The Constitutional ConventionThe Constitutional Convention

Delegates from the states met to revise Delegates from the states met to revise the Articles of Confederation. However, it the Articles of Confederation. However, it soon became obvious that a new soon became obvious that a new constitution was needed. To maintain constitution was needed. To maintain secrecy, the delegates met in a closed secrecy, the delegates met in a closed building. The delegates also did not talk to building. The delegates also did not talk to other people about their business until the other people about their business until the new constitution was completed.new constitution was completed.

The Constitutional Convention The Constitutional Convention

Two plans of representative government Two plans of representative government emerged during the Constitutional emerged during the Constitutional Convention.Convention.

Both of these plans created some Both of these plans created some controversy.controversy.

The Virginia PlanThe Virginia Plan

The Virginia Plan created a strong national The Virginia Plan created a strong national government with three branches.government with three branches.

The Legislative branch would create laws. The Legislative branch would create laws.

The Executive branch would carry out the The Executive branch would carry out the laws.laws.

The Judicial branch would decide if the The Judicial branch would decide if the laws were carried out correctly. laws were carried out correctly.

The Virginia PlanThe Virginia Plan

The legislature would be divided into two The legislature would be divided into two houses.houses.

Seats in the houses would be awarded based on Seats in the houses would be awarded based on the population of the state. Members of the the population of the state. Members of the lower house would be elected by voters in each lower house would be elected by voters in each state. The upper house would be chosen by the state. The upper house would be chosen by the lower house from candidates nominated by state lower house from candidates nominated by state legislatures.legislatures.

The Virginia PlanThe Virginia Plan

The executive was chosen by the The executive was chosen by the legislature for one term.legislature for one term.

The legislature would also appoint the The legislature would also appoint the judges to one (or more) supreme court judges to one (or more) supreme court and lower national courts.and lower national courts.

The New Jersey PlanThe New Jersey Plan

The New Jersey Plan also called for three The New Jersey Plan also called for three branches of government.branches of government.

But the plan called for only one house in But the plan called for only one house in the legislature.the legislature.

Members of the national legislature would Members of the national legislature would be chosen by state legislatures.be chosen by state legislatures.

Each state would have one vote in the Each state would have one vote in the legislature.legislature.

The New Jersey PlanThe New Jersey Plan

A multi-person executive would be elected A multi-person executive would be elected by the legislature.by the legislature.

The executives would then appoint judges The executives would then appoint judges to the Supreme Court.to the Supreme Court.

Laws passed by the legislature were to be Laws passed by the legislature were to be followed by the states, and the executives followed by the states, and the executives would force states and individuals to obey would force states and individuals to obey the law.the law.

The Great CompromiseThe Great Compromise

Roger Sherman of Connecticut is Roger Sherman of Connecticut is credited with proposing credited with proposing The Great The Great

CompromiseCompromise..

The Great CompromiseThe Great Compromise

Delegates from more populous states liked the Virginia plan. They felt that larger states should have more representation in the legislature. Less populous states liked the New Jersey plan because they thought that more populous states would have too much power in the legislature. They feared the possibility that they would be outvoted in Congress.

The Great CompromiseThe Great Compromise

1.1. There would be two houses in the legislature.There would be two houses in the legislature.

2.2. The lower house, or House of The lower house, or House of Representatives, would have members elected Representatives, would have members elected by popular vote.by popular vote.

3.3. Seats in this house would be awarded to Seats in this house would be awarded to states based on population.states based on population.

4.4. The upper house, or Senate, would be chosen The upper house, or Senate, would be chosen by state legislatures. There would be two by state legislatures. There would be two seats in this house no matter what the size of seats in this house no matter what the size of the state was. the state was.

The Electoral CollegeThe Electoral College

The Convention agreed to a The Convention agreed to a one person executive, but one person executive, but

disagreed about the term of disagreed about the term of service and the method of service and the method of

selection.selection.

The Electoral CollegeThe Electoral College

The legislatures in each state would choose The legislatures in each state would choose electors equal in number to their total number of electors equal in number to their total number of representatives in Congress.representatives in Congress.The electors would then vote for two people, one The electors would then vote for two people, one of whom could not be from their state.of whom could not be from their state.The person with the most votes would become The person with the most votes would become the President, while the runner-up would be the the President, while the runner-up would be the vice-president.vice-president.If there were a tie, the House of Representatives If there were a tie, the House of Representatives would decide the election, with each state would decide the election, with each state having one vote.having one vote.

The Electoral CollegeThe Electoral College

The President would serve for a term of The President would serve for a term of four years.four years.

There was no limit to the number of terms There was no limit to the number of terms that a President could serve.that a President could serve.

The Three-fifths Compromise The Three-fifths Compromise

Delegates at the Convention disagreed over Delegates at the Convention disagreed over slavery. They could not decide whether or not slavery. They could not decide whether or not slaves counted as part of the population. slaves counted as part of the population. Population size would determine representation Population size would determine representation in government.in government.

Southern states wanted to count slave Southern states wanted to count slave populations as part of the regular population. populations as part of the regular population. This would inflate the number of representatives This would inflate the number of representatives they could send to Congress. they could send to Congress.

The Three-fifths CompromiseThe Three-fifths Compromise

Northern states said that slave populations could Northern states said that slave populations could not count if the slaves did not have the right to not count if the slaves did not have the right to vote. The Three-Fifths Compromise stated that vote. The Three-Fifths Compromise stated that three fifths of the slave population would be three fifths of the slave population would be counted. Northern states agreed that the slave counted. Northern states agreed that the slave trade could not be outlawed for 20 years.trade could not be outlawed for 20 years.The Constitution recognized slavery in that it The Constitution recognized slavery in that it stated that run-away slaves would be returned to stated that run-away slaves would be returned to the owner who claimed the slave.the owner who claimed the slave.