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The American Constitution

The American Constitution. Why draft a Constitution?. The Articles of Confederation were a failure Inability to tax State sovereignty over federal No presidential veto No common currency *Positives?

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The American Constitution

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  1. The American Constitution

  2. Why draft a Constitution? • The Articles of Confederation were a failure • Inability to tax • State sovereignty over federal • No presidential veto • No common currency *Positives? -Land Ordinance of 1785: set up a system of surveying and selling land in the Northwest Territory

  3. What was the final straw before creating the Constitution? • SHAY’S REBELLION • (1786–87), an uprising of poor farmers in the US led by D. Shays; it was aimed to protest class struggle that existed after the close of the American Revolution • Predominately indebted farmers

  4. What Enlightenment philosopher’s impacted the drafting? • John Lock • Baron Montesquieu

  5. Who were the Federalists and Anti-Federalists? • Federalists: want a stronger national gov’t • Formed by A. Hamilton • J. Madison, G. Washington (but claims independent when president) • Anti-Federalists: afraid of big gov’t • Led by P. Henry • T. Jefferson • Advocated for a “bill of rights”

  6. What about the Virginia Plan?

  7. And the New Jersey Plan?

  8. Which plan was more influential? • The American Constitution took into account both plans • Remnants of each plan can be visible in American gov’t

  9. All of these ideas lead to… • The Constitution is composed of: • Preamble • 7 articles • Amendments http://www.schooltube.com/video/b5481d6eda7b2be5a4ac/

  10. What is outlined in the constitution? • The first three articles of the US Constitution sets up the US government as a republic with three separate branches of government: • Legislative • bicameral • Executive Branch • led by the president • Judicial Branch

  11. Also, in article two… • Electoral College: 538 voters; must have at least 270 to win an election • While watching the video, figure out: • How many electoral votes does a state receive? • Whose vote does the college represent? http://www.schooltube.com/video/ee1f3005a68bfe608934/Electoral-College

  12. What is outlined in the constitution? • Article four describes the relationship between the states and the federal government • Describes how to admit new states • Article five describes how to amend the Constitution • Article six establishesthe Constitution as the supreme law of the USA • Article seven lists the requirements for ratification of the Constitution • RI was the last of the 13 original colonies to ratify in 1790

  13. What is the Bill of Rights? • Anti-federalists felt “unprotected” from their government w/ out documentation of their individual rights • Amendments 1-10 (1791) • Preserves the rights of the people

  14. What makes up Congress? • Congress (535) • Bicameral: House (435) and Senate (100) • House of Representatives (2yrs) • at least 25 years of age • a citizen of the United States for at least seven years prior to election • a resident of the state he or she is chosen to represent • Senate (6yrs) • at least 30 years old • a U.S. citizen for at least nine years at the time of election to the Senate • a resident of the state one is elected to represent in the Senate

  15. How does a bill become a law? • A member of Congress introduces a bill. 2. Committees review and vote on the bill. 3. The House and the Senate debate and vote on the bill. 4. The President signs the bill—or not. • Congress can try to overrule a veto. If both the Senate and the House pass the bill by a two-thirds majority. http://www.schooltube.com/video/89a42a6866404f4baab7/Im-Just-a-Bill

  16. What are the powers of the president defined by the Const.? 1. Appointment power 2. Convene Congress 3. Make Treaties 4. Veto Power 5. Commander-in-Chief 6. The pardoning power

  17. What’s the role of the Supreme Court? • 9 Justices led by Chief Justice • Appointed for life unless they resign, retire, or are impeached • Determine constitutionality of laws and executive decisions • Marbury v. Madison(1803): first Supreme Court case where a law was declared unconstitutional

  18. How do checks and balances work?

  19. What is the elastic clause? • Congress has the power to create laws that are necessary and proper to ensure that rights of the land are protected.

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