Constitution?• Powers of the President:

(cont.)o Commander in Chief

• Broad military powers that are shared with Congress

• Stronger during times of war

Aim: What are the powers given to the President by the

Constitution?• Powers of the President:

(cont.)o Chief Legislator

• Recommend legislation to Congress

• Veto potential laws

Aim: What are the powers given to the President by the

Constitution?• Powers of the

President: (cont.)o Chief of State

• Symbol of the nation

Aim: What are the powers given to the President by the

Constitution?• Powers of the President:

(cont.)o Judicial Powers

• Grant reprieves• Pardons• Amnesties

Aim: What are the powers given to the President by the

Constitution?• Powers of the

President: (cont.)o Head of the Party

• Leader of political party• Unwritten constitution

Aim: Why did the founding fathers create the electoral college to elect

the President?• http://www.youtube.co

m/watch?v=hC6FYpxTYR4

Aim: Why did the founding fathers create the electoral college to elect

the President?• Electing the

President:o Article II of the

Constitution outlines the process of electing the President and powers of office

Aim: Why did the founding fathers create the electoral college to elect

the President?• Electing the

President:• Electoral College System:

o Voters cast ballots for electors

o Electors cast ballots for President and Vice President

o Number of electors determined by number of Senators + number of representatives

o Majority of electoral votes to become President• 270 electoral votes

Aim: Why did the founding fathers create the electoral college to elect

the President?• Electing the President:

o100 Senators + 435 Representatives + 3 electoral votes to Washington D.C. (23rd amendment)

Aim: Why did the founding fathers create the electoral college to elect

the President?• Electing the

President:o Census: counting of

the population every ten years• Impacts number of

electoral votes• http://www.youtube

.com/watch?v=NhMgy894v5Q

Review Do Now:• Who actually elects the President of the United States? How is the number of these individuals chosen?• List and explain two of the roles or powers of the President of the United States.

Aim: What are the powers given to the

legislative and judicial branches in the

Constitution?• Powers of the

judicial branch:o Article three of the

Constitutiono Creates the Supreme

Court and gives Congress the power to create lower federal courts

o Creates a National and State court system

o Role is to interpret the laws

Aim: What are the powers given to the

legislative and judicial branches in the

Constitution?• Powers of the

judicial branch:o Jurisdiction:

Authority, of the federal courts in order to make clear which cases go to the federal courts and which to state courts• Two court systems• Subject Matter

Aim: What are the powers given to the

legislative and judicial branches in the

Constitution?• Powers of the

judicial branch:o Judicial Review: enables

the courts to hear cases involving the application and interpretation of law• Laws can be ruled

unconstitutional• Marbury v. Madison

Aim: What are the powers given to the

legislative and judicial branches in the

Constitution?• Powers of the

legislative branch:o Article I establishes Congresso Bicameral legislature: Two

houses• House of Representatives:

o At least 1 per state based on population

o 2 year termso Elected by votes of

congressional districtso 25 years oldo Citizen for 7 yearso Resident of State in

which you are elected

Aim: What are the powers given to the

legislative and judicial branches in the

Constitution?• Powers of the

legislative branch:o Senate:

• 2 per state• 6 year terms• Original Constitution

Senators were elected by state legislature

• Amendment 17: Direct election of Senators

Aim: How does a bill become a law?

• Step #1: Member of Congress introduces a bill oCongressional

clerk gives the bill a number and title

oBill goes to the appropriates committee

Aim: How does a bill become a law?

• Step #2: Committees review and vote on the billo Committee specialize in

certain areas• Ex: Foreign policy• Listen to facts and

opinions• Make changes or

amendments to the bill

• Send back to the House and Senate for debate

Aim: How does a bill become a law?

• Step #3: Senate and House vote on the billo Senate and House

debate the bill separately

o If the majority of the Senate and House approve the bill it is sent to the President

Aim: How does a bill become a law?

• Step#4: President signs or does not sign billo If the President

signs the bill it becomes law

oPresident can veto the bill

oCongress can override veto by 2/3 majority

Aim: How does a bill become a law?

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJ_4LQ96Pds• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxT7QjlvDqM

Aim: What are the formal and informal ways to amend the

Constitution?• http://www.youtube.c

om/watch?v=UTX9YsMywks

Aim: What are the formal and informal ways to amend the

Constitution?• Formal Amendment

processo Article V discusses

ways to amend or change the Constitution

o Method #1:• Proposed by

Congress by a 2/3 vote in both houses

• Ratified or approved by the State legislature in ¾ of the states

Aim: What are the formal and informal ways to amend the

Constitution?• Method #2:oProposed by

Congress by a 2/3 vote in both houses

oRatified by conventions held in ¾ of the states

Aim: What are the formal and informal ways to amend the

Constitution?• Method #3:

o Proposed at a National Convention called by Congress when requested by 2/3 of the state legislatures

o Ratified by the state legislature in ¾ of the states

Aim: What are the formal and informal ways to amend the

Constitution?• Method #4:

o Proposed at a National Convention called by Congress when requested by 2/3 of the state legislatures

o Ratified by conventions held in ¾ of the states

Aim: What are the formal and informal ways to amend the

Constitution?• Informal Amendment

processo Those not specifically

mentioned in the Constitutiono Precedent and traditions

• Ex: Cabinet and political parties

o Congressional legislationo Presidential actions

• Ex: President does not have to declare war to send troops

o Elastic clauseo Judicial review