Download Chapter 5 Creating a Constitution Review

Chapter 5 Creating a Constitution Review
Delegates meet in May 1787 to revise the Articles of
Confederation, but they decided to create a stronger central
(national) government.
Many delegates were concerned that a national
government would abuse its power.
James Madison, a delegate from Virginia, proposed a
government with three branches – legislative, executive, and
judicial. He also proposed that the legislative branch
include two houses with a state’s population to decide
representation.
Smaller states, like New Jersey, did not like this idea
because it would give larger states more representation.
Delegates, who are called framers today because they
shaped our government, created a legislative branch with two
houses. To resolve the conflict between larger and smaller
states, a compromise was made. The Great Compromise
proposed the House of Representatives have representation
based on state population and the Senate would be equal
representation from each state.
The primary job of the legislative branch is to make the laws
of national government.
Executive power was given to the office of President, whose
primary job was to carry out the laws.
The Supreme Court was given judicial power. The primary
job of the judicial branch is to interpret the Constitution and
resolve conflicts or disputes between the states.
Along with creating the three branches, the Constitution also
delegated powers between the national and state governments
(called federalism.)
The Preamble lists the goals of the government under the
Constitution; to form a more perfect union, to establish justice,
to insure domestic tranquility (peace), provide for the common
defense (armed forces/military), promote the general welfare
(benefit the citizens), to secure the blessings of liberty (our
freedom.)
Those who supported the Constitution, Federalists, argued
that our new nation needed it because it provided protection,
maintained order, and regulated trade.
Those who did not support the Constitution, Anti-Federalists,
(especially Patrick Henry) argued that it did not specify (or
secure) citizen’s rights.
The Constitution had to be ratified (approved) by nine
states. Therefore, Federalists agreed to propose a Bill of
Rights once the Constitution was approved.
Eventually, all thirteen states ratified the Constitution
becoming a part of the United States of America.
The Constitution is based on the idea of popular sovereignty.
The Constitution is a living, working document. It is
divided into articles and contains the changes, or amendments
made over the course of our nation’s history.
It lists the powers of the national government (delegated),
powers that are shared between the national and state
government (concurrent powers), and powers given only to
the states (reserved powers.)
The Constitution also set up a system of checks
and balances to protect against abuse of power
by the federal government