T HE U NITED S TATES C ONSTITUTION. Questions that are asked about the United States Constitution. Why was it written? What events led to its creation?

THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION

Questions that are asked Questions that are asked about the United States about the United States

Constitution.Constitution.Why was it written?Why was it written?

What events led to its creation?What events led to its creation?

Where was it written?Where was it written?

What historical documents was it modeled after?What historical documents was it modeled after?

What problems in our society did the Constitution solve?What problems in our society did the Constitution solve?

What are its limitations?What are its limitations?

Do you feel it is as relevant today as it was when the Do you feel it is as relevant today as it was when the Constitution was first created? Constitution was first created?

What is the preamble?What is the preamble?

Constitution FactsConstitution Facts

The United States Constitution was The United States Constitution was created on September 17, 1787.created on September 17, 1787.

It was ratified June 21, 1788It was ratified June 21, 1788

Where was it Where was it writtenwritten??•The United States The United States Constitution was written Constitution was written at the Philadelphia State at the Philadelphia State House. House.

•George Washington George Washington also received his also received his commission as commission as Commander of the Commander of the Continental Army. Now Continental Army. Now called Independence called Independence HallHall

Why was it Why was it

writtenwritten??•It was written to show the It was written to show the three branches of government: three branches of government: Legislative, Executive, and Legislative, Executive, and JudicialJudicial

•It tells the power of each It tells the power of each branch.branch.

•To tell the framework of the To tell the framework of the United States Government.United States Government.

•States the relationship of the States the relationship of the Federal government to state Federal government to state governments and the citizens governments and the citizens in the United States.in the United States.

What events led to its What events led to its creationcreation??

The failure of the The failure of the Articles of Articles of Confederation in Confederation in creating a weak creating a weak national government.national government.

There was no There was no president or Judicial president or Judicial branch. Congress branch. Congress was the only branch was the only branch of government. of government. Federal government Federal government could not enforce could not enforce laws on states. laws on states.

The government after The government after American Revolution American Revolution left the United States left the United States very weak. very weak.

Convention TensionConvention Tension

Federalists versus anti-federalistsFederalists versus anti-federalistsFeds: we need a strong central gov’tFeds: we need a strong central gov’t

Means states give up some freedomMeans states give up some freedom

Antifeds: didn’t we just have a war concerning this!?Antifeds: didn’t we just have a war concerning this!?

Fair representation in a federal governmentFair representation in a federal governmentRepresentation byRepresentation by

Population?Population?

State?State?

SolutionsSolutions

Bill of Rights and the Amendment Process for the Bill of Rights and the Amendment Process for the ConstitutionConstitution

Great CompromiseGreat Compromise

3/5ths Compromise3/5ths Compromise

The Great Compromise (or Connecticut The Great Compromise (or Connecticut Compromise)Compromise)

Virginia planVirginia plan

Representation for states Representation for states based on populationbased on population

New Jersey PlanNew Jersey Plan

Representation based on Representation based on each state being equaleach state being equal

• These two plans resulted in a two House legislature These two plans resulted in a two House legislature (Congress) composed of the Senate and House of (Congress) composed of the Senate and House of RepresentativesRepresentatives– Senate: like New Jersey planSenate: like New Jersey plan– House: like VirginiaHouse: like Virginia

+ Both are required to pass a bill into law!+ Both are required to pass a bill into law!

Three-Fifths Three-Fifths CompromiseCompromise

““Every five enslaved people in a state would count Every five enslaved people in a state would count a three free persons for determining both a three free persons for determining both representation and taxation” (text)representation and taxation” (text)

Why is it a compromiseWhy is it a compromiseGives the South political cloutGives the South political clout

Provides more “Benjamins” (did they say that back Provides more “Benjamins” (did they say that back then?) to the Federal Governmentthen?) to the Federal Government

Bill of RightsBill of Rights

1st Ten 1st Ten Amendments to the Amendments to the U.S. ConstitutionU.S. Constitution

Added to protect Added to protect personal liberties personal liberties and freedoms.and freedoms.

Summary of the Bill of Summary of the Bill of RightsRights

1.1. Freedom of worship, speech, petition, press, assemblyFreedom of worship, speech, petition, press, assembly

2.2. Freedom to bear armsFreedom to bear arms

3.3. No quartering troops w/o permissionNo quartering troops w/o permission

4.4. No search/seizure w/o warrantNo search/seizure w/o warrant

5.5. Gov’t can’t take life, liberty, or property w/o due Gov’t can’t take life, liberty, or property w/o due processprocess

6.6. Speedy trial w/ lawyerSpeedy trial w/ lawyer

7.7. Trial by juryTrial by jury

8.8. No excessive bail, fine, or cruel and unusual No excessive bail, fine, or cruel and unusual punishmentpunishment

9.9. Other rights reserved to the peopleOther rights reserved to the people

10.10. Powers reserved to the statesPowers reserved to the states

What problems What problems in our society in our society did the did the Constitution Constitution solvesolve? ?

The Constitution solved The Constitution solved the problem of only the problem of only one branch of one branch of government and government and providedprovided

Legislative branchLegislative branchExecutive branchExecutive branchJudicial branchJudicial branch

Checks and Balances Checks and Balances was created. There was was created. There was a separation of power a separation of power between branches of between branches of government.government.

The Electoral College The Electoral College created to represent created to represent the states in the states in presidential elections.presidential elections.

What major historical documents was the What major historical documents was the US constitution US constitution modeledmodeled after? after?

Commentaries on the Laws of England Commentaries on the Laws of England by William by William Blackstone. Blackstone. This book gave rights and wrongs of people This book gave rights and wrongs of people in a society. in a society.

The Spirit of the Laws The Spirit of the Laws by Baron de Montesquieu. by Baron de Montesquieu. Introduced the concept of Introduced the concept of separation of powers and separation of powers and constitutionalism. constitutionalism.

Social Contract Social Contract by Jean Jacques Rousseau. by Jean Jacques Rousseau. This talked This talked about the more efficient way to set up political about the more efficient way to set up political community. Government should be of the people.community. Government should be of the people.

Two Treatises of GovernmentTwo Treatises of Government by John Locke. by John Locke. It covers It covers the idea that every man is created equal under God.the idea that every man is created equal under God.

What are its What are its limitationslimitations??The United States Constitution limits the power of the The United States Constitution limits the power of the

government. government.

Each branch has their own powers. Each branch has their own powers.

No government is all-powerful, and that it may only do No government is all-powerful, and that it may only do things that the people have given it power to do. things that the people have given it power to do.

The government must obey the law. This is the principle The government must obey the law. This is the principle called constitutionalism. called constitutionalism.

Do you feel it is as relevant Do you feel it is as relevant today as it was when it was today as it was when it was

written?written?The US constitution is completely as relevant today The US constitution is completely as relevant today as it was when it was written because the same as it was when it was written because the same principles are proposed today. Laws are still principles are proposed today. Laws are still unconstitutional and we still have to rule by the unconstitutional and we still have to rule by the constitution. The division of powers is still working constitution. The division of powers is still working today. It still makes this country run with a stable today. It still makes this country run with a stable democracy.democracy.

The Purpose of The Purpose of GovernmentGovernment

The main purposes of government are described in the The main purposes of government are described in the Preamble of the Constitution of the United States:Preamble of the Constitution of the United States:

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”