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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