High School American Government, part 3: The Constitution

Constitutional Government in America

Identify the major principles of constitutionalism and trace it's evolution in the United States through various written contracts.
govern government
establish the legal authority for government

Articles of Confederation
colonial charters
Mayflower Compact
English Magna Carta
The Second Continental Congress in 1776 adopted a written Declaration of Independence 


Troubles Confronting a New Nation

Assess the obstacles to nationhood.
The new government's:
inability to levy taxes under the Articles of Confederation
inability to fund the Revolutionary War debt
obstacles to interstate commerce
monetary problems
civil disorders, including Shay's Rebellion


Consensus and Conflict in Philadelphia

Outline the principles on which the Founders were in agreement and characterize their areas of conflict.
Agreement:
liberty and property
the social contract
republicanism
limited government
need for a national government

compromised their differences over representation by creating two co-equal house in the Congress: The House of Representatives, with members apportioned to the states on the basis of population and directly elected by the people for two-year terms, and the Senate, with two members allotted for each state regardless of its population and originally selected by state legislatures for six-year terms.

The Economy and National Security

Analyze the economic and security issues that the Founders faced and the solutions they reached.
conflicts over levying taxes
regulating commerce
tariffs
establishing a uniform currency
establishing a common market
resolving the questions over the national debt
the new country's foreign and military affairs

Solutions: The Constitution:
negotiate treaties with foreign nations
establish the president as the Commander in Chief
at first relying on state militias made up of citizen soldiers and later developing a professional army

The Structure of the Government

Explain how the Constitution structured the new government.
national supremacy
federalism
republicanism
separation of powers
checks and balances
judicial review

Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances

Analyze the separation of powers and the checks and balances established by the Constitution.
"to divide and arrange the several offices in such a manner as that each may be a check on the other" -Madison

Conflict over Ratification

Outline the arguments made by the Anti-federalists for ratification of the Constitution, and how was this ratification accomplished and for what purpose.
Felt that the Constitution was:
autocratic
undemocratic
threat to rights of the states and the people

Led to:
the Bill of Rights
10 Amendments added to Constitution
designed to limit the power of the national government and protect the rights of individuals and states

Amending the Constitution

Assess the protections provided by the Bill of Rights and determine the various means through which the Constitution may be changed.
Bill of Rights protects...
freedom of speech
freedom of press
freedom of religion
provides for privacy and
rights of criminal defendants

formal amendments
judicial interpretations
presidential actions
congressional action {2/3 vote of both houses of Congress and ratification by 3/4 of the state legislatures}
changes in custom and practices

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