The United States Constitution

Adapted from

http://www4.esc13.net/uploads/ss/docs/constitution/Constitution_Day_elementary.ppt.

https://www.georgiastandards.org/Frameworks/GSO%20Frameworks/American-Government-Civics-Unit6-Constitutional-Convention.ppt.

http://st-descartes.esuhsd.org/~phippsb/page4/files/PPT-The%20U.S.%20Constitution.ppt

Magna Carta1215

English Bill of Rights

1689

Articles of Confederation

1781

Declaration of Independence

1776

Mayflower Compact

1620

Thomas JeffersonAuthor of the “Declaration of Independence”

Path to the Constitution

After declaring independence from Great Britain, the colonies knew to grow and prosper, they needed a plan for unity. Effective March 1, 1781, the colonies were governed by the Articles of Confederation.

After declaring independence from Great Britain, the colonies knew that if they wanted to grow and prosper, they would need a plan for unity.

Effective March 1, 1781, the colonies were governed by the Articles of Confederation.

Articles of Confederation

1781

The Federalist Papers

1787-1788

United States Constitution

1788

Path to the Constitution

John AdamsFounding Father and 2nd President

The Articles of Confederation posed many challenges. The powers of the central government were weak and the Articles were impossible to amend.

Why was the Constitution

written?• Shays’ Rebellion:– An uprising of farmers

in Massachusetts in 1786 – led by Daniel Shays.

– Helped convince leaders that a strong central government was needed.

"A scene at Springfield, during Shay's Rebellion, when the mob attempted to prevent the holding of the Courts of

Justice."—E. Benjamin Andrews, 1895

United States Constitution

1788

The Bill of Rights 1791

Amendments

11-27

1795-1992

James Madison“Father of the Constitution”

Path to the Constitution

In May of 1787, delegates from each state met to write a new Constitution. Through discussion and debate over issues like states’ rights, individual rights, and the power of the national government, a compromise was made and the result became the “law of the land,” the U.S. Constitution.

Constitutional Convention

• Met in Philadelphia, PA• Original intent was to revise

the Articles of Confederation• James Madison was the

“Father of the Constitution”• 39 men signed it in 1787

Constitutional Convention:

Members• 55 delegates from 12 states (Rhode Island did not send delegates)

• White

• Males

• Statesmen, lawyers, planters. bankers, businessmen

• Most under age 50

Constitutional Convention: Absent

• John Adams - ambassador to England

• Thomas Jefferson - ambassador to France

• Patrick Henry - “smelled a rat”

• Samuel Adams - not chosen by state to be part of the delegation

Constitutional Convention:

Famous Members• Alexander Hamilton – Proponent of strong

government

• George Washington – President of the convention

• James Madison – “Father of the Constitution”

• Benjamin Franklin – Oldest member at 81

Federalists v. Anti-Federalists• Federalists:

– Supported the Constitution and a strong central government

– Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay

– Federalist Papers – series of articles written in defense of the Constitution

• Anti-Federalists:– Supported a weaker

central government – felt too much power was taken away from the states

– Opposed the Constitution

– Wanted a Bill of Rights included

– Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry

George Washington President of the Constitutional Convention and 1st President

Celebrate the Constitution

Popular Sovereignty

Checks and

BalancesSeparation of Powers

Limited Government

September 17, 1787 was a glorious day! The U.S. Constitution was finally signed by the delegates of the Constitutional Convention. The Constitution included a strong central government based on compromise; it outlined national powers and provided provisions for amending the Constitution.

“The Constitution is the guide which I never will abandon. -George Washington

Ratification• Officially adopted in

1788 after ratified by New Hampshire.

• Once the new government convened, they added a Bill of Rights to the Constitution.

A Living Document

Benjamin FranklinSigner of the Constitution and Founding Father

Because there was so much interest and debate regarding individual rights, on December 15, 1791, ten amendments known as the Bill of Rights were added to the U.S. Constitution. Since then, seventeen more amendments have been added to the Constitution.

Individual Rights

Republicanism

Federalism

Celebrate the Constitution Today

The Constitution of the United States was made not merely for the generation that then exist, but for the posterity - unlimited undefined, endless, perpetual posterity

-Henry Clay (1877-1852)

American statesman - U.S. Congressman and Senator

Today, the “law of the land” is still the U.S. Constitution. It has sustained controversial issues, a civil war, and the changes that 200 years of American society brings. But it is strong and enduring.

Constitution Vocabulary

• Ratify: To agree to, to sign, to approve • Amend: To add to, to change• Veto: To refuse to sign, to reject• Bill: A proposed law• Suffrage: The right to vote• Bicameral: 2 house legislature (2 house

Congress)• Impeach: To accuse of wrongdoing

LOOSE INTERPRETATION

• A.K.A. “Loose Construction of Constitution”

– Interpretation of Constitution must be flexible

– People change, society changes, technology changes--Constitution must adapt

– What the Constitution doesn’t say EXPLICITY, the branches of government can do

• Who supports a loose interpretation?

Answer: Federalists, Liberals

STRICT INTERPRETATION

• A.K.A. “Strict Construction of Constitution”

– Constitution should remain the constant

– The Constitution must be the measure of social, ethical, and moral change

– Government can ONLY do what the Constitution EXPLICITLY says

• Who supports a strict interpretation?

Answer: Anti-Federalists, Conservatives

A Living Document

The Constitution is both a product of its time and a document for all time. It can be

changed as society’s needs change.

A Living Document

A Document for All Time

• Original Constitution a product of its time– Reflects wisdom and biases of the Framers; relatively few changes in

over 220 years

– Survived the Civil War, presidential assassinations, and economic crises to become world’s oldest written constitution

• Original document not perfect

– Perpetuated injustices with compromises permitting slavery and the slave trade

– States given power to set qualifications for voting; women, nonwhites, and poor people denied right to vote

– Decisions reflected societal attitudes of the times

• Ability to incorporate changing ideas of freedom and liberty keeps document relevant to each new generation since 1789

A Constitution for All Generations

4,500+ words• Constitution blended ideas from the

past with uniquely American principles of governing

• Three main parts:

1) Preamble – lists purposes of Constitution (broad goals)

2) The 7 articles – create structure of the U.S. government

3) The 27 amendments – changes added during the nation’s history

Basic principles• Structure and language expresses

six basic principles:

Popular sovereignty

Limited government

Separation of powers

Checks and balances

Judicial review

Federalism

The Constitution is the Blueprint

Framers believed if federal government reflected and remained true to

basic principles, goals of U.S. Constitution could be accomplished.

First Amendment:

Congress shall make no

law respecting an

establishment of

religion, or prohibiting

the free exercise

thereof…

Article 1 – Powers Denied to Congress:The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.

Judicial review is the idea, fundamental to the US system of government, that the actions of the executive and legislative branches of government

are subject to review and possible invalidation by the judicial branch.

• The powers of government are distributed between the national government and state governments

• Framers struggled to find acceptable distribution of powers with the rights of states and sufficient national government strength

Federalism

Enumerated powers: Items found in Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution that set forth the powers of

Congress.

Delegated Powers: Powers given

specifically to the federal government by

the Constitution

Concurrent Powers (Shared Powers):

Authority shared by both the

federal government and

the state governments

Reserved Powers:Powers not given to the federal government that can be used by a state

or local government

Structure of the Constitution

• Preamble:– Statement of purpose

• Articles:I: Legislative BranchII: Executive BranchIII: Judicial BranchIV: Relations Among the StatesV: Amendment ProcessVI: National SupremacyVII: Ratification

• Amendments:– 27 Total– 1st ten are the Bill of Rights

The Preamble

How the Constitution is

Divided1. Articles –

the major divisions2. Sections –

divisions of an article3. Clauses –

divisions of a section

Article I: Legislative Branch

• Section 1: What is a Congress?

Legislative (law-making) power in a bicameral legislature [2 houses: Senate and House of

Representatives]

• Section 2:

House of Representatives

Article I: Legislative Branch

• Section 3: Senate

• Section 4: Meetings

of Congress

• Section 5: Rules and Procedures

• Section 6: Privileges and Restrictions

Article I: Legislative Branch

• Section 7: How a Bill Becomes a Law

• Section 8: Powers of Congress

• Section 9: Powers Denied to Congress

• Section 10: Powers Denied to States

Article 2: Executive Branch

• Section 1: President and Vice President

• Section 2: Powers of the President

• Section 3: Duties of the President

• Section 4: Impeachment

Article 3: Judicial Branch

• Section 1: Federal Courts

• Section 2: Jurisdiction of Federal Courts

• Section 3: Treason

Article 4: Relations Among the States

• Section 1: Official Acts

• Section 2: Privileges of

Citizens

• Section 3: New States

• Section 4: Guarantees

of the States

Article 5: The Amendment Process

Article 6: National Supremacy

• Section 1: National Debt

• Section 2: National Supremacy

• Section 3: Oath for

Government Officials

Article 7: Ratification

• 9 states needed to ratify the Constitution• Signed September 17, 1787