US Federal Constitution of 1787

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US Federal Constitution of 1787

• Basic Structure
• It is much easier to destroy an old system than
  create a new one

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What does it do?

• Explains the reasons our Framers crafted our
  Republican form of government to replace the
  Articles of Confederation
• Drafted over a period of about six weeks
• Father of the Constitution James Maddison
• Eloquently phrased by the Committee of Style
• Preamble explanation, not law
• Powers of each branch of the Federal government,
  and the states, are detailed in Articles I VII

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Preamble A breakdown

• We the People, of the United States
• Who? The citizens of the USA.  The new form of
  government may have been drawn up by some of the
  best- educated men of the new nation, but the
  rights of Republican government belonged to all.

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Preamble A breakdown

• in Order to form a more perfect Union
• Framers were not stating they were crafting a
  government and nation that were without flaw
  they meant that the new Constitution would
  produce and uphold a better form of governance
  than the Articles of Confederation.

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Preamble A breakdown

• establish Justice
• The reasons for Revolution against England were
  still very much in the minds of American
  citizens.  Fair trade and fair trial were
  paramount.
• insure domestic Tranquility
• Shays Rebellion was one reason the
  Constitutional Convention was held. 
  Citizens were very concerned with the keeping of
  peace within our borders.

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Preamble A breakdown

• provide for the common defense
• The possibilities of attacks by other countries
  was very real.  No one state by itself had the
  military might to defend itself against a
  large-scale attack.  The Framers knew it was
  necessary for the states to work together to
  defend the nation.

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Preamble A breakdown

• promote the general Welfare
• Discusses the well-being of all  It relates
  back to the previous three clauses  by
  establishing justice, keeping the peace, and
  defending the nation, the citizens well-being
  would be taken care of to the best extent
  possible by a Federal government.

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Preamble A breakdown

• and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves
  and our Posterity
• America had fought long and hard for
  libertyfreedom from a tyrannical government that
  imposed unjust laws, and placed the goals of the
  English Crown above the individual.  The purpose
  of the new Constitution was to protect and
  maintain those hard-won rights, for our Framers
  generation and all that followed.

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Basic principles

• 1. Popular sovereignty
• 2. Federalism
• 3. Separation of powers
• 4. Checks and balances
• 5. Limited government
• 6. Flexibility
• a. can be changed,
• b. people rule,
• c. division of power between national and state
  govt,
• d. 3 branches,
• e. govt with controlled and less power,
• f. one branch has power over another branch

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Basic principles

• Popular sovereignty B. people rule
• Federalism C. division of power, national and
  state
• Separation of powers D. 3 branches
• Checks and balances F. one branch has power
  over another branch
• Limited government E. govt with less power
• Flexibility A. can be changed, amendment

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answers

• 1. Legislative branch
• A. House of Representatives Senate
• B. 1. collect taxes, borrow money, declare war
• 2. elastic
• Necessary and proper
• 3. habeas corpus
• Bill of attainder (strengthened by amend ?)
• Ex post facto
• No taxes on goods sent out of the US
• No Lords and Ladies
• II. Executive
• III. Judiciary

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answers

• IV. Relations between states
• A. 1. full faith and credit
• B. republican
• V. amendments
• A. 2/3s
• B. 3/4s
• VI. Supremacy Clause
• Supreme law of the land
• VII. Ratification
• 9
• June 21, 1788
• George Washington
• Bill of Rights ratified Dec. 15, 1791

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Bill of Rights

1. 1st Amendment, V
2. 5th Amendment, V
3. 1st Amendment, NV
4. 7th Amendment, V
5. 6th Amendment, V
6. 1st Amendment, NV
7. 5th Amendment, NV
8. 5th Amendment, V
9. 1st Amendment, V
10. 1st or 10th Amendment, NV