The US Constitution: The written embodiment of American Democracy
- The decision- “To form a more perfect union”
- By 1786, it was clear the article of confederations weakness could no longer sustain
- Meeting/convention of state delegates to revise the article- only 5 states showed up
- Next year, Hamilton and Madison requested another convention to revise the Article-
The states all attended this time
- This turned into the constitutional convention
- Tensions were rising between the states
- Some wanted strong federal government others feared too much government power
The issue of Slavery
- Abolished or close to abolished in the north at this time
- It was a vital part of labor for the South economy
- The summer of 1787 resulted in the new system of government that had checks and
balances
- If Congress disapproves of a certain action from another branch, they can take away
funding.
- Virginia and New Jersey debated about power between small and large states until the
Connecticut delegation proposed the great compromise.
- The split federal legislature into two chambers: The house and the senate. Each state
had 2 senators regardless of size while the house would represent each state based on
population.
- If the president vetos a bill: the house and senate can vote to override it by ⅔’s majority
- It’s important to notice that their first order of business for the formation of the new
government was the legislative branch
The Text of the US Constitution
- There are 7 articles in the US constitution
- The constitution is one of the “enumerated powers”- Which means the powers of the
federal government and use of constitutional power are limited
Article 1 - Legislative
Article 2 - Executive
Article 3 - Judicial
Article 4 - Deals with the relationship between states
Article 5 - Deals with the process to amend the constitution
Article 6 - Described the relationship of the constitution and federal law to state law
Article 7 - Set forth the method for ratifying the initial constitution
Preamble- Sets forth the purpose of the constitutional form of government
- To form a more perfect union
- To establish justice
- The decision- “To form a more perfect union”
- By 1786, it was clear the article of confederations weakness could no longer sustain
- Meeting/convention of state delegates to revise the article- only 5 states showed up
- Next year, Hamilton and Madison requested another convention to revise the Article-
The states all attended this time
- This turned into the constitutional convention
- Tensions were rising between the states
- Some wanted strong federal government others feared too much government power
The issue of Slavery
- Abolished or close to abolished in the north at this time
- It was a vital part of labor for the South economy
- The summer of 1787 resulted in the new system of government that had checks and
balances
- If Congress disapproves of a certain action from another branch, they can take away
funding.
- Virginia and New Jersey debated about power between small and large states until the
Connecticut delegation proposed the great compromise.
- The split federal legislature into two chambers: The house and the senate. Each state
had 2 senators regardless of size while the house would represent each state based on
population.
- If the president vetos a bill: the house and senate can vote to override it by ⅔’s majority
- It’s important to notice that their first order of business for the formation of the new
government was the legislative branch
The Text of the US Constitution
- There are 7 articles in the US constitution
- The constitution is one of the “enumerated powers”- Which means the powers of the
federal government and use of constitutional power are limited
Article 1 - Legislative
Article 2 - Executive
Article 3 - Judicial
Article 4 - Deals with the relationship between states
Article 5 - Deals with the process to amend the constitution
Article 6 - Described the relationship of the constitution and federal law to state law
Article 7 - Set forth the method for ratifying the initial constitution
Preamble- Sets forth the purpose of the constitutional form of government
- To form a more perfect union
- To establish justice
