Constitution ConventionPhiladelphia : May 1787

• 12 states show (no R.I.)• 55 men • Mostly wealthy, political

and social elite (lawyers, educators, slave owners, planters, merchants, etc.)

• Most under 50 and served in Revolutionary War

• secrecy

Who was there?

• James Madison – “Father of the Constitution”

• Hamilton, Gouverneur Morris

-too much power to the common people and states

*wanted authority in the hands of well educated white male land owners

• George Mason-too strong a central

government

• Washington-President of Congress

Patrick Henry (VA) “smelled a rat”

Proposals for a New Government

• Delegates agreed to get rid of the Articles and create a whole new government.

• 2 plans presented by delegates

A. The Virginia Plan:

• Presented by James Madison

• 3 Branches:

1. Legislative: (Congress) Make the laws.

• -Bicameral: • a. Lower House: Rep.

elected by people. • b. Upper House:

Selected by lower house. • # of reps. would be based

on state population.

2. Executive: (President) Enforce laws.

3. Judicial: (Courts) Interpret the laws.

• System based on population (smaller states oppose)

B. The New Jersey Plan:

• William Patterson• 3 Branches• Legislative Branch

(Uni-Cameral)a. Equal representation

• -Favored by the smaller states.

C. The Great Compromise

• Roger Sherman “Connecticut Compromise”

• 3 Branches• 1. Legislative: Congress

was to be bicameral.

A. House of Representatives: # of reps. based on states population. Elected by the people every 2 years

B. Senate: 2 reps. per state chosen by people in state every 6 years

2. Executive: President chosen by the Electoral College

3. Judicial

Slavery

• Three Fifths Compromise

• Slaves in population for purpose of House (more electoral College votes)

• Fugitive slave clause• Slave importation for 20

more years

• South wanted because of new lands

• North was more concerned with regulating commerce

The Federal System

• Shared Powers-Federalism is shared

powers between federal and state

-Constitution gained power to tax, trade, currency, regulate commerce, and raise an army

• Constitution: The Supreme Law of the Land

-States could not make laws that contradict Constitution

-Constitution was final authority

Executive Branch

• 4 year term (no discussion of number of times)

• Electoral College-people of the United States vote for the electors who then vote for the President-same amount of electors as in House of Representatives

Checks and Balances

• Each branch of government has some control over the others

• Example: Congress may pass laws, but the President may veto those laws

• In turn, Congress may refuse to provide funds the President requests for implementing programs.

Legislative (Congress) Powers

• Tax• Coin money• Borrow money• Regulate commerce

• Declare war• Raise armies• Make treaties• Establish courts

Federalism

System of government in which powers are divided and shared by a central government and its sub-

divisional governments

Federalism

The National Government

The State Government

Local Government

What is the primary responsibility of each level of government?

State Government:Promotes public health,

safety and welfare

National Government:Conduct foreign policy and

regulates commerce