Download Chapter 5.2 Notes

Drafting the Constitution
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Agree
-need national government (regulate commerce
and power to tax)
-guard against the abuse of power (separation
of powers)
-limit government powers (state and national)
Disagree
-number of representatives for each state
-power of national government
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Constitutional
Convention (May
25th 1787)
-PA State House
(Independence Hall)
in Philadelphia
-presiding officerGeorge Washington
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Alexander Hamilton
-praised British constitution
-advocated a strong national government- with
elements of aristocracy, monarchy, and
republicanism
James Madison
-favored republicanism over British model
-a large republic with diverse interests would
best preserve the common good
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Madison’s Plan
-James Madison (Virginia)
-strong national government
-with separation of powers
-Legislature- House of Representatives
-people elect directly
-seats based on population
- Senate
-House would choose
-seats based on population
*What powers did Madison’s Plan give the President?
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Virginia
-state’s population
-Problem: larger states would out-vote them
New Jersey
-William Paterson (N.J.)
-one-house legislature
-each state have equal number of voters
-executive committee rather than President
*remain a loose confederation
*What was the problem with this plan?
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The Great Compromise
-Roger Sherman (Connecticut)
-Bicameral Legislature
-House of Representatives: elected based on
population
-Senate: each state would have two senators
(regardless of population)
*How does this ensure fairness?
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September 17th 1787
-39 delegates signed
the Constitution
To go into effect, the
Constitution had to
be ratified, or
approved, by at least
nine state
conventions

Constitution
-begins with the Preamble, or introduction
-Framers list six goals of our government
“We the people of the United States, in order to form a
more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic
tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote
the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to
ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of America”
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Six Goals
1. To Form a More Perfect Union
2. To Establish Justice
3. To Insure Domestic Tranquility
4. To Provide for the Common Defense
5. To Promote the General Welfare
6. To Secure the Blessings of Liberty to
Ourselves and Our Posterity
Six Goals
1. unite the 13 separate states under an effective national
government
2. legal system that seeks fair ways to settle disputes
between individuals, individuals and the government,
states, and between national and state governments
3. establish a peaceful society where people are protected
from the unlawful acts of others
4. protect citizens from attacks by other countries
5. create conditions that will benefit all Americans
6. protects the liberty of all citizens and for future
Americans- our posterity- or descendants
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Following the
Preamble…
-Articles (7 Parts)
-divided into
subsections called
clauses
-Amendments