American Constitutional - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

American Constitutional Democracy

Lesson 1.2Slide2

Vocabulary

Federalism

Executive branch

Legislative branch

Judicial branch

Separation of powers

RelevantSlide3

The need for a Constitution

During the war for independence Americans set up new Governments.

State constitutions replaced old colonial charters

Articles of Confederation – the plan that was set up for a central (or national) government

A confederation is a loose alliance of states. – only had a national congress no president and no national system of courtsSlide4

Americans feared a strong central Government that might abuse power

States retained many

imprortant

powers

They alone had the power to:

Enforce laws

Regulate trade

Impose taxes

Each state was a republic (Government that gets power from the people)

Most had a bill of rights that had natural rights: right to hold property, trail by jury freedom of the press, and freedom of speech and assemblySlide5

The confederation period after the war was difficult

During the war the Continental Congress borrowed $$ from foreign countries and banks – without the power to tax congress could not pay of the debt

Courts began seizing farms for nonpayment of debts and taxes.

In 1786 more than 100 farmers attacked county courts in western Massachusetts and tried to capture muskets from a state arsenal (this is known as Shay’s Rebellion) it touched off rebellions against courts and tax collectors in other sates.

Congress was powerless to stop the rebellions

George Washington “we are fast verging on anarchy and confusion

Congress agreed to revise h Articles of ConfederationSlide6

A Nation Built on Compromise

May 1787- Delegates – Constitutional Conventional convention to amend the Articles of Confederation

-- loose union of states didn’t work

--knew they needed a central government

Based new Government on six principles: popular sovereignty, federalism, separation of powers, check and balances, judicial review and limited government Slide7

Popular Sovereignty

The power of the US government

comes from the people of the nation.

Government is able to govern as long as it has the consent, or approval, from the governed. Slide8

Federalism

Describes the relationship between the state and the national government in which power is shared. In a federal system, power is divided between the states and the national government. Each has its own area of duties and responsibilities. Slide9

To keep the central government from becoming too powerful

Three Branches of government

Executive – headed by president and carries out laws

Legislative– makes the laws

Judicial—court system (enforces)

This division of central government is known as –

separation of powersSlide10

Checks and Balances

To keep any one branch from having too much power, they also built in a system of checks and balances

Each branch has its duties that check or restrain the power of the other two branches

Example– the president nominates federal judges. The senate then approves or rejects those nominations.Slide11

Fair Distribution of power between large and small states

To ensure small states had fair representation, they created two separate bodies of the legislative branch

Senate – each state had equal representatives (protecting the rights of small states)

House of Representatives– number of representatives was determined by population (protecting the rights of large states)Slide12

Constitution

Ratified (formally approved) by elven states by 1788

By 1790 all 13 state had ratified itSlide13

Amending

The US Constitution is one of the world’s oldest written constitutions.

Short

compaired

to others

Clear direct

langage

Enabled government to adapt to changing times that could not have been predicted (such as dealing with radio communications, nuclear power and space exploration) Slide14

Amendments

Framers knew it

neede

to be adaptable

Built in a way to change (Amend) the Constitution.

Today there are 27

AmdendmentsSlide15

The Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments – were promised in order to win ratification.

Despite the separation of power and the system of checks and balances people were afraid that Congress and the president would misuse the power and abuse the rights of the people. Slide16

The Bill of Rights

Addressed several of the most important concerns:

First four protected basic rights: speech, press, assembly, religion and for citizen militias to keep and bear arms (gun); not to have troops quartered in a person’s house and freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures of property.

Next four protected against unfair court procedures, trials and convictions

Ninth- other rights

Tenth- gives states powers not delegated to central governmentSlide17

Amendment Process

Two steps:

Proposing an Amendment

Ratifying the proposed amendmentSlide18

Amendment Process

Two ways it can happen

The

First:

An amendment may be introduced into the House of Rep and Senate.

Two-Thirds of both must approve the proposed

amendment

The Second:

Two-thirds of the 50 states can petition or request Congress to call a constitutional convention. The convention proposes, discusses and approves the amendment.

This Method has NEVER been used

. Slide19

Amendment Process

Once an amendment is approved, there a two ways I can be ratified

¾ of the state legislatures must ratify it

Or

Congress asks the states to call special constitutional conventions to ratify the proposed amendment. ¾ of all 50 states must ratify it.

Congress determines which method will be used. Slide20

How the Constitution is Amended Slide21

Constitution is NOT a long document

Even

with amendments it is shorter than rules and guidelines for many organizations

Short to keep it timeless

James Madison – “ in framing a system which we wish to last for all ages, we should not lose sight of the

chages

which ages will produce.”Slide22

Write

Write a paragraph explaining the factors that led to the Constitutional Convention.

Or

Write a paragraph describing how the Constitution can be amended. Slide23