The United States Constitution

Do Now: Give two reasons why the US replaced the Articles of Confederation?Americas Founding Documents:The United States Constitution1Declaration of Independence Americas Charter or purpose documentThe Constitution Americas bylaws or organizational structure2So what is the Constitution?What we think of as the Constitution is made up of 3 parts:The Preamble states the 6 core purposes of the constitution The Constitution (articles I VII) lay out the workings of our governmental system The Amendments add ons to the const.Bill of Rights is the first 10 amendments to the original constitution protect individual rights 3The PreambleWe the People, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity. Do ordain and establish this constitution of the United States of America.

4TRANSLATION of the PreambleConnect the statesEstablish justice (courts)Ensure PeaceProvide DefensePromote General Welfarea fair playing field where everyone could use their talents, abilities to succeedSecure Liberty now and for the future

5The ConstitutionArticles 1-7 (worksheet)

6Bill of RightsThe first 10 amendments to the Constitution that were passed by Congress in its first session and ratified on Dec 15 1791Include Basic Freedoms, right to bear arms, protection from quartering soldiers, right to a fair trial and rights of the accused76 Guiding Principles of the US ConstitutionPopular SovereigntyRule of LawSeparation of Powers and Checks and BalancesFederalismIndependent JudiciaryIndividual Rights8Constitutional Convention of 1787Representatives from every state (but Rhode Island) met in Philadelphia to lay out new governmental structure and Constitution. Issues to be decided included:Unicameral vs. Bicameral legislatureSlavery and the slave population (Three-fifths compromise)Governmental control of commerceHow to choose the president (Electoral College)

9By 1790All 13 states had ratified the ConstitutionIn 1791, the state legislatures agreed to add the first 10 amendments: The Bill of Rights10The Fight for RatificationFederalistsAnti-FederalistsSaw the Articles of Confederation as a failureWanted a strong central governmentBelieved that a large republican government would reduce he risk of factionsBelieved in local rule centralized power = tyrannical monarchCongress was too small to accurately represent the peopleConstitution lacked a Bill of Rights to guarantee individual rights"a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community." Factions, Madison added, become especially dangerous when they form a majority of the population.

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