Founding Documents, The Constitution, and American Democracy

Magna Carta (1215)

The Great Charter

Magna Carta (1215)

Everyone is subject to the law, including the king. Right to justice and fair trial.

Magna Carta (1215)

The Great Charter

Magna Carta (1215)

Everyone is subject to the law, including the king. Right to justice and fair trial.

Mayflower Compact (1620)

Agreement for self-government signed by Pilgrims.

Mayflower Compact (1620)

Agreed to remain loyal subjects, success in community, and create and enact laws and abide by them.

English Bill of Rights (1689)

King or Qeen as head of state but limited by the law.

English Bill of Rights (1689)

Monarchy can’t rule wihtout consent of parliament.

The Enlightenment Ideas

Natural Law

Liberty

Progressivism

Toleration

Consitutionalism

Seperate church and state

The Enlightenment

The Great Age of Reason

The Enlightenment

Period of rigorous scientific, political, and philosophical discourse

Thomas Hobbes

Argued for social contract theory - the people give up certain rights in exchange for stability and security

John Locke

argued for natural rights including life, liberty, and property

Montesquieu

proposed separation of powers - dividing into legislative, executive, and judicial branches to prevent one branch from gaining too much power aining too much power

Jean Jacques Rousseu

Emphaized idea of general will and adovacted for direct democracy and social equality

Join or Die

Benjamin Franklin

Join or Die

Originally used to convince the colonies to join the British in the French and Indian War

Join or Die

Later used as a symbol against the Biritsh in the Revolutionary War

Stamp Act (1765)

Tax on printed material to help pay of British debt from the French and Indian War

Stamp Act (1765)

“No taxation without representation”

First Continental Congress (1774)

Gathering of delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies

First Continental Congress (1774)

Colonies gathered to address grievances against British policies. Requested were largely ignored by Parliament

Common Sense

Propoganda published by Thomas Paine

Common Sense

Argued Americans showed NO alligence to English King, urged for seperation, and led to the signing of the Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Belief that all men are created equal and gave them rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Main buisness of government is to protect these rights

Declaration of Independence (1776)

If the government tries to withold these rights the people can revolt and start a new government

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin

Articles of Confederation

First attempt of governement after seperating from England

Articles of Confederation

Left most of the power with the states, creating a weak central government and eventually led to Consitutional Convention

Federalists

Favored strong central govenrment and supported the Consitution

The Federalist Papers

85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay

Antifederalists

Favored strong state government and a weak nation government and wanted to amend the Articles of Confederation

U.S. Consitution

Supreme law of the land

Consitution proposed on:

Consitution ratified in:

June 1788

Consitution put into effect in:

March 1789

Bill of Rights (1791)

First 10 amendments that guarantee essential rights and civil liberties

Amendment 1

Freedom of speech, religion, press, and assembly

Amendment 2

Right to bear arm

Amendment 3

No quartering of soldiers

Amendment 4

Protects against unreasonable search and seizure

Amendment 5

Due process, self-incirmination, and double jeopardy

Amnedment 6

Rights to fair and speedy trial

Amendment 7

Trial by jury in civil cases

Amendment 8

Cruel and unusual punishment

Amendment 9

Rights not listed in the Consitution

Amendment 10

Rights reserved to states or people

Amendment 11

States immune from suits from out of state citizens or foreigners

Amendment 12

President and Vice President elected as a pair

Amendment 13

abolished slavery

Amendment 14

Equal protection clause and defines citizenship

Amendment 15

Voting rights not denied by race

Amendment 16

Income tax

Amendment 17

Election of senators by popular vote

Amendment 18

Prohibits manufacturing or sale of alcohol

Amendment 19

Women’s right to vote

Amendment 20

Presidential term begins on January 20

Amendment 21

Repeals 18th amendment, prohibition of alcohol

Amendment 22

Limits presidency to two terms

Amendment 23

D.C. can partcipate in electoral college

Amendment 24

Prohibits poll taxes

Amendment 25

Presidental disability and procedure for filling vacancy in office

Amendment 26

Right to vote at 18

Amendment 27

Delays laws affecting Congressional salary from taking effect until after an election

The Great Compromise

Created a bicameral legislature (The House and The Senate)

The House

Number of representatives based on population in state

The Senate

Equal representation for all states, regardless of population

The Three-Fifths Compromise

Five slaves counted as three free people in population for seats in the House

Preamble

States the purpose of the Constitution and the governement

Article I

Legislative branch (Congress)

Article II

Executive branch (Presidency)

Article III

Judicial branch (Supreme Court)

Article IV

Full Faith and Credit Clause and relations among states

Article V

Amending the Constitution

Article VI

Supremacy Clause

Article VII

Ratifying the Consitution

Legislative Branch

Article I, makes laws, includes House and Senate

House of Representatives

represents the people and given sole power to originate revenue billls

The Senate

represent states and alone given the power to ratify treaties and approve presidential appoinments

Powers of Congress

Collect taxes

Borrow money

Regulate commerce

Declare war

Maintain an army and navy

Expressed/Enumerated Powers

Specific powers granted by the Constution to Congress and the president

Implied Powers

Necessary and proper clause or the elastic clause of the Consitution

Implied Powers

Gives Congress the power to make all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out enumerated powers

Executive Branch

Article II, carries out laws and includes president, vice president, and cabinet

Judicial Branch

Article III, interprets laws, courts, and has the power of judical review and to resolve conflicts between federal and state laws

Checks and Balances

Each branch has some powers over the other branches to ensure one branch doesn’t become too powerful

How is the number of House of Representatives determined?

Based on population of each state (435 members)

What do the House of Representatives represent?

district/part of a state

How many terms in the House of Representatives?

2 years

What is the age requirement for the House of Representatives?

25

How many years of citizenship required for the House of Representatives?

7

How many members in the Senate?

100

How many members in the Senate per state?

2

What do the members of the Senate represent?

The whole state

How many terms in the Senate?

6 years

What is the age requirement for the Senate?

30

How many years of citizenship required for the Senate?

9

How is the president voted in?

Indirectly by the electoral college

How many terms are presidents elected for?

4 years

What is the age requirement for the president?

35

What is the citizenship requirement for president?

Natural born citizen