American Government

1
American Government

• Chapter 2
• Section 4

2
The Framers

• Selected by State Legislatures
• Arguably the Most Dynamic Assemblage of Political
  Personalities of the Century

3
Motivation

• Originally Intended to Amend Articles of
  Confederation
• Quickly Changes to Replace Articles of
  Confederation

4
Virginia Plan

• Bicameral Legislature
• Seats Determined by Population or Financial
  Support
• Lower House Elected by Populace
• Upper House Appointed by State Legislatures
• Separate Executive, Legislative, and Judicial
  Branches
• National Government Superior to State Governments

5
New Jersey Plan

• Unicameral Legislature
• States Equally Represented
• Federal Executive of More Than One Person

6
Connecticut Compromise

• Bicameral Legislature
• Lower House Seats Determined by Population
• Upper House Equal Representation

7
Three-Fifths Compromise

• Addresses Population Count in Large Slave States
• All Free Persons Counted
• All Other Persons at a 3/5 Ratio
• Addresses Taxation and Representation

8
Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise

• Forbade Action to Tax State Exports
• Forbade Action on the Slave Trade for Twenty Years

9
Sources of Inspiration

• Blackstone Commentaries on the Laws of England
• Montesquieu The Spirit of Law
• Rousseau Social Contract
• Locke Two Treatises of Government