Essay:• The delegates at the Constitutional

Convention were sworn to secrecy. The exact language of the secrecy rule was: “That nothing spoken in the house be printed, or otherwise published or communicated without leave.” Why do you think they enforced this rule? Give two reasons.

The Constitution

• Decided to scrap the Articles completely and start over

• Created a REPUBLIC – Elected representatives govern the people

Compromises of the Constitution

• Called “a bundle of compromises”• Disagreements between small and large states• Disagreements between free and slave states• Had to compromise in order to get all states to

ratify the Constitution• Constitution- a document that describes how

a government is to work and gives its basic laws.

• Virginia Plan – (Large State Plan)– Membership in both houses would be based on

population• New Jersey Plan – (Small State Plan)– One house with equal number of representatives

from each state

Great Compromise

• Designed by Roger Sherman• Two part Congress1. Senate – same number from each state2. House of Representatives – based on

population

Mark Pryor John Boozman

• Arkansas has 4 representatives• Texas has 32!!

Roger Sherman

Three- fifths Compromise

• Do you count slaves as part of the population?• Decided to count slaves as 3/5 of a person.

Separation of Powers

• This ensures that no one branch has too much power

• The US government is divided into 3 branches– Legislative – Makes the laws– Judicial – Interpret the laws– Executive – enforces the laws

Checks and Balances

• Keeps each of the three branches of government from going beyond its powers

Federal System of Government

• The Constitution divides powers between the states and the national government.

Ratifying the Constitution

• Delegates signed the Constitution on September 17, 1787

• Federalists wanted to ratify the Constitution• Anti-Federalists – worked against ratification• Nine states had to ratify the Constitution for it

to be in effect. New Hampshire became the ninth in July 1788

• Americans wanted a Bill of Rights

Bill of Rights

• First 10 Amendments to the Constitution

• Amendment 1 – Freedom of religion, speech• Amendment 2 – Right to own guns• Amendment 3 – no quartering of soldiers• Amendment 4 – Search warrants• Amendment 5 – due process

• Amendment 6 – speedy trial• Amendment 7 – trial by jury• Amendment 8 – bail, fines and punishment

must fit the crime• Amendment 9 – you have more rights than are

specifically listed in Bill of Rights• Amendment 10 – all powers not listed belong

to the people or states

The _____ amendment of the Constitution says

1) Freedom of Speech and Religion2) Militia and Arms3) No quartered soldiers4) No search and seizure5) Right to D-U-E-P-R-O-C-E-S-S6) Jury in Civil Court7) Right to a Jury8) No cruel punishments9) Basic human rights10)Unlisted powers for people and state

Remarkable Document

• Constitution is over 220 years old• Why?

1. Acknowledges some Biblical principles2. Americans exhibit patience with it3. Flexibility to deal with changing times