The Constitution
Broken Down
The Gathering
• There was a
convention in
Philadelphia. At the
convention were
delegates from each
state to fix the flaws of
the Articles of
Confederation.
• The convention took
place on May 25, 1787
in Philadelphia’s
Independence Hall.
More About The Gathering
• Of the 55 men present at Thomas Jefferson and John
this convention were Adams were currently in
lawyers, merchants, college Europe.
presidents, physicians, Patrick Henry didn’t attend
generals, governors, and either because he was
planters with political against the convention.
experience.
• Seven were governors of
their own states.
• Forty-one were or had been
members of the Continental
Congress.
• At this meeting no Native
Americans, African
Americans, or women were
in attendance.
The Procedure
• The first action was made by Washington. He set rules
for conducting the convention.
• The decisions made at the meeting were made by
majority vote. Each state only had one vote.
• They also agreed that this was to be kept secret and
that no one would tell what went on. Meetings were
closed to the public and press.
• Each delegate had a job for revising the Articles of
Confederation.
• They agreed that changing this wasn’t enough. So
they discarded the Articles and decided to make a
new constitution.
• This meeting became known as Constitutional
Convention.
The Plan
• The delegates wanted to created a
government that was good for all the
states. Everybody thought that this
was eventually going to be disaster.
• They proposed a plan for the new
government. This plan eventually
became known as the Virginia Plan.
• The Articles of Confederation only
consisted of the legislative branch with
one house congress.
• The delegates wanted to change this
so now the Virginia Plan had three
branches.
• The three branches were legislative,
judicial, and executive.
• The legislative branch was the branch
that did the lawmaking.
• The executive branch carried out the
laws.
• Last but not least the judicial branch
interpreted the laws and applied the
laws.
Constitutional Compromises
• The first compromise was called the Great Compromise
(Connecticut Compromise). The great compromise was
that the congress would have two houses: a Senate and
a House of Representatives. This meant that each state
had equal representation in the Senate pleasing the small
states, and a House based on population pleasing the
larger states.
• Although the Great Compromise was good they was still
unsure on how to calculate the population. So they
made a new compromise called the Three-Fifths
Compromise. This meant that every five enslaved persons
would count as three free persons. This would determine
the representation of the Congress.
Approving the Constitution
• When the Constitution • To win the support of
came out Americans people the Federalists told
reacted to it in many everybody or reminded
ways. them of the flaws of the
• There were Federalists. Articles of Confederations.
They were supporters of • This caused an argument
this document. This name that the United States
was chosen to emphasize couldn’t survive without a
the constitution. The strong national
thought it would create a government.
system of Federalism. This • Those who opposed the
means that power of the Constitution was Anti-
government was divided Federalists.
into federal, or national, • Eventually everybody
government and states agreed and decide to
make a Bill of Rights.
The Preamble
• We the People of the United • “To insure domestic Tranquility”-
States, in Order to form a more to maintain peace and order.
perfect Union, establish Justice,
• “To provide for the common
insure domestic Tranquility,
defense”-to protect the citizens
provide for the common
from outside attacks.
defense, promote the general
Welfare, and secure the • “To promote the general
Blessings of Liberty to ourselves Welfare”-to help people live
and our Posterity, do ordain healthy and happy.
and establish the Constitution • “To secure the Blessings of
for the United States of Liberty to ourselves and our
America. Posterity”-to guarantee the
• “To form a more perfect Union”- freedom and basic rights to all
to unite the states so they can Americans.
operate as a single nation.
• “To establish Justice”-to create
a system to fair laws and courts
so everybody is treated equally.
The Articles
• Article 1: The Legislative Branch (Congress is made up of two
houses-Senate and the House of Representatives. They will
have all of the lawmaking decisions.)
• Article 2: The Executive Branch (The law-enforcing branch.
Headed by the president and vice president. Tells how they
can be and removed from office.)
• Article 3: The Judicial Branch (They interpret the laws and
sees that they are fairly applied. They have one supreme
court.)
• Article 4: Each state must respect each others laws. Also
explains the procedure for creating new states.
• Article 5: Tells how to make amendments.
• Article 6: “supreme Law of the Land.” If the state or court
decisions conflict with the federal law the federal law shall
prevail.
• Article 7: The Constitution would take effect, when nine states
had ratified it.
CONSTITUTION ARTICLES OF
Senate, with states represented equality, CONFEDERATION
and House of Representatives, apportioned
according to population, have power to: Congress of one house with
equal representation of 13 states
Pass laws by majority vote Legislature has power to:
Declare war Pass laws by vote of 9 states
Coin and borrow money Declare war
Approve treaties Coin and borrow money
Amend Constitution by 2/3 Make treaties
vote in both houses and
approval by ¾ of states Amend Articles if all 13 states
agree
Tax
Regulate commerce
Confirm presidential
appointments
President chosen by electors has powers
to:
Enforce laws Executive
Make treaties No executive branch
Command armed
forces
Supreme Court and lower federal
courts have power to:
Interpret laws
Judiciary
No judicial branch
Settle disputes
between states
AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION
PROPOSAL PROPOSAL
By national convention
Vote of two-thirds of
called at the request of
members of both OR two-thirds of 50 state
houses legislatures.
RATIFICATION RATIFICATION
Approved by three- Approved by three-
fourths of 50 state OR fourths of ratifying
legislatures. conventions held in
50 states,
Popular Sovereignty
• Popular Sovereignty is • The Constitution also
the notion that the starts out with “We the
governments’ power people…”
lies with the people.
• People mainly voice
• The Constitution talks a
lot about the people. their opinions through
The Declaration of elections.
Independence says
that governments
should draw their
powers “from the
consent of the
governed.”
Rule of Law
• Rule of law means
that the law applies to
everyone, even those
who govern.
• Nobody can break the
law.
• The Constitution
gives a list of powers
that Congress should
have and those it
should not have.
Separation of Powers
• Separation of powers is split authority among
the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
• The reason we have separation of powers is so
that no one group or person gains too much
power.
Can impeach president;
CHECKS AND Can impeach judges;
Can override veto; BALANCE Can reject appointments of
judges
Can reject appointments;
Can refuse to approve
treaties
Legislative Branch
Can declare
Can veto acts of
legislation legislature
unconstitutional
Can appoint judges
Executive Branch Judicial Branch
Can declare
presidential actions
unconstitutional
Checks and Balances
• Checks and balances • The Supreme Court can
is when each branch is overturn laws.
able to check, or • The Congress can even
restrain, the power of remove judges through
the others. the impeachment
• The Congress can process.
block presidential
appointments and
treaties. If there is
wrongdoing the
Congress can even
remove the president
from office.
FEDERAL AND STATE POWERS
ENUMERATED POWERS CONCURRENT POWERS RESERVED POWERS
(Powers given to the Federal (Powers shared by state and (Powers given to state
government) federal government) governments)
Pass all laws Enforce laws Provide for the
necessary and proper public safety,
Establish courts
carry out its powers health, and welfare
Collect taxes within the state
Regulate trade with
other countries and Borrow money Regulate trade and
among states commerce within
Provide for the
Conduct foreign affairs general welfare the state
Raise and support and Establish local
army governments
Coin and print money Conduct elections,
determine
Establish a postal qualifications of
system voters
Govern U.S. territories, Establish a public
admit new states, and school system
regulate immigration
Federalism
• Under federalism • Expressed powers are
power is shared by the powers specifically
national government granted to the national
and the states. government.
• Each level of • Reserved powers are
government has powers that the
independent authority Constitution does not
over people. give to the national
• There are three types of government.
powers, these are • Concurrent powers are
expressed powers, powers that both levels
reserved powers, and of government can
concurrent powers. exercise.
• Written and designed by:
KATIE