The Constitutional Convention

How much power should the states have?

How much power should the national government have?

ConventionConvention

• 55 delegates meet from all states except for RI

• Job was to fix the national government

James MadisonJames Madison

• “Father of the Constitution”

Divisions at the ConventionDivisions at the Convention

• Some delegates wanted to amend Articles of Confederations

• Others wanted to get rid of them all together

Virginia PlanVirginia Plan• Two house legislature• Each state would send representatives in proportion to

their population• (larger states would send more rep, giving them more

voting power) • Congress would have power to tax and regulate foreign

trade• Congress would have power to veto( giving the national

government power)• Added two more branches of government judicial and

executive branches• Larger states supported the Virginia Plan (VA plan)

The New Jersey PlanThe New Jersey Plan

• Congress can collect taxes and regulate foreign trade

• Add two branches: executive and judicial branches

• Each state gets one vote no matter how big or small (giving smaller states the same power as larger states)

• NJ plan gives the states governments more power than the national government

The Great CompromiseThe Great Compromise• Legislative branch made of two houses• Senate each state gets two reps, no matter

how big or small the state is• *small states like this*• The House of Representatives each state gets

reps according to their population size • *large states like this*• Gave Congress the power to collect taxes and

regulate foreign trade• Made three branches of government

The Three-Fifths compromiseThe Three-Fifths compromise

• Should you include slaves as part of your population?

• If you counted slaves the southern states would have more reps in congress.

• If you didn’t count slaves the south would have no power in the house of reps.

• Three-fifths compromise count every 3 out of 5 slaves towards population

Legislative Branch Makes the laws

Executive Branch Enforces and carries out the laws.

Judicial Branch Interprets the laws

Three branches of government

Checks and balances• Not only does each branch of the government have particular

powers each branch has certain powers over the other branches. This is done to keep them balanced and to prevent one branch form ever gaining too much power. For example:

• Congress may pass laws........but the President can veto them. • The President can veto laws.......but Congress can override the veto

with a 2/3 vote. • The President and Congress may agree on a law..........but the

Supreme Court can declare a law unconstitutional. • The President can appoint Judges and other government

officials.......but Senate must approve them. • Supreme Court judges have life terms.......but they can be

impeached .

Checks and balances

Electoral CollegeElectoral College

• Political parties choose electors • Each state has as many electors as it has

representatives and senators • Voters cast votes for electors, who will

support their popular vote for President• Electors cast the official votes for

President