The US ConstitutionThe Origins of Our Government

Constitutional Convention

• Where: Philadelphia at Independence Hall

• When: Summer of 1787

• Who: 52 Delegates from each of the states, primarily whit, e male landowners

• Described as “well bred, well fed, and well read.”

• Why: Articles of Confederation were too weak

Three Parts of Government

• Called Madison Model

• Executive Branch - carry out laws

• Legislative Branch - make laws

• Judicial Branch - interpret laws

• Each branch would have checks and balances over the others to prevent one branch from being too strong.

• New plan for government had stronger President than old Articles and new constitution was more powerful than state legislatures.

The Great Compromise

• Debate over representation: big states wanted Congress selected by population

• small states wanted equal representation in Congress

• Great compromise: two house legislature

• Senate: two senators for each state• House of Representatives based on

population

Debate over slavery• Southern delegates wanted slaves

counted in their population (but not to vote)

• Northern delegates- some opposed slavery

• 3/5ths compromise: slaves counted at 3/5ths of person for purposes of voting for House of Representatives and taxation

Bill of Rights

• Federalists wanted strong central government.

• Anti federalists feared a strong central government would violate individual rights.

• Compromise: Bill of Rights (first 10 amendments to the constitution was added to protect individual liberties.

• States ratified the Constitution

Beard’s Thesis• Historian wrote an “Economic

Interpretation of the Constitution.”

• Thesis that Constitution was produced by wealthy property owners who desired stronger government to protect their property rights

• Restricted voting to white property owners

• No direct elections of president or senators

Adding Amendments• The Constitution can be

amended by:• Proposed by 2/3rd vote of

both houses of Congress • or proposed by 2/3rds vote of

states legislatures at National Convention (never used)

• Ratification: 3/4th of state legislatures or Convention with 3/4th of state legislatures

Informal Changes• Congressional

Legislation• Presidential Actions and

Executive agreements• Judicial Review- US

Courts can examine the Constitutionality of a law