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The Constitution
The Framers
 The Delegates to the Constitutional Convention were young
 They were remarkably well educated and experienced in politics
Organization and Procedure
 George Washington was elected president of the convention
 Each State could cast one vote on an issue, and a majority of votes were needed to
carry any proposal
The Decision to write a new constitution
 The Philadelphia Convention was called to revise the Articles of Confederation
 Most delegates agreed that writing a new constitution was necessary
The Seven Principles of the Constitution
1. __________________
2. __________________
3. __________________
4. __________________
5. __________________
6. __________________
7. __________________
____________________
 Is based on the belief that the
__________________________________________________________ for their
political ________________________________________.
 The Framers of the Constitution wanted the people to have a voice in government.

However they thought that public opinion might stand in the way of sound
decision making.
 Also, every state must have a Republican form of government
_____________________________________________
 The Framers restricted the power of government which prevents the abuse of
power.
 _______________________________________________________________.
 This principle ensures that everyone must obey the law which prevents the abuse
of power.
______________________ _______________________
 “ We the people of the United States…”
 According to the above sentence who gives the government the power.
 _________________________________________________________________.
 Have all people always had the power in government.
_______________ ___________________
 This principle guarantees personal freedom.
 __________________________________________________________________
 __________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________
 The Virginia plan called for a strong National Government with three separate
branches
 It _____________________________ because the number of _____________ in
the legislature would be _____________________________________________.
________________________________________________
 The New Jersey Plan resembled the Articles of Confederation, but with increased
power of the Federal Government to tax and regulate trade
 It _____________________________ because ______________________ was
given ______________________________ in the _________________________.
_____________________________________________
 Disagreement over representation in Congress caused tempers to flare
 The Great Compromise settled the conflict
 __________________________________________________________________
 __________________________________________________________________
________________________________________
 The question arose of whether slaves should be counted in population of the
Southern States
 The delegates agreed to
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
The Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise
 Congress was forbidden to tax exports
 Congress could not act on the slave trade for at least 20 years
A “Bundle of Compromises”
 Great differences of opinion existed among delegates
 Compromise was necessary on many issues
Sources of the Constitution
 The Framers were all well educated
 The delegates drew from history, current political thought, and from their own
experiences
The Convention Completes Its Work
 The convention approved the Constitution
 Most delegates agreed that the Constitution was not perfect, but it was the best
that they could produce
___________________________
 This is the part that guarantees that the states and the national government work
together.
 __________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
 How?
___________________________________________
 The Framers of the Constitution were afraid that too much power might fall into
the hands of a single group.
 __________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________
 This is how power is evenly distributed.
 Each branch of government can exercise checks, or controls, over the other
branches.
 Though the branches of government are separate, they rely on one another to
perform the work of government.
 __________________________________________________________________
AMEMDING THE CONSTITUTION
 _____________________________ can be found in Article 5
 Process can be found in Article 5
 ______________________ the __________ structure of the
___________________
 ______________________________________
 Flexibility allows change
 ___________________________________________ of the Constitution
INFORMAL AMENDMENTS
 Laws
 Passed by Congress
 Passed to fill in details about how the Government works
 Explain certain parts of the Constitution
Executive Action
 Presidential interpretation
Court Decisions
 The Supreme Court makes decisions that help explain part of the
Constitution
Party Practices
 Political parties help decide how people become government officials
Customs

Customs and Traditions help shape the Constitution
FORMAL AMENDMENT PROCESS
 Outlined in Article 5 of the Constitution
 Several ways of amending Constitution
 Proposed by _______________________________________________________
 __________________________________________________________________
 Or
 Proposed at a NATIONAL CONVENTION called by Congress when requested
by 2/3 (34) of the state legislatures
 Ratified by the state LEGISLATURES in 3/4 (38) of the states
Anti-Federalists vs. Federalists
How did they get their names?
 Federalism
 ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
 Many felt that the state governments would be better at protecting the rights of the
citizens than the federal government

Federalists
Anti-federalists
 ____________t the Constitution
 _______________ the constitution
 Wanted a _________________
 Feared that a strong federal government
National/Federal Government
 Include: ________________________,
James Madison and John Jay
 They believed the ___________
would take away peoples’ rights
 Include: Patrick Henry, George Mason
and Sam Adams.
 The major issue was the Bill of Rights
__________________________of
 _________________________
Confederation
___________________________
 __________________________
___________________________
_____________________________
___________________________
_____________________________
 ____________________________that
_____________________________
the anti-federalists wanted
 Written by Alexander Hamilton, John
_________________________________
Jay and James Madison
 A series of 85 essays that appeared in
__ have been approved.
New York newspapers from 1787 to
1788
 Urged the adoption of the Constitution
The Constitution
 The Preamble
 Explains the purpose of the Constitution
 7 Articles
 Each deal with a specific function
 Divided into sections
 27 Amendments
 Formal changes to the Constitution
Federalism in the Constitution:
 The Constitution divides the power to govern between the National and States
government
 The Supreme Court settles any disputes
 Article IV makes the Constitution and Federal laws superior to state laws
DELEGATED POWERS
 ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
 Article I, Section 8
 ______________________________________________________
IMPLIED POWERS
 ____________________________________________________________
 Implied by the Elastic Clause
 Article I, Section 8, Clause 18
 ______________________________________________________
DENIED POWERS
 Powers that are denied to the National Government
 Powers that are denied to the States
CONCURRENT POWERS
 ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
 _____________________________________
RESERVED POWERS
 Powers that are neither delegated to the National government nor denied
to the State governments
 The power to make divorce laws
________________________________________________
 SENATE
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 ______________________________________________________
 Article I
_________________________________________________
 PRESIDENT
 VICE PRESIDENT
 _________________________________ and treaties
 Article II
________________________________
 ________________________________________________________________
 Appellate Jurisdiction
 Original Jurisdiction
The Presidents Role’s
 ______________________________________
 Main architect of American foreign policy
 ______________________________________
 Commands the nation’s armed forces
 ______________________________________
 Sets the shape of public policy
 ______________________________________
 Leader of the political party in power
 _____________________________________
 The representative of all people
Qualifications for the President
 Must be a ________________________________________ of the United States
who has __________________________________ at least
______________________________
 __________________________________________ years old
The Presidents Term
 The President is elected to a _________________________________
 The 22nd Amendment limits Presidents to
______________________________________ in office
Benefits
 Salary - $200,000 per year plus $50,000 in expenses
 Use of the White House, Air Force One, Limos and Camp David