The United States Constitution Adapted from http://www4.esc13.net/uploads/ss/docs/constitution/Constitution_Day_elementary.ppt. https://www.georgiastandards.org/Frameworks/GSO%20Frameworks/American-Government-Civics-Unit6-Constitutional- Convention.ppt. http://st-descartes.esuhsd.org/~phippsb/page4/files/PPT-The%20U.S.%20Constitution.ppt
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The United States Constitution Adapted from . 20Frameworks/American-Government-Civics-Unit6-Constitutional-
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Thomas JeffersonAuthor of the “Declaration of Independence”
Path to the Constitution
After declaring independence from Great Britain, the colonies knew to grow and prosper, they needed a plan for unity. Effective March 1, 1781, the colonies were governed by the Articles of Confederation.
After declaring independence from Great Britain, the colonies knew that if they wanted to grow and prosper, they would need a plan for unity.
Effective March 1, 1781, the colonies were governed by the Articles of Confederation.
Articles of Confederation
1781
The Federalist Papers
1787-1788
United States Constitution
1788
Path to the Constitution
John AdamsFounding Father and 2nd President
The Articles of Confederation posed many challenges. The powers of the central government were weak and the Articles were impossible to amend.
Why was the Constitution
written?• Shays’ Rebellion:– An uprising of farmers
in Massachusetts in 1786 – led by Daniel Shays.
– Helped convince leaders that a strong central government was needed.
"A scene at Springfield, during Shay's Rebellion, when the mob attempted to prevent the holding of the Courts of
Justice."—E. Benjamin Andrews, 1895
United States Constitution
1788
The Bill of Rights 1791
Amendments
11-27
1795-1992
James Madison“Father of the Constitution”
Path to the Constitution
In May of 1787, delegates from each state met to write a new Constitution. Through discussion and debate over issues like states’ rights, individual rights, and the power of the national government, a compromise was made and the result became the “law of the land,” the U.S. Constitution.
Constitutional Convention
• Met in Philadelphia, PA• Original intent was to revise
the Articles of Confederation• James Madison was the
“Father of the Constitution”• 39 men signed it in 1787
Constitutional Convention:
Members• 55 delegates from 12 states (Rhode Island did not send delegates)
• Samuel Adams - not chosen by state to be part of the delegation
Constitutional Convention:
Famous Members• Alexander Hamilton – Proponent of strong
government
• George Washington – President of the convention
• James Madison – “Father of the Constitution”
• Benjamin Franklin – Oldest member at 81
Federalists v. Anti-Federalists• Federalists:
– Supported the Constitution and a strong central government
– Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay
– Federalist Papers – series of articles written in defense of the Constitution
• Anti-Federalists:– Supported a weaker
central government – felt too much power was taken away from the states
– Opposed the Constitution
– Wanted a Bill of Rights included
– Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry
George Washington President of the Constitutional Convention and 1st President
Celebrate the Constitution
Popular Sovereignty
Checks and
BalancesSeparation of Powers
Limited Government
September 17, 1787 was a glorious day! The U.S. Constitution was finally signed by the delegates of the Constitutional Convention. The Constitution included a strong central government based on compromise; it outlined national powers and provided provisions for amending the Constitution.
“The Constitution is the guide which I never will abandon. -George Washington
Ratification• Officially adopted in
1788 after ratified by New Hampshire.
• Once the new government convened, they added a Bill of Rights to the Constitution.
A Living Document
Benjamin FranklinSigner of the Constitution and Founding Father
Because there was so much interest and debate regarding individual rights, on December 15, 1791, ten amendments known as the Bill of Rights were added to the U.S. Constitution. Since then, seventeen more amendments have been added to the Constitution.
Individual Rights
Republicanism
Federalism
Celebrate the Constitution Today
The Constitution of the United States was made not merely for the generation that then exist, but for the posterity - unlimited undefined, endless, perpetual posterity
-Henry Clay (1877-1852)
American statesman - U.S. Congressman and Senator
Today, the “law of the land” is still the U.S. Constitution. It has sustained controversial issues, a civil war, and the changes that 200 years of American society brings. But it is strong and enduring.
Constitution Vocabulary
• Ratify: To agree to, to sign, to approve • Amend: To add to, to change• Veto: To refuse to sign, to reject• Bill: A proposed law• Suffrage: The right to vote• Bicameral: 2 house legislature (2 house
Congress)• Impeach: To accuse of wrongdoing
LOOSE INTERPRETATION
• A.K.A. “Loose Construction of Constitution”
– Interpretation of Constitution must be flexible
– People change, society changes, technology changes--Constitution must adapt
– What the Constitution doesn’t say EXPLICITY, the branches of government can do
• Who supports a loose interpretation?
Answer: Federalists, Liberals
STRICT INTERPRETATION
• A.K.A. “Strict Construction of Constitution”
– Constitution should remain the constant
– The Constitution must be the measure of social, ethical, and moral change
– Government can ONLY do what the Constitution EXPLICITLY says
• Who supports a strict interpretation?
Answer: Anti-Federalists, Conservatives
A Living Document
The Constitution is both a product of its time and a document for all time. It can be
changed as society’s needs change.
A Living Document
A Document for All Time
• Original Constitution a product of its time– Reflects wisdom and biases of the Framers; relatively few changes in
over 220 years
– Survived the Civil War, presidential assassinations, and economic crises to become world’s oldest written constitution
• Original document not perfect
– Perpetuated injustices with compromises permitting slavery and the slave trade
– States given power to set qualifications for voting; women, nonwhites, and poor people denied right to vote
– Decisions reflected societal attitudes of the times
• Ability to incorporate changing ideas of freedom and liberty keeps document relevant to each new generation since 1789
A Constitution for All Generations
4,500+ words• Constitution blended ideas from the
past with uniquely American principles of governing
• Three main parts:
1) Preamble – lists purposes of Constitution (broad goals)
2) The 7 articles – create structure of the U.S. government
3) The 27 amendments – changes added during the nation’s history
Basic principles• Structure and language expresses
six basic principles:
Popular sovereignty
Limited government
Separation of powers
Checks and balances
Judicial review
Federalism
The Constitution is the Blueprint
Framers believed if federal government reflected and remained true to
basic principles, goals of U.S. Constitution could be accomplished.
First Amendment:
Congress shall make no
law respecting an
establishment of
religion, or prohibiting
the free exercise
thereof…
Article 1 – Powers Denied to Congress:The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.
Judicial review is the idea, fundamental to the US system of government, that the actions of the executive and legislative branches of government
are subject to review and possible invalidation by the judicial branch.
• The powers of government are distributed between the national government and state governments
• Framers struggled to find acceptable distribution of powers with the rights of states and sufficient national government strength
Federalism
Enumerated powers: Items found in Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution that set forth the powers of
Congress.
Delegated Powers: Powers given
specifically to the federal government by
the Constitution
Concurrent Powers (Shared Powers):
Authority shared by both the
federal government and
the state governments
Reserved Powers:Powers not given to the federal government that can be used by a state
or local government
Structure of the Constitution
• Preamble:– Statement of purpose
• Articles:I: Legislative BranchII: Executive BranchIII: Judicial BranchIV: Relations Among the StatesV: Amendment ProcessVI: National SupremacyVII: Ratification
• Amendments:– 27 Total– 1st ten are the Bill of Rights
The Preamble
How the Constitution is
Divided1. Articles –
the major divisions2. Sections –
divisions of an article3. Clauses –
divisions of a section
Article I: Legislative Branch
• Section 1: What is a Congress?
Legislative (law-making) power in a bicameral legislature [2 houses: Senate and House of
Representatives]
• Section 2:
House of Representatives
Article I: Legislative Branch
• Section 3: Senate
• Section 4: Meetings
of Congress
• Section 5: Rules and Procedures
• Section 6: Privileges and Restrictions
Article I: Legislative Branch
• Section 7: How a Bill Becomes a Law
• Section 8: Powers of Congress
• Section 9: Powers Denied to Congress
• Section 10: Powers Denied to States
Article 2: Executive Branch
• Section 1: President and Vice President
• Section 2: Powers of the President
• Section 3: Duties of the President
• Section 4: Impeachment
Article 3: Judicial Branch
• Section 1: Federal Courts
• Section 2: Jurisdiction of Federal Courts
• Section 3: Treason
Article 4: Relations Among the States
• Section 1: Official Acts
• Section 2: Privileges of
Citizens
• Section 3: New States
• Section 4: Guarantees
of the States
Article 5: The Amendment Process
Article 6: National Supremacy
• Section 1: National Debt
• Section 2: National Supremacy
• Section 3: Oath for
Government Officials
Article 7: Ratification
• 9 states needed to ratify the Constitution• Signed September 17, 1787