Origins of the Constitution
I. Articles of Confederation
•Problems
II. Constitutional Convention (1787)
A.Background
B.Who?
C.Controversy & Compromise
1.Representation/Congress
2.Slavery
3.Presidential/ElectoralCompromise
III. Conc.
Key Terms
•Republic
•Washington
•Madison
•Franklin
•Virginia Plan
•GreatCompromise
•3/5 Compromise
•Electoral College
Some Problems With the Articles ofConfederation
1.Each state had one vote(regardless of its population)
2.There were neither Executivenor Judicial Branches
3.The national government did nothave the power to tax; statescould coin own money &conduct foreign policy
Articles of Confederation
Where did they meet…?
Philadelphia = Independence Hall
One Philosophy Prevailed
•Eligible citizens elect representatives whomake decisions & establish policies for them
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Who was at the ConstitutionalConvention?
Washington presidedover the Conventionas its chairman
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Who was at the ConstitutionalConvention?
B
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J
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Who was NOT at the ConstitutionalConvention?
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Jefferson was the USAmbassador to France
Which individual had the greatestimpact on the Constitution…?
James Madison
Controversy: Representation inCongressVirginia Plan (Madison)
1.Eliminate the Articles ofConfederation
2.Separate the NationalGovernment into threebranches: Legislative(most powerful), Executive& Judicial
James Madison
3.Representation in theLegislative Branch wouldbe determined entirely bya state’s population
Separation of Powers(Madison’s Virginia Plan)
Legislative
(most powerful)
Executive
Judicial
The number ofReps for eachstate is based onstate’s population
Solution = Great Compromise
•Separate the LegislativeBranch into two sections:
–House ofRepresentatives (basedon population)
–Senate (two for eachstate)
Ben Franklin
Solution = Great Compromise(Franklin)
Legislative
Executive
Judicial
House of Representatives
•Based on population
Senate
•Two for each state
Controversy: How to Count Slaves?
Solution = 3/5 Compromise
•One slave is equal to 3/5 of aperson when determining astate’s population
Torture Mask
Controversy: Chief Executive
Legislative
Executive
????
Judicial
House of Representatives
?????????????
Senate
Controversy: Chief Executive
Legislative
Executive
(President)
Judicial
House ofRepresentatives
How tochoose?
ElectoralCollege
Senate
Two Key Concepts:
How The Electoral CollegeWorks
1.In order to win a Presidential election acandidate must win a majority of electoralvotes (270).
2.The candidate who wins the most popularvotes in a state wins ALL of that state’spledged electoral votes.
MICHIGAN’S ELECTORAL VOTES
15 Members of the US House of Reps
2 _US Senators
17Electoral Votes
The Electoral College & The States(Michigan as an example)
STATE
1992-2002
2002-2012
Alabama
9
9
Alaska
3
3
Arizona
8
10
Arkansas
6
6
California
54
55
Colorado
8
9
Connecticut
8
8
Delaware
3
3
WA DC
3
3
Florida
25
27
Georgia
13
15
Hawaii
4
4
Idaho
4
4
STATE
1992-2002
2002-2012
Illinois
22
21
Indiana
12
11
Iowa
7
7
Kansas
6
6
Kentucky
8
8
Louisiana
9
9
Maine
4
4
Maryland
10
10
Massachusetts
12
12
Michigan
18
17
Minnesota
10
10
Mississippi
7
6
Distribution of Electoral Votes
STATE
1992-2002
2002-2012
Missouri
11
11
Montana
3
3
Nebraska
5
5
Nevada
4
5
New Hampshire
4
4
New Jersey
15
15
New Mexico
5
5
New York
33
31
North Carolina
14
15
North Dakota
3
3
Ohio
21
20
Oklahoma
8
7
Oregon
7
7
STATE
1992-2002
2002-2012
Pennsylvania
23
21
Rhode Island
4
4
South Carolina
8
8
South Dakota
3
3
Tennessee
11
11
Texas
32
34
Utah
5
5
Vermont
3
3
Virginia
13
13
Washington
11
11
West Virginia
5
5
Wisconsin
11
10
Wyoming
3
3
Distribution of Electoral Votes
Electoral CollegeMichigan and the Presidential Election of2008
Candidate
Popular Vote
Obama
57%
McCain
41%
Others
1%
So, Barack Obama received ALL 17 of Michigan’spledged electoral votes.
Presidential Election Results
2008 Election
Candidate
ElectoralVote
PopularVote*
Obama
365
52.9%
McCain
173
45.7%
Others
0
1%
*Voter turn-out was VERY high: about 136 million 64% of eligible voters
Other Presidential Election Results
2000 Election
Candidate
ElectoralVote
PopularVote*
Bush
271
48%
Gore
267
48.5%
Others
0
3.5%
*Gore received about 500,000 more popular votes.
Other Presidential Election Results
1860 Election (156 = Majority)
Candidate
Electoral Vote
Popular Vote
Abraham Lincoln
180
39.9%
Stephen Douglas
12
29.5%
John Breckenridge
72
18.1%
If no candidate wins a majority of theElectoral Votes, then:
1.The US House of Representatives chooses thenext President among the top three finishers
2.The US Senate chooses the next VicePresident among the top two finishers for VP
Electoral College
Origins of the Constitution
I. Articles of Confederation
•Problems
II. Constitutional Convention (1787)
A.Background
B.Who?
C.Controversy & Compromise
1.Representation/Congress
2.Slavery
3.Presidential/ElectoralCompromise
III. Conc.
Key Terms
•Republic
•Washington
•Madison
•Franklin
•Virginia Plan
•GreatCompromise
•3/5 Compromise
•Electoral College