Essential Question:

What powers are granted to the

national government in the Constitution?

CPUSH Agenda for Unit 3.5:

Clicker Questions
Ratifying the Constitution notes
Todays HW: 5.3
Unit 3 Test: Monday, September 17
 Article I of the Constitution created the
Legislative Branch (Congress)
Congress has expressed The Elastic Clause
powers to make laws, allows Congress to
levy taxes, coin money, create laws that are
regulate trade, declare war, necessary and proper
admit new states to the Union
 Congress is made up of the
House of Representatives and the Senate
The House of
Representatives is based
on state population size
Representatives serve
two year terms and
must be 25 years old
All revenue bills
must originate in the
House of Representatives
 Congress is made up of the
House of Representatives and the Senate
Each state has two Senators
Senators serve six year
terms and must be
at least 30 years old
The Senate has the power
to approve treaties and
presidential appointments
 Article II of the Constitution created the
Executive Branch which is made up of the
President, Vice-President, and bureaucracy
The role of the President is to enforce the law,
conduct foreign policy, serve as commander-in-chief
of the military, appoint judges and ambassadors,
provide leadership for the nation
The President is aided by numerous federal agencies
and 15 executive departments each with a
secretary who serves on the Presidents cabinet
The President is elected to The President is not
a four year term and must elected directly by the
be a native-born American people, but by an
at least 35 years old Electoral College
 Article III of the Constitution created the
Judicial Branch which is made up of
Supreme Court and other federal courts
The role of the judicial There are no specific
branch is to interpret the qualifications to be a federal
law and promote justice judge; Judges serve for life
The Supreme Court has
the power to declare
laws unconstitutional
(called judicial review)
The Supremacy Clause of Article V states that the
Constitution is the the supreme law of the land
 From May to September 1787, the delegates
at the Constitutional Convention worked out a
framework for a new federal system of government
But, this plan for government had to
be ratified by 9 states if it was to
replace the Articles of Confederation
Many Americans were concerned about the possibility
of tyranny because the Constitution gave more power
to the national government over the states
 Those who opposed
the Constitution,
feared a stronger
national govt , and
wanted states to
remain power were
called Anti-Federalists

The Anti-Federalists
were led by
Patrick Henry and
Samuel Adams
 Show me that age and
country where the rights
and liberties of the people
were placed on the sole
chance of their rulers being
good men, without a
consequent loss of liberty?
Patrick Henry, speech in
opposition to the
Constitution, 1788
Those who supported
the new Constitution
and a stronger
national govt were
called the Federalists

Federalist leaders
James Madison,
Alexander Hamilton,
and John Jay wrote a
series of essays called
the Federalist Papers
to counter the
arguments of the
Anti-Federalists
 Nothing is more certain
than the indispensable
necessity of government
People must cede some of
their natural rights in order to
vest it with requisite powers.
(Federalist #2)
the smaller the number
of individuals composing a
[If the] federal govt majority, the more easily will
is entrusted with the they execute their plans of
care of the common oppression. Extend the sphere,
defensethat govt and you take in a greater variety
ought to be clothed of parties and interests; you
with all the powers make it less probable that a
requisite to complete majority of the whole will invade
execution of its trust. the rights of other citizens.
(Federalist #23) (Federalist #10)
 Some states ratified the Constitution quickly, but
states with large majorities of Anti-Federalists
refused without a Bill of Rights to protect their liberty

New Hampshire was the 9th state to ratify the

In 1789, thewhich
Constitution Bill ofwent
Rights was
into introduced
effect in 1789,and
butthe
the
last twowanted
Federalists states ratified the Constitution
all 13 states to ratify theby 1790
new govt
The Bill of Rights was
approved in 1791
Today, the Constitution is the oldest existing written
govt in the world and is a model for other nations
Closure Activity: Create a symbol
or cartoon that describes the
main idea of each amendment