Download wilson_ch02 section

Chapter Two
Section Two
The Constitution
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
2|1
CONSTITUTION
The system of fundamental laws and
principles that prescribes the nature,
functions, and limits of a government or
another institution
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
2|2
CONSTITUTION
-statement of ideals
-establishes basic structure of
government
-defines and limits governments
powers and duties
-supreme law of country
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
2|3
CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT
Not all systems with constitutions
are democracies;
not all democracies have
constitutions
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
2|4
STATEMENT OF IDEALS
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.
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
2|5
PURPOSES OF GOVERNMENT
• Maintain order
• Provide public services
• Regulate the economy
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
2|6
STATEMENT OF IDEALS
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.
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
2|7
STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT
-unitary, federal, or confederal?
-parliamentary or presidential?
-unicameral or bicameral?
-proportional or
pluralist/majoritarian?
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
2|8
SUPREME LAW
-defines
and limits powers and duties of
government
- -defines and limits powers and duties
of citizens
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
2|9
The Articles of Confederation
1781
To all to whom these Presents shall come, we the undersigned
Delegates of the States affixed to our Names send greeting.
Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union between the States of
New Hampshire, Massachusetts bay, Rhode Island and Providence
Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and
Georgia.
Article I. The Stile of this Confederacy shall be "The United States of
America."
Article II. Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence,
and every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this
Confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress
assembled.
Article III. The said States hereby severally enter into a firm league of
friendship with each other, for their common defense, the security of
their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare, binding
themselves to assist each other, against all force offered to, or attacks
made upon them, or any of them, on account of religion, sovereignty,
trade, or any other pretense whatever.
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
2 | 10
Structure of the Articles of
Confederation
• Established a “firm league of friendship”
among the states.
• Each state kept “its sovereignty, freedom,
and independence, and every power,
jurisdiction, and right…not…expressly
delegated to the United States, in Congress
assembled.”
Structure of the Articles of
Confederation
• Congress was the sole body created and
was unicameral.
• Delegates to the Congress were chosen
annually by the States in whatever way
their legislatures desired.
• Each state had one vote regardless of size
or population.
Structure of the Articles of
Confederation
• There was no executive or judicial branch.
– These functions would be handled by
committees of the Congress.
– Each year the Congress would select one of
it’s members to be the president. President
would preside over the Congress, but would
NOT be the president of the United States.
– Civil officers (postmasters etc.) would also be
selected by the Congress
Powers of Congress under the
Articles of Confederation
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Make war and peace.
Send and receive ambassadors.
Make treaties.
Borrow money.
Set up a monetary system.
Build a navy.
Raise an army by asking the States for troops.
Fix uniform standards of weights and measures.
Settle disputes among the states.
Strengths of the Articles of Confederation
•
•
•
•
First written constitution
First National Union
Neutral negotiating forum for states
Successes:
– Land Ordinance 1785 standardized weights and
measures
– Northwest Ordinance 1787 to survey new territories,
define admission of new states, and allow for state
sovereignty on issue of slavery
– Jay Treaty 1785 added Florida territory and opened up
Mississippi to trade
– Established a National Postal Service
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
2 | 15
Weaknesses of the Articles of
Confederation
• Confederal
– Sovereignty, independence retained by states
• Parliamentary
– No Executive or Judicial
• Unicameral
– Delegates to Congress picked, paid for by state legislatures
• One vote in Congress for each state
– Nine of thirteen votes in Congress required for any measure
– All thirteen states’ consent necessary for any amendments
• Congress did not have power to tax, print money, or
regulate commerce
• Army small and dependent on independent state militias
• Territorial disputes between states led to open hostilities
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
2 | 16
State Constitutions
Pennsylvania
• Most democratic
• Universal Suffrage
• Popular election
• One Year Terms
• Unicameral
• Executive Council
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Massachusetts
• Weak government
• Christian Property
owners
• Separation of
Powers
• Executive Veto
• Appointed Judges
2 | 17
Shay’s Rebellion
• Veterans’ Bonds and the Poll Tax
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
2 | 18
How did Shay’s Rebellion
bring forth the weaknesses
of the Articles of Confederation?