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Federalism
the division of power between national and state governments, was a key principle established by the Constitution
This balance of power
was seen as essential to protecting the rights of the states while allowing the national government to address issues that affected the entire country
The executive branch
(Led by the president) with enforcing laws
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation were the first rules for the U.S., created in 1781. They gave most power to the states and created a weak central government. The government couldn’t tax or control trade, so they were replaced by the U.S. Constitution in 1789 served as the first governing document for the United States, unifying the newly independent states under a central government with limited power.
which compromise stated that Congress could prohibit the importation of enslaved people after 1808
The slave trade compromise
Seperation of powers
The separation of powers is a political principle where the government is divided into three branches: the legislative (makes laws), the executive (enforces laws), and the judicial (interprets laws). This system is designed to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power and to provide checks and balances.
The division of Powers
outlined in the Constitution, such as the and the federal government’s authority to regulate interstate commerce states’ control over education and local law enforcement
The judicial branch
(headed by the supreme court) with interpreting laws
the United States Constitution
Through intense negotiation, collaboration, and compromise, these delegates crafted a new framework for governance:
led by figures like Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay argued in favor of a strong central government and the benefits of the new Constitution
The System of checks and Balances, and legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
The constitution established a central government that had a system of checks and balances through seperation of powers between the legislative, executive and judicial branches.
System of separation of powers
The constitution established this to prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful
What exemplify the checks and balances system?
The power of president to veto legislation, the ability of congress to override a veto with two thirds majority, and the role of the supreme court in declaring laws unconstitutional, all exemplify the checks and balances system.
The Great Compromise (or Connecticut Compromise),
which resolved the debate between large and small states by creating a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate
Federalists articulated there views in...
Federalist Papers
The preamble of the U.S. constitution
which outlines the goals of the new government, emphasizing the balance between maintaining order and protecting individual freedoms
checks and balances
This was a system designed to create a dynamic and responsive government where each branch would have distinct responsibilities and the ability to limit the powers of the others
Enumerated powes
The Constitution provided for a central government with limited, enumerated powers, ensuring that it could not encroach on the rights of states or individuals
Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention was a meeting in 1787 where delegates created the U.S. Constitution to replace the weak Articles of Confederation and establish a stronger central government.
Anti-Federalists
concerned about the lack of explicit protections for individual rights, opposed ratification and argued for the preservation of states' rights and more localized governance
The Tenth Amendment
further reinforced this balance by reserving to the states all powers not explicitly granted to the federal government
The legislative Branch
(congress) was tasked with making laws
Necessary and Proper Clause
The inclusion of the Necessary and Proper Clause, which allows Congress to make laws required for the execution of its enumerated powers, illustrates the balance between a government that is effective yet constrained
The Three-Fifths Compromise
determined that three-fifths of the enslaved population would be counted for both representation and taxation purposes
Bill of Rights
To secure ratification, Federalists promised to add a Bill of Rights that would enumerate individual liberties and explicitly limit the powers of the federal government. The Bill of Rights, consisting of the first ten amendments to the Constitution, was drafted and ratified shortly after the Constitution itself, fulfilling the promise made during the ratification debates.