Decentralized Government
Spreads the responsibility and power among more people. This type of government works best in a large nation.
Centralized Government
Puts all power and responsibility in the hands of one person. This type of government works best in a small nation, where a small government would be more efficient.
Who are the Founding Fathers?
Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, George Mason, Edmund Randolph, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, William Paterson, Alexander Hamilton, and James McHenry
Thomas Jefferson
His writings revealed a "peculiar felicity of expression" impressed John Adams. This is a reason why Congress chose Jefferson of Virginia as chair.
James Madison
Wrote the Virginia Plan(the author), father of the Constitution, and he also took detailed notes thats how we know.
George Mason
Father of the Bill of Rights, and wrote the Virginia Declaration.
Edmund Randolph
Governor of Virginia, best friends with James Madison, and presented the Virginia Plan(the voice).
Benjamin Franklin
Only founding father for all four documents, printer, Renaissance, and women loved him because he listened.
Roger Sherman
Part of the Committee of five that started work on the Declaration of Independence.
William Paterson
Considered the resolutions to be in violation of the convention's charter, and proposed the New Jersey Plan, which took greater steps to preserve the Articles.
Alexander Hamilton
First Secretary of Treasurer, George Washington's best friend, born in Jamaica, delegate from New York, electoral collage.
James McHenry
Revolutionary war hero, related to Mrs. Davis (6th great uncle)
What are the Federalist Papers?
A series of eighty-five political essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay in support of ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
Who are the authors of the Federalist Papers?
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay
Arguments in favor of the Constitution
1) Limited government, separation of powers, checks and balances
2) Representation on several levels will protect the interests of the people:
House(locally), Senate(state), President(nationally), Judicial(rights are not violated)
3) This new government w
Supporters of the Constitution (ratification)
James Madison, John Jay, George Washington, John Adams, and Alexander Hamilton
Opponents of the Constitution (ratification)
George Mason, Patrick Henry, John Hancock, Richard Henry Lee, and Thomas Jefferson
Federalist Arguments for the Constitution
1) Limited government, separation of powers, checks and balances
2) Representation on several levels will protect the interests of the people:
House(locally), Senate(state), President(nationally), Judicial(rights are not violated)
3) This new government w
Anti-Federalist against the Constitution
1) Not enough power to the states
2) Too much authority to the Executive Branch
3) Constitution should have been written in a public forum
4) Allowed the government to keep a standing army in peacetime
5) Elastic Clause("necessary and proper")
-Article I,
What is the Great Compromise?
1) Roger Sherman/ Connecticut Compromise
-Ben Franklin's role
2) 3 Equal Branches
3) Bicameral Congress
-upper house(senate): two per state, chosen by state legislatures
-lower house(house of representatives): population of popular vote, no vote restricti
What is the 3/5's Compromise?
-How to reconcile a Southern agricultural based economy with a Northern industrial based economy?
-Import VS. Export Taxes?
-What to do about the external Slave Trade?
= Will end 1809- but they will make an internal slave trade
What is the Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise?
-How to count slaves for the purpose of taxes and representation in Congress?
-New Hampshire and Rhode Island defeated it
=Commerce-- trade
=Slave Trade-- make American products cheaper, selling tobacco, and NO EXPORT TAXES
Amendment 1
Freedom of speech, religion, and press
Amendment 2
Right to bear arms
Amendment 3
No soldier shall be quartered in any house during time of war
Amendment 4
Right to secure their persons, houses, and papers against unreasonable searches and seizures
Amendment 5
Right to life, liberty, or property with due process of law
Amendment 6
Right to speedy public trial
Amendment 7
Right to trail by jury
Amendment 8
Excessive bail shall not be required, no fines, or cruel
Amendment 9
Guarantee of rights not listed in Constitution
Amendment 10
Rights of states and people
Unanimous Convention agreements
1) Need for a new national government
2) Central government needed more power
3) Popular sovereignty
4) Limited government
5) Representative government
6) Separation of powers
7) Checks and balances
Unanimous Convention disagreements
HOW SHOULD STATES AND PEOPLE BE REPRESENTED IN CONGRESS???
What are the three basic principles of an American Democracy?
1)Limited Government
2)Federalism
3)Separation of Powers
(James Madison and John Adams)
Limited Government
A governing or controlling body whose power exists only within pre-defined limits that are established by a constitution or other source of authority.
Federalism
The distribution of power in an organization (as a government) between a central authority and the constituent units.
Separation of Powers
A way of dividing the power of government among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, each staffed separately, with equality and independence of each branch ensured by the Constitution.
John Adams
Part of the Committee of five that started work on the Declaration of Independence.
Constitutional Structure (Articles I-VII)
The Preamble - states the purpose and the goals of the Constitution
The Articles - lay out the specifics for separation of power and rights of each branch of Gov
The Amendments - additions to the Constitution
Powers delegated to the executive branch
Directing government, commanding the Armed Forces, dealing with international powers, acting as chief law enforcement officer, and vetoing laws.
Powers delegated to the legislative branch
Passing laws, originating spending bills (House), impeaching officials (Senate), and approving treaties (Senate).
Powers delegated to the judicial branch
Interpreting the Constitution, reviewing laws, and deciding cases involving states' rights.
Powers giving to the states
Create coperation laws, regulate state trade, establish and maintain schools, establish local government, make marriage and divorce laws, conduct elections, and issue drivers licenses.
Amendment Process
1) Bill needs to be pass by both houses of legislation by a 2/3 majority vote in each
2) Bill goes to the states
3) Congress will put a time limit( 7 years) for the bill to be approved
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Amendment Process= 2 s
Supremacy Clause
Portion of Article VI of the Constitution mandating the national law is National law is supreme to(that is, supersedes) all other laws passed by the states or by any other subdivisions of government.
Ratification Process
An agreement is validated so that it becomes binding. Several types of agreement must go through a ratification process in order to be valid.
Why did the framers choose the issues in the first 10 amendments as the Bill of Rights?
They wanted to show what rights the British enabled them to have.
Declaration of Independence (structure and grievances that became amendments)
Document drafted largely by Thomas Jefferson in 1776 that proclaimed the right of the American colonies to separate from Great Britain.
Structure--It is separated into different parts.
Grievances-- 27 complaints that Great Britain did to them. Jefferson l
Articles of Confederation (powers and weaknesses)
The compact between the thirteen original colonies that created a loose league of friendship, with the national government drawing its powers from the states.
Powers-- declare war, make treaties, appoint ambassadors(Thomas Jefferson, John Adams), set up a
Virginia Plan
(Large Population)
1) James Madison- wrote the plan
2) Edmund Randolph- presented the plan
3) national (federal) VS. central government, power over the states, more power
---Represents federalism
-three branches(not equal)- legislative has more power
-leg
New Jersey Plan
(Small Population)
1) William Paterson
2) Confederacy/ Parliamentary
3) 3 branches- rather than 1
4) legislative was most powerful, power over the states, unicameral
5) executive, tri-presdency, chosen by Congress, 1 year terms
6) judicial chosen by execu
Hamilton Plan of Union
1) Alexander Hamilton- due to the split between bug and small states to saw an opportunity to propose a radically strong national government
2) bicameral government
-assembly-- popular vote/ 3 year terms
-senate--chosen by electors/no term limit/declares
Magna Carta
First document imposed upon a King of England by a group of his subjects, the feudal barons, in an attempt to limit his powers by law and protect their rights
British Bill of Rights
The proposed bill of rights for the United Kingdom enshrining human rights into British law to complement or replace the existing Human Rights Act 1998.
Petition of Right
A major English constitutional document that sets out specific liberties of the subject that the king is prohibited from infringing.
Long Parliament Reforms
Comprised "a set of the greatest geniuses for government that the world ever saw embarked together in one common cause" and whose actions produced an effect, which, at the time, made their country the wonder and admiration of the world, and is still felt
Federalist #51
Proposed federal government's separation of powers would prohibit any one branch from either dominating the national government or violating the rights of citizens.