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The Constitution

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Summary

The Constitution of the United States was developed by delegates of 12 of the 13 States in 1787 to replace the ineffective Articles of Confederation. The Constitution divides the power of government into three branches and provides for checks and balances to ensure no one branch of government gains supremacy. The delegates also discussed the relationship between the States, and the process by which the Constitution could be amended. 39 of the 55 delegates signed the document, and it was ratified by 9 of the 13 States. The debate between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists about the lack of a Bill of Rights led to the adoption of the Bill of Rights, 10 amendments to the Constitution that protect basic civil rights.

Q&As

What were the problems with the Articles of Confederation?
The problems with the Articles of Confederation were that the central government had limited power, it could not raise funds itself, and any decision of consequence required a unanimous vote, which led to a government that was paralyzed and ineffectual.

What was the Great Compromise of the Constitutional Convention?
The Great Compromise of the Constitutional Convention was that the House of Representatives would represent the people as apportioned by population; the Senate would represent the States apportioned equally; and the President would be elected by the Electoral College.

What was the process for ratifying the Constitution?
The process for ratifying the Constitution was that it would take effect once it had been ratified by nine of the thirteen State legislatures; unanimity was not required.

What is the Bill of Rights and what rights does it provide citizens?
The Bill of Rights is a set of amendments to the Constitution that provide citizens with certain fundamental rights. These rights include freedom of speech, the press, assembly, and the right to petition the Government for a redress of grievances; the right to bear arms; protection from unreasonable search and seizure; protection from criminal prosecution and punishment without due process; the right to a speedy trial by a jury of one’s peers; the right to legal representation; the right to trial by jury in civil cases; protection from excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishments; and the right to retain all rights not enumerated in the Constitution.

What is the process for amending the Constitution?
The process for amending the Constitution is that an amendment may be proposed by a two-thirds vote of both Houses of Congress, or, if two-thirds of the States request one, by a convention called for that purpose. The amendment must then be ratified by three-fourths of the State legislatures, or three-fourths of conventions called in each State for ratification. In modern times, amendments have traditionally specified a time frame in which this must be accomplished, usually a period of several years. Additionally, the Constitution specifies that no amendment can deny a State equal representation in the Senate without that State’s consent.

AI Comments

👍 This article does a great job of providing a comprehensive overview of the Constitution and its origin.

👎 This article does not provide enough information about the amendments that have been passed since the ratification of the Constitution.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about the Constitution and why it was created. It talks about the problems with the Articles of Confederation, the Constitutional Convention, the ratification process, and the Bill of Rights.

Friend: Wow, that's a lot of information! What implications do you think the article has?

Me: Well, the article really highlights the importance of the Constitution and how it was created to ensure the protection of the rights of the people. It also emphasizes the need for checks and balances between the different branches of government to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. Finally, it showcases the importance of compromise in creating a successful government.

Action items

Research the Articles of Confederation and the problems it created.
Learn more about the Federalist Papers and the arguments for and against the Constitution.
Read the Bill of Rights and consider the implications of each amendment.

Technical terms

Articles of Confederation: A document that established a “firm league of friendship” between the States, and vested most power in a Congress of the Confederation.
Constitutional Convention: A convention in Philadelphia to discuss changes to the Articles of Confederation and to draft a new Constitution for the United States.
Legislative Branch: One of the three branches of government, responsible for making laws.
Executive Branch: One of the three branches of government, responsible for enforcing laws.
Judicial Branch: One of the three branches of government, responsible for interpreting laws.
Virginia Plan: A plan proposed at the Constitutional Convention that apportioned representation based on the population of each State.
New Jersey Plan: A plan proposed at the Constitutional Convention that gave each State an equal vote in Congress.
Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise): A compromise reached at the Constitutional Convention that established the House of Representatives to represent the people as apportioned by population, the Senate to represent the States apportioned equally, and the President to be elected by the Electoral College.
Full Faith and Credit Clause: A clause in the Constitution that requires States to give “full faith and credit” to the laws, records, contracts, and judicial proceedings of the other States.
Amendment Process: The process by which the Constitution may be amended, which requires a two-thirds vote of both Houses of Congress or a convention called for that purpose, and then ratification by three-fourths of the State legislatures or conventions called in each State for ratification.
Federalists: A faction that supported adoption of the Constitution.
Anti-Federalists: A faction that opposed adoption of the Constitution.
Federalist Papers: A series of 85 articles published anonymously in the newspapers The Independent Journal and The New York Packet under the name Publius between October 1787 and August 1788, which remain to this day an invaluable resource for understanding some of the framers’ intentions for the Constitution.
Massachusetts Compromise: A compromise in which four States ratified the Constitution but at the same time sent recommendations for amendments to the Congress.
Bill of Rights: The first ten amendments to the Constitution, which contain rights that many today consider to be fundamental to America.