Philadelphia Convention, 1787 55 delegates; most wealthy and in

their thirties; 39 had sat in Congress; 19 slave owners

No official journal kept Secrecy to ensure open debate

without fear of criticism Two basic issues

Whether or not to tinker with the Articles of Confederation or replace it

Conflicting interests of the small and large states

Virginia Plan (James Madison) Strong central government Congress gets unrestricted rights to tax

and legislate, the power to veto state law and use military force against the estates

Bicameral legislature with fixed representation based on the states population

Voters elect the lower house; lower house chooses the upper house from nominations submitted by the state legislatures

New Jersey Plan (William Patterson) Recommended a single chamber congress

with each state having equal vote Congressional laws the supreme law of

the land Courts could force reluctant states to

accept these measures

Connecticut Compromise Equal vote for each state in the upper Proportional voting for the lower

The new document accomplished the following: Reconciled conflicting interests between

the large and small states The Senate and House

Established national authority Lay and collect taxes Regulate interstate commerce Conduct diplomacy State officials must swear an oath to

uphold the Constitution Use of military force against any state

This is an abandonment of the Articles of Confederation

But there was restraint (or at least their should be if Americans understand this document and don’t allow any or all branches to get too powerful)Three distinct branchesChecks and balancesFederalism

GovernmentFeb. 28, 2013

Everyone needs to have an American Government (it says American Government on the cover) bookTurn to page 760

Name your representatives to the national Congress2 Senators and 1

RepresentativeHow many people serve in each

house of Congress?House of Representatives –Senate -

Name anyone in Congress other than the 3 you wrote down for number 1.

Legislative: House Requirements for office Apportionment of the seats

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/2010-race-maps/house/

Gerrymandering Term of Office Presiding officer Powers

Impeachment $

Speaker of the House John Boehner From Ohio Been in

Congress since 1990

Republican

Majority Leader Eric Cantor From Virginia Been in office

since 1991 Republican

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi From California Been in office since

1985 Democratic

Legislative: Senate Requirement for Office Membership Term of Office Presiding Officer Powers

2/3 consent (treaties) Jury role Foreign Affairs Filibuster

Cloture (2/3 present) to shut this down

Vice President (and President of the Senate

Joe BidenFrom DelawareBeen in office

since 1972 (Senator for 36 years prior to VP)

Democrat

President Pro-TemporePatrick Leahy

From Vermont

Been in office since 1974

Senate Minority LeaderMitch

McConnellFrom

KentuckyBeen in

office since 1984

Republican

Senate Majority LeaderHarry ReidFrom NevadaBeen in office

since 1986Democrat

Pg. 83 – Term Limits

Do they represent us? Age

House- 56.7 years; Senate- 62.2 years Education

Law degrees are held by 167 Members of the House (38% of the total House) and 55 Senators (55% of the total Senate)

Military service (21.8% of Congress) Foreign born (8 Reps and 1 Senator) Women (Ninety-one women-16.8% of the total

membership) House - 74 Senate – 17 http://www.ipu.org/wmn-e/classif.htm

African Americans- 44 members (all House) Hispanic or Latino- 31 members (29 House; 2 Senate)

Congressional Powers Article I, Section 8

Executive http://www.gallup.com/poll/28693

/which-characteristics-most-desirable-next-president.aspx

Worst http://www.usnews.com/listings/worst-pre

sidents/zachary-taylor

Best http://www.gallup.com/poll/146183/ameri

cans-say-reagan-greatest-president.aspx

Sexiest (?) http://www.nerve.com/content/the-top-43-s

exiest-us-presidents

ExecutiveRequirements for office

Constitutional vs. societalTerm (22nd Amendment)Electoral College

How is it calculated?What if no majority?Who has power in this

system?

Executive Powers of the President

Commander in ChiefHead of CabinetGrant pardonsNegotiate TreatiesNominate Supreme Court

JusticesFill vacancies during Senate

recesses

The Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments

State (1789) Treasury Defense Justice Interior (1849) Agriculture (1862) Commerce (1913) Labor (1913) Health and Human

Service (1953) Housing and

Urban Development (1965)

Transportation (1966)

Energy (1977) Education (1979) Veterans Affairs

(1988) Homeland Security

(2002)

Judicial

Chief Justice John Roberts (56); 6 years

Antonin Scalia (75); 25 Anthony Kennedy (75); 23 Clarence Thomas (63); 20 Ruth Bader Ginsburg (78); 18 Stephen Breyer (73); 17 Sam Alito (61); 5 Sonia Sotomayor (57); 2 Elena Kagen (51); 1

Article IV – Relations among the states

Article V – Amending process

Article VI – Supremacy Clause

Article VII - Ratification

Art. IVRelations Among the States

Full faith and credit shall be given in each state. . .

ExtraditionNew States: congressional control

Each state is guaranteed a republican form of govt.

Art. V

Art. VISupremacy ClauseThis is pretty simple: The U.S. Constitution is the ultimate trump card

Art. VII

Amendment option 1All persons who have been

a naturalized citizen of the United States for 20 years or more will be considered eligible for the office of the Presidency. This overrides the current natural-born qualification, but does not affect the age and/or residency requirement.

Amendment option 2 Purposeful desecration of the U.S. flag is

hereby established as a criminal act. Desecration is defined as “the act of depriving something of its sacred character.” Burning of the flag in a retirement ceremony will be allowed as long as the proper steps in doing so are followed. Enforcement will be at the hands of local law authorities. The following federal guidelines for punishment are - $5000 fine and up to 5 years in jail).

Amendment option 3 In an effort to strength the academic

preparedness of our citizenry, we hereby establish that children under the age of 18 are barred from contractually engaging in employment during the following time: School nights during the academic year - as defined by their school district. Full legal employment may begin on the day of the citizen’s 18th birthday.

Amendment option 4 All senators and representatives to

the U.S. Congress are hereby limited to a specific number of terms (consecutive or nonconsecutive) in that particular office: Representatives will be allowed a

total of four complete terms in office (8 years of service).

Senators will be allowed a total of two complete terms in office (12 years of service).

11. You cannot sue another state except with permission by that state's judicial system.

12. The electoral college must have two separate elections for president and vice president. They now run as a ticket.

13. Abolishes slavery. Emancipation. All slaves are free. 14. Every foreign born citizen now has right to "due process" 15. All men get the right to vote - including ex-slaves 16. The Federal Income Tax is established 17. The people elect their own US senators 18. Alcohol is prohibited 19. Women get the right to vote 20. January 20th is the day that a new president takes office (lame

duck) 21. It is no longer illegal to drink Alcohol. The 18th amendment is

struck down. 22. A president can only have 2 terms in office. 23. Washington DC can vote for the president 24. You may not charge people money so that they can register to

vote (poll tax) 25. Lays down the rules for who becomes president if the president

dies/resigns etc. 26. You can vote at the age of 18. 27. Congressmen cannot vote to give themselves a raise in the

same term.