Transcript American Government: Course Review • Known as the Constitutional Convention • Met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the summer of 1787 • 55 delegates from.

American
Government:
Course Review
• Known as the Constitutional Convention
• Met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the summer of 1787
• 55 delegates from 12 states wrote the US Constitution
• The delegates abandoned the Articles of Confederation and
created a stronger form of government.
• This new government included two legislative houses, the
House of Representatives and the Senate; a powerful
executive, the president; and a judicial body, the Supreme
Court. Compromise was essential to the delegates’
deliberations.
• Large and small states compromised over the form of
representation.
• Southern and northern states compromised over the issue of
slavery.
• By June 21, 1788, the Constitution had been ratified by nine
states and went into effect.
• With the addition of 26 amendments since that time, it has
remained the supreme law of the United States of America.
Federalists:
Strong Central
Government
Anti-Federalists:
Strong States
• Authority derives
from the people.
• In a new plan of
government, the
central
government
should be
stronger than the
states.
• Authority derives
from the states.
• Under a modified
Articles of
Confederation,
the states should
remain stronger
than the central
government
The Great Compromise
Large States
• Virginia Plan
• Congress should be
composed of two houses
• The number of delegates
to both houses of
Congress should be
assigned according to
population
Small States
• New Jersey Plan
• A Congress of one house
should be preserved
• Each state should have
one vote
Result: The Connecticut (Great) Compromise:
•
•
•
Congress composed of two houses:
Upper house (Senate) based on equal representation (all states have 2
Senators) (benefits small states)
Lower house (House of Representatives) based on population (benefits
small states)
3/5ths Compromise
North
• Slaves should not be
counted when deciding
the number of
congressional delegates
• Slaves should be counted
when levying taxes
South
• Slaves should be counted
when determining
congressional
representation
• Slaves should not be
counted when levying
taxes
Result: The 3/5ths Compromise:
• Slaves count as 3/5ths of a person for
representation in the House and for taxation
Federalism
Federalism
Powers
delegated to
Congress
in Article I of
the
Constitution
Different roles of Senate & House
Different roles of Senate & House
Different roles of Senate & House
The Speaker of the House
• Presiding officer of the House & leader of the majority party.
• Presides over and keeps order in the House.
• Names the members of all select and conference committees
• Signs all bills and resolutions passed by the House.
The President of the Senate
• The Vice President of the US
• Casts the tie-breaking vote
• Presides at State of the Unions
The president pro tempore
• Leader of the majority party
• Elected from the Senate and serves in the Vice President’s
absence (most of the time!)
The Floor Leaders
• Party officers picked for their posts by their party
colleagues.
Party Whips
• Assist the floor leaders and serve as a liaison between
the party’s leadership and its rank-and-file members.
Committee Chairmen
• Members who head the standing committees in each
chamber of Congress.
• The chairman of each of these permanent committees is
chosen from the majority party by the majority party
caucus.
Citizens of the U.S. can participate in their government. This
process insures that power will always remain where it
belongs - with the people.
Vote
• The most important right citizens have is the right to vote. By
voting, the people have a voice in the government. The
people decide who will represent them in the government.
Before voting in an election, each citizen should be well
informed about the issues and candidates.
Jury Service
• The government may call upon citizens to serve on a jury. The
members of the jury need to decide the case in as fair a way
as they can.
Citizens of the U.S. can participate in their government. This
process insures that power will always remain where it
belongs - with the people.
Obey the Laws
• Every person is expected to obey the laws of the community,
state and country in which he or she lives. All Americans are
expected to respect the rights of others. All persons living in
the U.S. are expected to pay the income taxes and other taxes
honestly and on time.
Others:
• Pay Taxes
• Register for the Draft