PowerPoint for Constitution lecture series for PS 101 American Government at the University of Kentucky, Dr. Christopher S. Rice, Instructor.

1. The Constitution
A Topher Rice Digital File

3. The lesson here?

4. Political motives are
never neutral…

5. …and the truth is like
an onion skin.

7. The Goldilocks
Problem• Articles too weak –
needed stronger
national government
for nation-building.
• Needed to avoid
strengthening central
government too
much to avoid
tyrannical
government.

8. The Goldilocks
Problem• Articles too weak –
needed stronger
national government
for nation-building.
• Needed to avoid
strengthening central
government too
much to avoid
tyrannical
government.

9. The Goldilocks
Problem• Articles too weak –
needed stronger
national government
for nation-building.
• Needed to avoid
strengthening central
government too
much to avoid
tyrannical
government.

11. The Articles (1777) created
in law what had already
existed in practice since
Declaration of
Independence…

12. The Articles (1777) created
in law what had already
existed in practice since
Declaration of
Independence…
…a loose confederation
of independent states.

14. Provisions of the Articles
1. Could make war/peace, but no power to
levy taxes to pursue either.
2. Could not regulate interstate commerce, nor
deny states the right to collect customs
duties.
3. No independent executive to insure laws
passed by Congress enforced.
4. No national court system to settle interstate
disputes.
5. All legislation required approval of 9 of 13
states, making action almost impossible.
6. Defects in the Articles were difficult to
remedy – amendments required unanimous
approval of the states.

15. Provisions of the Articles
1. Could make war/peace, but no power to
levy taxes to pursue either.
2. Could not regulate interstate commerce, nor
deny states the right to collect customs
duties.
3. No independent executive to insure laws
passed by Congress enforced.
4. No national court system to settle interstate
disputes.
5. All legislation required approval of 9 of 13
states, making action almost impossible.
6. Defects in the Articles were difficult to
remedy – amendments required unanimous
approval of the states.

16. Provisions of the Articles
1. Could make war/peace, but no power to
levy taxes to pursue either.
2. Could not regulate interstate commerce, nor
deny states the right to collect customs
duties.
3. No independent executive to insure laws
passed by Congress enforced.
4. No national court system to settle interstate
disputes.
5. All legislation required approval of 9 of 13
states, making action almost impossible.
6. Defects in the Articles were difficult to
remedy – amendments required unanimous
approval of the states.

17. Provisions of the Articles
1. Could make war/peace, but no power to
levy taxes to pursue either.
2. Could not regulate interstate commerce, nor
deny states the right to collect customs
duties.
3. No independent executive to insure laws
passed by Congress enforced.
4. No national court system to settle interstate
disputes.
5. All legislation required approval of 9 of 13
states, making action almost impossible.
6. Defects in the Articles were difficult to
remedy – amendments required unanimous
approval of the states.

18. Provisions of the Articles
1. Could make war/peace, but no power to
levy taxes to pursue either.
2. Could not regulate interstate commerce, nor
deny states the right to collect customs
duties.
3. No independent executive to insure laws
passed by Congress enforced.
4. No national court system to settle interstate
disputes.
5. All legislation required approval of 9 of 13
states, making action almost impossible.
6. Defects in the Articles were difficult to
remedy – amendments required unanimous
approval of the states.

19. Provisions of the Articles
1. Could make war/peace, but no power to
levy taxes to pursue either.
2. Could not regulate interstate commerce, nor
deny states the right to collect customs
duties.
3. No independent executive to insure laws
passed by Congress enforced.
4. No national court system to settle interstate
disputes.
5. All legislation required approval of 9 of 13
states, making action almost impossible.
6. Defects in the Articles were difficult to
remedy – amendments required unanimous
approval of the states.

20. Problems with the
Articles

21. Problems with the
Articles
• Government unable to finance its
activities.
• Colonial money almost worthless,
government couldn’t borrow.
• Couldn’t defend US interests abroad
because no standing army.
• Difficult to make treaties: lack of single
executive, Congressional actions could
be vetoed by States.
• Government couldn’t prevent outbreak
of interstate commercial warfare.

22. Problems with the
Articles
• Government unable to finance its
activities.
• Colonial money almost worthless,
government couldn’t borrow.
• Couldn’t defend US interests abroad
because no standing army.
• Difficult to make treaties: lack of single
executive, Congressional actions could
be vetoed by States.
• Government couldn’t prevent outbreak
of interstate commercial warfare.

23. Problems with the
Articles
• Government unable to finance its
activities.
• Colonial money almost worthless,
government couldn’t borrow.
• Couldn’t defend US interests abroad
because no standing army.
• Difficult to make treaties: lack of single
executive, Congressional actions could
be vetoed by States.
• Government couldn’t prevent outbreak
of interstate commercial warfare.

24. Problems with the
Articles
• Government unable to finance its
activities.
• Colonial money almost worthless,
government couldn’t borrow.
• Couldn’t defend US interests abroad
because no standing army.
• Difficult to make treaties: lack of single
executive, Congressional actions could
be vetoed by States.
• Government couldn’t prevent outbreak
of interstate commercial warfare.

25. Problems with the
Articles
• Government unable to finance its
activities.
• Colonial money almost worthless,
government couldn’t borrow.
• Couldn’t defend US interests abroad
because no standing army.
• Difficult to make treaties: lack of single
executive, Congressional actions could
be vetoed by States.
• Government couldn’t prevent outbreak
of interstate commercial warfare.

26. Shays’ Rebellion
One of the first US populist uprisings

27. Problem of Farmer
Debt

29. Fear of Democracy
Getting Out of Hand…

30. Shays’ Rebellion
One of the first US populist uprisings

31. The first constitution of the United
States was known as ________.
1. the Articles of
Confederation
2. the Virginia Plan
3. the Connecticut
Compromise
4. the original inter-
state agreement

32. Which of the following was NOT a
component of the Articles of
Confederation?
1. The absence of an
independent
judiciary.
2. The national
government lacked
the power to tax.
3. A unicameral
legislature.
4. All of these choices
ARE components of
the Articles of
Confederation.

33. What is the proper
role of the majority?

34. Checks on the
Majority
• Selection of Senators
• Bicameral Congress
• Independent (non-elected)
• Judiciary
• Electoral College

35. Checks on the
Majority
• Selection of Senators
• Bicameral Congress
• Independent (non-elected)
• Judiciary
• Electoral College

36. Checks on the
Majority
• Selection of Senators
• Bicameral Congress
• Independent (non-elected)
Judiciary
• Electoral College

37. Checks on the
Majority
• Selection of Senators
• Bicameral Congress
• Independent (non-elected)
Judiciary
• Electoral College

39. Fragmented
Government

40. #1: Separation of
Powers

41. Central Government /
Authority
Executive
Legislative
Judicial

42. Legislative
Executive Judicial

43. #2: Checks & Balances

45. #3: Federalism

46. Madison argued that the best way to
control self-interest in government
was to have:
1. a democratic form
of government.
2. a republican form
of government.
3. an educated
public.
4. strong religious
organizations.

47. Objectives of a
Republican
Form of Government

48. Government based on
popular consent
Government possesses
limited power

49. The Constitutional
Convention
May 25 - September 17, 1787

50. The Aerogel
Revolution?

53. Structural
Compromises

54. The Virginia Plan
• Bicameral Legislature
– Lower House popularly
elected, apportioned by
population.
– Upper House elected by
Lower House.
• Single Executive
• Federal Judiciary
• Supremacy Clause

55. The Virginia Plan
• Bicameral Legislature
– Lower House popularly
elected, apportioned by
population.
– Upper House elected by
Lower House.
• Single Executive
• Federal Judiciary
• Supremacy Clause

56. The Virginia Plan
• Bicameral Legislature
– Lower House popularly
elected, apportioned by
population.
– Upper House elected by
Lower House.
• Single Executive
• Federal Judiciary
• Supremacy Clause

57. The Virginia Plan
• Bicameral Legislature
– Lower House popularly
elected, apportioned by
population.
– Upper House elected by
Lower House.
• Single Executive
• Federal Judiciary
• Supremacy Clause

58. The Virginia Plan
• Bicameral Legislature
– Lower House popularly
elected, apportioned by
population.
– Upper House elected by
Lower House.
• Single Executive
• Federal Judiciary
• Supremacy Clause

59. New Jersey Plan
• Cautious revision of Articles, not
a wholly new approach.
• Small-state delegates figured
out they were getting pwnd.
• Madison could have run
roughshod over small-state
delegates, but didn’t.

60. New Jersey Plan
• Cautious revision of Articles, not
a wholly new approach.
• Small-state delegates figured
out they were getting pwnd.
• Madison could have run
roughshod over small-state
delegates, but didn’t.

61. “You see the consequences of
pushing things too far. Some
members from the small states
wish for two branches in the
General Legislature and are
friends to a good National
Government; but we would sooner
submit to a foreign power than…
be deprived of an equality of
suffrage in both branches of
the legislature, and thereby be
thrown under the domination of
the large States.”

62. New Jersey Plan
• Cautious revision of Articles, not
a wholly new approach.
• Small-state delegates figured
out they were getting pwnd.
• Madison could have run
roughshod over small-state
delegates, but didn’t.

63. Recognition of hard
political reality, NOT
an acquiescence to
“states’ rights”

64. New Jersey Plan
• Favored strong national
government in principle,
opposed domination of large
states
• Unicameral legislature (one vote
each state)
• Supremacy Clause

65. New Jersey Plan
• Favored strong national
government in principle,
opposed domination of large
states
• Unicameral legislature (one vote
each state)
• Supremacy Clause

66. New Jersey Plan
• Favored strong national
government in principle,
opposed domination of large
states
• Unicameral legislature (one vote
each state)
• Supremacy Clause

67. Hamilton’s Wacked-Out
Monarch-for-Life Plan

70. “No
thanks!

71. Hamilton’s Wacked-Out
Monarch-for-Life Plan

72. • Paterson lost, but did
achieve his purpose…
• Connecticut delegation
actually came up with
the compromise early,
but were ignored
The Connecticut
Compromise

73. • Paterson lost, but did
achieve his purpose…
• Connecticut delegation
actually came up with
the compromise early,
but were ignored
The Connecticut
Compromise

74. • Article I, Sections 2 & 3
• Bicameral Legislature
– Lower House apportioned by
population, popularly elected.
– Upper House equal
representation (2), selected
by State Legislatures.
• Supremacy Clause (Article
VI, Section 2)
The Connecticut
Compromise

75. • Article I, Sections 2 & 3
• Bicameral Legislature
– Lower House apportioned by
population, popularly elected.
– Upper House equal
representation (2), selected
by State Legislatures.
• Supremacy Clause (Article
VI, Section 2)
The Connecticut
Compromise

76. • Article I, Sections 2 & 3
• Bicameral Legislature
– Lower House apportioned by
population, popularly elected.
– Upper House equal
representation (2), selected
by State Legislatures.
• Supremacy Clause (Article
VI, Section 2)
The Connecticut
Compromise

77. • Article I, Sections 2 & 3
• Bicameral Legislature
– Lower House apportioned by
population, popularly elected.
– Upper House equal
representation (2), selected
by State Legislatures.
• Supremacy Clause (Article
VI, Section 2)
The Connecticut
Compromise

78. • Article I, Sections 2 & 3
• Bicameral Legislature
– Lower House apportioned by
population, popularly elected.
– Upper House equal
representation (2), selected
by State Legislatures.
• Supremacy Clause (Article
VI, Section 2)
The Connecticut
Compromise

79. In order to uphold the basic values of
democracy, the Constitution was designed
to include which of the following?
1. mixed
government
2. fragmentation of
power
3. representative
government
4. all of the above

80. Other
Compromises

82. The Three-Fifths
Compromise

83. Presidential Elections

84. The formal constitutional amendment
process provides for all of the following
EXCEPT:
1. Congress may develop
proposals for amendments.
2. a national Constitutional
Convention to develop
proposals.
3. the President may develop a
proposal for an amendment.
4. state Constitutional
Conventions to ratify
amendments.

86. Something to Ponder…

87. Something to Ponder…
…Government is slow and
“inefficient” because it
was designed to work that
way!