Understanding Our Government / The Constitution

Understanding Our
Government

By: Austin Wright &
Eric Stigers

Chapter 1:
Declaration Of Independence

This document was signed to declare the US independent
from Britain. It was signed on July 4, 1776, by the
congressional representatives of the 13 colonies. The
American colonies had been at war with Great Britain for
over a year when the document was signed. The Committee
of Five drafted what became known as America’s Declaration
of Independence.

Chapter 2:
Connecticut Compromise

This compromise was proposed by Roger
Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth, two
representatives of Connecticut. The
Connecticut Compromise paved the way for
the Constitution to be formed. It also set an
important precedent of compromise in
American political culture.

Chapter 3:
Separation of Powers

The constitution requires that the power of the government is split into three parts.
This stops any abuse of power. Separation of powers is also known as the system of
checks and balances, because each branch is given certain powers to check and balance
the other branches.

Chapter 4:
Articles of Confederation

These articles were also known as the first
constitution of the United States, adopted
by the Continental Congress on November
15, 1777. Ratification of the Articles of
Confederation by all thirteen states didn’t
occur until March 1, 1781.

Chapter 5:

Branches of Government

There are three branches of government. The legislative, executive and the judicial.
Each of these branches of the government is no more powerful than the other.

Legislative Branch- Executive Branch- carries Judicial Branch- decides
makes the laws; Congress: out the laws; President the meaning of laws;
House of Representatives Supreme Court
& Senate

Chapter 6: “Three-Fifth's” Compromise Constitutional
Convention - Virginia Plan - Ratification

- The ⅗ Compromise stated that each slave would be counted as ⅗ of a person when
determining population for apportioning Representatives.

- The Constitutional Convention took place from May 25, 1787 to September 17,
1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

- The Virginia Plan was a proposal by Virginia delegates for a bicameral legislative
branch.

- Ratification is the action of signing or giving formal consent to a treaty, contract,
or agreement. Which means making it officially valid.

Chapter 7:

Sovereignty

In the constitution, popular sovereignty shows that the government gets its power
from the people. This means that when the government was established by the free
will of the people, it should serve the people. When people vote for their
representatives in the government, they are exercising popular sovereignty.

Chapter 8:

Federalists

The federalists were often considered supporters of the constitution. For the
federalists, the constitution was required to keep the liberty and independence safe
after the American Revolution. The federalists were well supported, including people
like Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. They also had good funding and
support from most newspapers.

Chapter 9:

Bill of Rights

It was signed because some people were afraid that the government would have too
much power. The Bill of Rights protects a lot of other freedoms. The first ten
amendments of the Constitution make up the Bill of Rights. It was written by James
Madison.

Chapter 10:

Amendments

When the framers made the constitution, they knew that it was not perfect, and that
others would have good ideas for what to put on it. This led to the framers adding an
amendment process to the constitution. This process allowed for the constitution to
have parts added to it or previous parts changed. There have been many amendments
to the constitution, currently totaling to twenty-seven amendments.