Chapter 2: The Constitution

American Democracy Now 2/e

The Constitution What Is a Constitution?

Mission description Foundational structures Essential processes

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The Constitution

Where Do You Stand?How satisfied are you with the way democracy works in the United States?

a. Very satisfiedb. Somewhat satisfiedc. Neither satisfied nor unsatisfiedd. Somewhat dissatisfiede. Very dissatisfied

Source: “Americans Assess Democracy in the U.S,” www.gallup.com/poll/9574/.

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The Constitution The Creation of the United States of

America Colonization and Governance of America British Policy Incites a Rebellion

A “Massacre” and a Tea Party The Continental Congress’s Demands for Political

Rights The Common Sense of Declaring

Independence

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The Constitution The Creation of the United States of

America The State Constitutions The Articles of Confederation (1781-1789)

Structure and Authority of the Confederation Weaknesses of the Confederation

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(continued)

The Constitution Crafting the Constitution: Compromise,

Ratification, and Quick Amendment Consensus

Dual Sovereignty National Supremacy Separation of Powers with Integrated Checks and

Balances

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The Constitution Crafting the Constitution:

Conflict and Compromise over Representative Democracy The Connecticut Compromise The Constitution’s Checks on Representative

Democracy

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(continued)

The Constitution Crafting the Constitution:

Conflict and Compromise over Slavery

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(continued)

The Constitution Crafting the Constitution:

Congress Sends the Constitution to the States for Ratification Article I: The Legislative Branch Article II: The Executive Branch Article III: The Judicial Branch Article IV: State-to-State Relations Article V: The Amendment Process Article VI: Supremacy of the Constitution Article VII: The Constitutional Ratification Process

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(continued)

The Constitution

Where Do You Stand?Which branch of government do you trust the most?

a. The executive branchb. The legislative branchc. The judicial branch

Source: “Low Trust in Government Rivals Watergate Era,” www.gallup.com/poll/28795/Low-Trust-Federal-Government-Rivals-Watergate-Era-Levels.aspx.

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The Constitution Crafting the Constitution:

The Federalist–Anti-Federalist Debate The Federalist Papers: In Support of a Strong

National Government The Anti-Federalist Response: In Opposition to a

Strong National Government

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(continued)

The Constitution Crafting the Constitution:

The Bill of Rights (1791): Establishing Civil Liberties

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(continued)

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The Constitution The Constitution as a Living, Evolving

Document Formal Amendment of the Constitution Interpretation by the U.S. Supreme Court

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The Constitution

Where Do You Stand?Do you think the signers of the Declaration of Independence would generally agree or disagree with the way the Constitution of the United States is interpreted today?

a. Agreeb. Disagree

Source: “Americans Are Widely Patriotic, but Many Think Founding Fathers Would Frown on Modern America,” www.gallup.com/poll/3745/Americans-Widely-Patriotic-Many-Think-Founding-Fathers-Would.aspx.

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