A New Plan of Government: Chapter 3, Section 3

Political ideas and major events shape how people form governments. The United States system of

government rests on the Constitution.

Roots of the Constitution

● Main idea: Ideas and thinkers of the past influenced the creation of the United States Constitution.○ Even Franklin was weary of the newly created government

■ Republic, where people elect their representatives to hold power and make decisions, would require citizens to play an active role

What Ideas Influenced the Framers?

● After 4 months of work, delegates produced a new constitution, providing framework for strong central government○ Drew inspiration from ancient Greeks (to avoid mistakes)○ Borrowed from parliamentary system... putting value in

individual rights, limiting power of governors, bill of rights■ Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights

Enlightenment Thinkers● Framers of Constitution got ideas about nature of

people and government from European writers of the Enlightenment (movement that promoted knowledge, reason, science to improve society)○ Framers familiar with work of Locke & Montesquieu

■ Locke believed all people have natural rights (life, liberty, property)

■ Montesquieu (The Spirit of Laws) said powers of government should be separated and balanced to keep any one group from gaining too much power

1. What is a republic?2. What was the Enlightenment?3. What influence did John Locke have on American

government?

The Federal System

● Main idea: The Constitution outlines the responsibilities and limits of the three branches of government.○ Constitution created a federal system of government that

divided powers between the national/federal government and states■ Different from Articles, as states gave up some of them

powers to federal government, while keeping others

Shared Powers

● Federalism (sharing power between state/ federal) is a distinct feature of US government○ Under Constitution, federal gained power to tax, regulate

trade, control currency, raise army, declare war, and pass laws necessary for carrying out responsibilities

○ States had power to pass/enforce laws, regulate trade within state borders, establish local governments/schools

Supreme Law of the Land● Constitution/laws passed by Congress were

“supreme law of land”○ No state could make laws/take action against Constitution○ Disputes between state/

federal would be settled by federal courts based on Constitution

The Organization of Government

● Influenced by Montesquieu, Framers decided that federal government would be divided into three branches, described by the first three articles in the Constitution○ Article I establishes legislative branch - law making

Congress: House of Representatives and Senate■ Can make taxes, coin money, regulate trade, declare

war, raise army, make any necessary laws

The Executive Branch● Problems with King George, made some

delegates hesitant to establish powerful executive● Others believed that the Confederation failed, in

part, due to the lack of an executive branch○ It would serve to check/limit Congress

● Article II establishes executive branch - carry out nation’s laws/headed by president/VP○ President = commander in chief of armed forces, conducts

relations with foreign nations

The Judicial Branch● Article III describes the judicial branch - court

system = Supreme Court, lower federal courts○ Hear cases involving Constitution○ Laws passed by Congress○ Disputes between states

System of Checks and Balances● Constitution divides government power among the

three branches to keep any one branch from gaining too much power○ Checks and balances - each branch checks/limits the

others from dominating■ House AND Senate must pass bill before it is law

● President can veto bills passed by Congress but Congress can override presidential vetoes with ⅔ vote

■ President appoints Supreme Court justices● Must be approved by Senate

■ Court checks Congress and president by ruling constitutionality of laws/acts

1. Why does the Constitution divide government power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches?

2. Which branch do you think has the most direct impact on your everyday lives? Why?

The Debate Over Ratification

● Main idea: Americans reacted to the proposed Constitution in different ways.○ Delegates produced Constitution at PA convention, needed

the people to approve■ 9/13 states had to ratify before Constitution would go

into effect■ Conventions held by state legislatures

● RI would not even meet to discuss ratification

Federalists

● Supporters of Constitution called Federalists○ James Madison, Alexander

Hamilton, John Jay■ Worked together drafting

essays explaining why they supported new government (Federalist Papers)

Antifederalists● Those who opposed ratification called

Antifederalists, criticized Constitution as it lacked a bill of rights to protect individual freedoms○ No government could be trusted to protect freedom of

citizens, several states refused to sign without addition of bill of rights to document■ Mercy Otis Warren admitted need for strong

government, but feared it● Most federalist vs. antifederalist debates came down to fears● Disorder (Shay’s Rebellion) vs. oppression

Adopting the Constitution● With promise of bill of rights, Americans began to

favor idea of Constitution○ Small states ratified quickly (pleased with equal

representation in Senta)○ NH was 9th state to ratify, but the two largest states, New

York and Virginia, still had not approved and contained strong Antifederalist groups■ Framers (Washington, Madison, Randolph) helped to

sway NY in close vote, followed by NC, RI○ After ratification, came celebrations/parades

1. How did the experience of living under British rule affect the kind of government Americans formed?

2. Do you think the Antifederalists’ fears of a too-powerful central government were justified? Why or why not?

3. Why does the Constitution divide government power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches?

4. Why was the support of New York and Virginia vital to ratifying the Constitution?