Changes

Over 225 years ago, in 1781, there was no federal [[government]].  Then the colonies agreed on the [[Articles of Confederation]], but that created a federal [[government]] with very few [[power]]s.  The colonies retained all the [[power]].  Why did they ultimately give up [[power]] to the federal [[government]] we have today?

Over 225 years ago, in 1781, there was no federal [[government]].  Then the colonies agreed on the [[Articles of Confederation]], but that created a federal [[government]] with very few [[power]]s.  The colonies retained all the [[power]].  Why did they ultimately give up [[power]] to the federal [[government]] we have today?

Had they known what was happening, maybe they never would have.  55 colonial leaders met in Philadelphia during the hot summer of 1787 to fix the Articles of Confederation, and decided instead to propose an entirely new Constitution with a powerful new federal [[government]].  Their meetings were held in secret, so no one knew what they were doing.

Had they known what was happening, maybe they never would have.  55 colonial leaders met in [[Philadelphia]] during the hot summer of 1787 to fix the [[Articles of Confederation]], and decided instead to propose an entirely new Constitution with a powerful new federal [[government]].  Their meetings were held in secret, so no one knew what they were doing.

They began each session with a prayer.  Their final product, the Constitution, was a marvelous legal document.  Together these 55 individuals created something much greater than any could have produced individually.  It established a national, republican [[government]] with limited [[power]]s.

They began each session with a prayer.  Their final product, the Constitution, was a marvelous legal document.  Together these 55 individuals created something much greater than any could have produced individually.  It established a national, [[republican]] [[government]] with limited [[power]]s.

What is a republican [[government]]?  It means the [[Homo Sapiens|people]] elect representatives to elect lawmakers and create [[law]]s.  It has a layer of protection against a pure democracy in which the public directly decides issues.

What is a republican [[government]]?  It means the [[Homo Sapiens|people]] elect representatives to elect lawmakers and create [[law]]s.  It has a layer of protection against a pure democracy in which the public directly decides issues.

Contrary to what you may hear today, our Founders did not like pure democracies.  They worried about tyranny by the uninformed masses.  They wanted a select group of [[Homo Sapiens|people]] making our [[law]]s.

Contrary to what you may hear today, our Founders did not like pure democracies.  They worried about tyranny by the uninformed masses.  They wanted a select group of [[Homo Sapiens|people]] making our [[law]]s.

An example is our electoral college.  Al Gore won more votes than [[George W. Bush]], but [[George W. Bush|Bush]] won more votes in the electoral college.  Our [[President of the United States of America|president]] is not chosen directly by the [[Homo Sapiens|people]].  He is chosen by the [[Electoral College]].  Another example is the original procedure for choosing U.S. Senators.  State legislators selected them, not the general public.  (This was changed by the 17th Amendment in 1913 - see textbook p. 334)

An example is our electoral college.  Al Gore won more votes than [[George W. Bush]], but [[George W. Bush|Bush]] won more votes in the [[electoral college]].  Our [[President of the United States of America|president]] is not chosen directly by the [[Homo Sapiens|people]].  He is chosen by the [[Electoral College]].  Another example is the original procedure for choosing U.S. Senators.  State legislators selected them, not the general public.  (This was changed by the 17th Amendment in 1913 - see textbook p. 334)

The Constitution limits the [[power]] of the national [[government]] in several ways:

The Constitution limits the [[power]] of the national [[government]] in several ways:

1.  By listing specific [[power]]s (e.g., running a post office).

1.  By listing specific [[power]]s (e.g., running a post office).

<br>2.  By creating three branches as “checks and balances” on each other.

<br>2.  By creating three branches as “[[checks and balances]]” on each other.

<br>3.  By making it difficult for one branch to act alone, without agreement by another branch.

<br>3.  By making it difficult for one branch to act alone, without agreement by another branch.

<br>4.  By later adding a Bill of Rights to protect the [[Homo Sapiens|people]] further.

<br>4.  By later adding a Bill of Rights to protect the [[Homo Sapiens|people]] further.

Article I - Congress.  This sets forth its [[power]]s and limits.

Article I - Congress.  This sets forth its [[power]]s and limits.

<br> Section 1 - Two parts of Congress (bicameral)  

<br> Section 1 - Two parts of Congress ([[bicameral]])  

<br> Section 2 - House Term and Method of Election

<br> Section 2 - House Term and Method of Election

<br> Section 3 - Senate Term, Method of Election, and Vote

<br> Section 3 - Senate Term, Method of Election, and Vote

<br> Section 5 - Rules

<br> Section 5 - Rules

<br> Section 6 - Compensation and Immunities

<br> Section 6 - Compensation and Immunities

<br> Section 7 - Enacting Legislation, and Veto

<br> Section 7 - Enacting Legislation, and [[Veto]]

<br> Section 8 - [[Power]]s of Congress

<br> Section 8 - [[Power]]s of Congress

<br> some exclusive (e.g., Post Office), some not (e.g., bankruptcy [[law]]s)

<br> some exclusive (e.g., Post Office), some not (e.g., bankruptcy [[law]]s)