Constitution Ratification

Articles of Confederation

• Existed for 9 years

• Needed an unanimous agreement for everything

Anti-federalists (opposed)

• Jeffersons side

• Wanted god to be mentioned in the constitution

• Denial of states to print money

• Wanted less power to be given for the central government

• Wanted the bill of rights to be added

Federalists (favored)

• Hamilton and madison’s side

• Strong central government

Ratification: needed 9 states to ratify. Eleven ratified by July 26th

• Delaware was the first

• Rhode Island was the last

• Chose New York as the capital

Sructure of the Constitution

1. Preamble

2. Articles (7)

3. Amendments (27)

Bill of Rights

• The first 10 amendments of the constitution

•  The Constitution would not  have been ratified without these 10 items

• Cornerstone of our liberties

Amendment Processes

When you first introduce an amendment it has to pass within 7 years

• An Amendment may be introduced by a 2/3 vote in both the senate and house and 3/4 of state legislatures (38 states). 

  • Or

• 2/3 of state legislatures may call for a national convention (34 states).  

• Amendment may be proposed by congress and ratified by 3/4 of the States.  

The Articles

• Article I - outlines legislative powers

  • How laws are made

• Article II - outlines the executive branch  

  • What the president can do

• Article III - Explains how the judicial branch will function 

  • Works and interprets it through judicial review

Supremacy Clause

The Constitution is the supreme law of the land.  Article VI, Clause 2 

•  Citizens and the states grant ultimate  power to federal laws, treaties and the Constitution…