Psychology of Learning and Decision-Making

Study Notes

The Constitution

Essential Questions: Why do people create, structure, and change governments? How do societies balance individual and community rights? How does social change influence government?

Chapter 5: The Constitution

Chapter 5 covers the Country's first Governments, creating a New Constitution, The Structure of the Constitution, and Principles of the Constitution.

Lesson 1: The Country's First Governments

The weaknesses of the first U.S. government shaped the way our government works today.
Before the Declaration of Independence was signed, American colonists were thinking about independence and replacement of colonial charters.
New Hampshire was the first colony to organize as a state, in January 1776, creating a constitution as a detailed written plan for government.
Within a few years, all other former colonies created their own state constitutions.
State constitutions set up similar forms of government, including a legislature to make laws and a governor to carry out those laws. Courts also existed to interpret the laws.

Lesson 2: Creating a New Constitution

IT MATTERS BECAUSE: In creating the Constitution, the Framers reached important compromises.
GUIDING QUESTION: Why did American leaders decide to create a new plan of government?
In 1787, the Articles of Confederation loosely joined 13 independent states.
Leaders decided the national government was too weak.
In Spring of 1787, delegates met in Philadelphia to fix Articles of Confederation
Rhode Island didn't attend as they opposed a stronger central government
Delegates were mostly educated lawyers, merchants, presidents, physicians, generals, governors, and planters.
Eight signed the Declaration of Independence, seven were former state governors, and 41 had been members of Congress.
Women and African Americans were not allowed to take part.
Delegates chose George Washington to lead the convention
Key decisions: each state had one vote, regardless of the number of delegates and a simple majority of seven votes decided any issue
The delegates kept the work of the convention private, doors were guarded, windows were shut
James Madison played a major role, documenting ideas in a notebook.
Virginia Plan: proposed a stronger national government with a three-branch government (executive, legislative, and judicial).
New Jersey Plan: proposed changes to the Articles of Confederation, keeping a one-house legislature with each state having one vote.
Great Compromise: created a bicameral legislature (Senate and House of Representatives), with the Senate giving equal representation per state, and the House giving representation based on population.
Three-Fifths Compromise: for every five enslaved people, three were counted toward a state's population. This was used for representation in Congress and for taxation.

Lesson 3: The Structure of the Constitution

IT MATTERS BECAUSE: The US Constitution sets up the structure of our government and the basic laws of our nation.
GUIDING QUESTION: How does the U.S. Constitution organize the government?
The Constitution has three parts:
- Preamble: sets out the goals and purposes of the government
- Seven articles: describe the structure of the government, including its branches
- Twenty-seven amendments: are additions or changes to the Constitution

Lesson 4: Principles of the Constitution

IT MATTERS BECAUSE: Every aspect of our lives is affected by the principles set in the Constitution by the Framers
GUIDING QUESTION: What are the principles of United States government?
Five principles of government:
- Popular sovereignty: the people are the ultimate source of governmental power
- Limited government and rule of law: government can only do what the people allow it to do, and no one can escape the reach of the law, even those who govern.
- Separation of Powers: three branches (executive, legislative, and judicial) each with specific tasks.
- Checks and Balances: Each branch has powers that can limit the actions of other branches.
- Federalism: sharing authority between the national government and the states.