Transcript Constitution - St. Philip Neri School

U.S. Constitution
Articles of Confederation
1777-1781
Our 1st form of government
Had many problems
Congress from 13 states
Articles of Confederation
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Weak central government
No national courts
No power to tax
No money meant no army
Important laws had to be approved by
at least 9 states
Articles of Confederation
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No executive officer to enforce laws
No way to control trade between states
No way to settle quarrels between
states
Articles of Confederation
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States had more power
They could tax
They had courts
States could make currency
Constitutional Convention
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1786
Annapolis, MD
1787
Philadelphia
Independence Hall
George Washington - president
Constitutional Convention
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Not all agreed
Compromises made
Virginia plan-large state plan
James Madison
New Jersey plan-small state plan
Ratified 1788
Constitutional Convention
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Not all agreed
Compromises made
Virginia plan-large state plan
James Madison
New Jersey plan-small state plan
Ratified 1788
Preamble
We the people……
Union
Justice
Tranquility
General welfare
Liberty
posterity
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We the People of the United States, in
Order to form a more perfect Union,
establish Justice, insure domestic
Tranquility, provide for the common
defense, promote the general Welfare,
and secure the Blessings of Liberty to
ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain
and establish this Constitution for the
United States of America.
Article I
Legislative Branch
 Purpose
 Make laws
 2 houses or bodies of Congress
House of Representatives
Senate
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House of Representatives
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435 members
Based on population (about 500,000)
Each state gets at least one
representative
Term- 2 years
Unlimited terms
House of Representatives
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Qualifications
25
Citizen- 7 years
Resident of state
Male or female
House of Representatives
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Leader
Speaker of the House
Nancy Pelosi
Power of impeachment
Senate
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100
2 from each state
Term – 6 years, 1/3 every 2 years
Unlimited terms
Senate
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Qualifications
30 years old
Citizen for 9 years
Resident of the state
Male or female
Senate
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Leaders
Vice President
Senate pro-tempore
 Ceremonial leader of the Senate
 Third in line for presidency