The Constitution

Do Now: If you could change one thing about our national government

today, what would it be?

Constitutional Convention

Conflict over Slavery

• Fierce debate on whether slaves should be counted for purposes of taxation and the number of legislators in the new Congress (apportionment)

• 3/5

Conflict over Slavery

• Debate on whether or not to ban the slave trade

• Some states oppose banning the slave trade• The new Congress is denied the authority to

ban the slave trade until the year 1808.

Key Debates

• How should the election and term of the chief executive work?

• 1 person, or multiple executives• For life?• For a number of years?• Who gets to elect the chief executive?

Judiciary

• The convention creates the third branch of government

• Supreme Court is created – “authority extends in all cases, Law and Equity, arising under the Constitution…and treaties made under their authority.”

• Judicial Review of Congress and its laws?

Ben Franklin

• After the convention a woman approached him, asking “well doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?”

Franklin replied, “a republic, if you can keep it”