constitutional convention of 1787

articles of confederation

• created a weak central government

• state had too much power

• congress could not tax

anti-federalists

• opponents of the constitution

• wanted a stronger state government

• wanted bill of rights

• patrick henry + george mason

bicameral legislature

• house of representatives: bases on population

• senate: equal representation (2 per state)

bill of rights

• first ten amendments

• demanded by the anti-federalists before ratifying the constitution

checks and balances

prevents any one branch from gaining too much power

connecticut compromise (great compromise)

• bicameral congress

• house of representatives: based on population

• senate: equal representatives (2 per state)

constitutional convention (1787)

• drafted a new constitution

• focused on bill of rights

• response to weakness in articles of confederation

• george washington, james madison, benjamin franklin

electoral college

• used to elect the president

• 538 electoral votes

• majority of 270 votes

• each state holds a popular vote

executive branch

• headed by president, chief executive, commander in chief

• responsible for enforcing + implementing laws

federal judiciary

• allows courts to check the power of the legislative + executive branches

• responsible for interpreting laws

• supreme court is the highest court

federalism

• system of government where power is divided between central (national) government + state government

• directly affecting citizens

federalist papers

• series of 85 articles written in 1787-1788

• written by hamiliton, madison, jay

• strong central government + separation of powers

federalist

• supported a strong national government

• supported the ratification of the us constitution

james madison - judicial branch

• father of the constitution

• shaped the judicial branch

• check and balances

legislative branch

• congress passes laws shaping governemnt function

new jersey plan

• unicameral congress

• equal representation for all states

proportional representation

• electoral system in which parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes cast for them

ratification

• the action of signing/giving consent to treaty, contract, or agreement

• to make valid

republicanism

• people -directly or indirectly- are the ultimate source of authority

• electing representatives to make laws

roger sherman

• founding father of the united states

• had a great impact in the connecticut compromise

separation of powers

3 branches:

1. legislative: makes laws (congress: house + senate)

2. executive: enforces laws (president)

3. judicial: interprets laws (supreme court)

supremacy clause

• founded in US constitution

• “supreme law of the land”

• takes precedence over conflicting states laws

slave trade compromise

• congress could regulate trade

• could not ban the slave trade for 20 years (until 1808)

three-firth compromise

• southern states wanted slaves to count for representation

• each enslaved person counted as 3/5 of a person for representation + tax

unicameral legislature

• congress was the only governing body (no president, executive, judiciary, and supreme court)

• approval from 9 out of 13 states

u.s. constitution

• foundation of federal government

• supreme law of the land

• no law can be passed that contradicts its principles

virginia plan

• bicameral congress

• representation based on population

weaknesses of the articles of confederation

• weak central government

• no tax power

• no authority to regulate trade

• no national trade

• no executive branch

• difficult to pass laws and amendments