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Articles of the Constitution (Memory Trick)

“Lazy Elephants Jump Slow Around Small Rats” (Legislative, Executive, Judicial, States, Amendments, Supremacy, Ratification)

Article I

Legislative branch; Congress makes laws, controls money, regulates commerce

Article II

Executive branch; president enforces laws, commands military

Article III

Judicial branch; Supreme Court interprets laws

Article IV

States; relationships between states, full faith and credit

Article V

Amendments; process to change the Constitution

Article VI

Supremacy clause; Constitution is the highest law of the land

Article VII

Ratification; how Constitution was approved

Constitution

Establishes a 3-branch (legislative, executive, judicial) government

Articles of Confederation

Small/weak national government; most power to states

Declaration of Independence

Focuses on rights of the people and justification for independence

Federalist Papers

Support Constitution; want strong national government

Brutus Papers

Oppose Constitution; want small government and strong states

Federalist No. 10

Factions are inevitable; large republic controls them

Brutus No. 1

Large republic is dangerous; government too far from people

Federalist No. 51

Checks and balances prevent tyranny

Brutus No. 1 (Power)

National government will overpower states

Federalist No. 70

Strong single president is effective

Brutus (Executive)

Strong president could become like a king

Federalist No. 78

Courts are least powerful; judicial review

Brutus (Judiciary)

Courts will become too powerful

Small Government Document

Articles of Confederation / Brutus arguments

Strong Government Document

Constitution / Federalist arguments

Rights of the People Document

Declaration of Independence

3 Branch Government Document

Constitution

Natural Rights

Life, liberty, pursuit of happiness

Social Contract

Government power comes from the people

Popular Sovereignty

People hold the power

Checks and Balances

Branches limit each other

Separation of Powers

Government divided into 3 branches

Key Quote Idea (Federalist)

Government controls factions and balances power to protect liberty

Key Quote Idea (Brutus)

Government is too large and powerful; threatens freedom

Weak national government; no power to tax or enforce laws

Articles of Confederation

Strong national government with 3 branches

Constitution

Focus on natural rights (life, liberty, happiness)

Declaration of Independence

Government power comes from the people

Declaration of Independence

Legislative branch makes laws

Article I

Executive branch enforces laws

Article II

Judicial branch interprets laws

Article III

States must respect each other’s laws

Article IV

Process to amend the Constitution

Article V

Constitution is the supreme law

Article VI

Ratification process

Article VII

Large republic controls factions

Federalist No. 10

Factions are dangerous but unavoidable

Federalist No. 10

Large republic will fail and become tyrannical

Brutus No. 1

Checks and balances prevent tyranny

Federalist No. 51

Branches will limit each other

Federalist No. 51

National government will overpower states

Brutus No. 1

Strong single executive is necessary

Federalist No. 70

President needs energy and quick action

Federalist No. 70

Strong executive could become a king

Brutus

Judiciary is least powerful branch

Federalist No. 78

Courts use judicial review

Federalist No. 78

Judiciary will become too powerful

Brutus

Small government; power stays with states

Articles of Confederation / Brutus

Strong central government needed

Constitution / Federalists

Protects individual rights from government

Declaration of Independence

Creates separation of powers

Constitution

Government too big and far from people

Brutus

Government can control factions through size

Federalist No. 10

LEJSASR

Lazy elephants jump slow around small rats