Thomas Lorenzo Reynolds

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

What does that mean?

“We the People of the United States,”

September 11-14, 1786, 12 representatives from 5 states (New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Virginia) met in Annapolis, Maryland to discuss adjustments to the Articles of Confederation. That first meeting they believed not enough states were represented so they had called for a constitutional convention.

They held the constitutional convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from May 25 – September 17, 1787. There were 4 plans for the Constitution that came from the Philadelphia Convention

1. Virginia Plan
   • Each state had a set of representatives based on population that would be voted into the lower house
   • The lower house would chose among themselves those for an upper house
   • Became known as the “Large State” plan
   • Executive would exist to ensure the will of the legislature was carried out
2. 2. Pickney Plan
   • Wasn’t discussed much, but the Legislature would handle disputes between states
3. New Jersey Plan
   • Known as the “Small State” plan
   • Each State got 1 representative
4. Hamilton Plan
   • Known as the “British Plan”
   • Wanted to eliminate state sovereignty – make just one nation.
   • The lower house elected by the people
   • Upper house chosen by electors – upper house representatives would serve for life
   • Executive Governor also elected by electors, had absolute veto power and served for life
   • State governors would be elected by national legislature

They decided to come to what is known as:

The Connecticut Compromise (“The Great Compromise”)

• Created the Census (every 10 years)
• Lower house and upper house selected by the people
• Lower house based on population, upper house got 2 representatives per state
• Executive chosen by the legislature
• Judiciary with life-terms of service and vague powers
• National legislature would be able to veto state laws

So, the people were given the right to chose who would govern them, and each branch had someone to check them (setting up the system of Checks and Balances).

“in Order to form a more perfect Union,”
The national government will be fair across different state boundaries, helping keep the union together.

“establish Justice,”
The government's responsiblity is to protect those who do obey the law and punish those who do not.

“insure domestic Tranquility,”
In order that all may lead a tranquil and quiet life, according to their own conscience, in a godlike and dignified manner.

“provide for the common defense,”
All life is held as sacred, with the protection of innocent life at the base of capital punishment. The government is to provided an army for protection from external threats.

“promote the general Welfare,”
Civil rulers are servants for the general good. All classes of citizens are to be represented equally by any laws the government may pass. The government may not provide or aid special interest groups above others. It is to promote, not provide, for the people.

“and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity,”
As stated in the Declaration of Independence, blessings are endowed upon men by their creator, not a privilege granted by government. These blessings include life, liberty, and property. Government cannot provide these, only secure them.

“do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

The Constitution of the United States (June 21, 1788)

Articles:

1. Defined Legislative Powers
2. Defined Executive Powers
3. Defined Judicial Powers
4. Defined States Powers and Limits
5. Defines how Amendments are made
6. Defines Federal Government Power
7. Ratification of the Constitution
   “The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.”

Bill of Rights:

1. Inalienable Rights: Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Press, Freedom of Assembly, and Freedom of Petition
2. Right to bear arms
3. Quartering: prohibit government from using private homes as quarters for soldiers during peacetime without consent.
4. Protect against search and seizure without a warrant or probable cause.
5. Protects from punishment without due process, forced witness against yourself, double jeopardy, and taking property without just compensation.
6. Guarantees a speedy trial, trial by jury, right to legal counsel, accused may require witnesses…
7. Trial by jury in civil cases
8. Cruel and Unusual punishment
9. Other rights not mentioned are not to be infringed upon
10. State Rights – what is not mentioned in the constitution is a right of the state
    
    Subsequent Amendments:
    
    
11. (1795): Clarifies judicial power over foreign nationals, and limits ability of citizens to sue states in federal courts and under federal law.
12. (1804): Changes the method of presidential elections so that members of the Electoral College cast separate ballots for president and vice president.
13. (1865): Abolishes slavery and authorizes Congress to enforce abolition.
14. (1868): Defines a set of guarantees for United States citizenship; prohibits states from abridging citizens' privileges or immunities and rights to due process and the equal protection of the law; repeals the Three-fifths compromise; prohibits repudiation of the federal debt caused by the Civil War.
15. (1870): Prohibits the federal government and the states from using a citizen's race, color, or previous status as a slave as a qualification for voting.
16. (1913): Authorizes unapportioned federal taxes on income.
17. (1913): Converts state election of senators to popular election.
18. (1919): Prohibited the manufacturing, importing, and exporting of alcoholic beverages. Repealed by the Twenty-First Amendment.
19. (1920): Prohibits the federal government and the states from forbidding any citizen to vote due to their sex.
20. (1933): Changes details of congressional and presidential terms and of presidential succession.
21. (1933): Repeals Eighteenth Amendment. Permits states to prohibit the importation of alcoholic beverages.
22. (1951): Limits president to two terms.
23. (1961): Grants presidential electors to the District of Columbia.
24. (1964): Prohibits the federal government and the states from requiring the payment of a tax as a qualification for voting for federal officials.
25. (1967): Changes details of presidential succession, provides for temporary removal of president, and provides for replacement of the vice president.
26. (1971): Prohibits the federal government and the states from forbidding any citizen of age 18 or greater to vote on account of their age.
27. (1992): Limits congressional pay raises

The Articles of Confederation were in effect from November 1777 until June 28, 1788

1. Establishes the name of the confederation as "The United States of America."
2. Asserts the equality of the separate states with the confederation government, i.e. "Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this Confederation expressly delegated."
3. Establishes the United States as a new nation, a sovereign union of sovereign states, united ". . . for their common defense, the security of their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare, binding themselves to assist each other, against all force offered to, or attacks made upon them . . . ," while declaring that the union is "perpetual," and can only be altered by approval of Congress with ratification by all the state legislatures.
4. Establishes freedom of movement–anyone can pass freely between states, excluding "paupers, vagabonds, and fugitives from justice." All people are entitled to the rights established by the state into which he travels. If a crime is committed in one state and the perpetrator flees to another state, he will be extradited to and tried in the state in which the crime was committed.
5. Allocates one vote in the Congress of the Confederation (United States in Congress Assembled) to each state, which was entitled to a delegation of between two and seven members. Members of Congress were appointed by state legislatures; individuals could not serve more than three out of any six years.
6. Only the central government is allowed to conduct foreign relations and to declare war. No states may have navies or standing armies, or engage in war, without permission of Congress (although the state militias are encouraged).
7. When an army is raised for common defense, colonels and military ranks below colonel will be named by the state legislatures.
8. Expenditures by the United States will be paid by funds raised by state legislatures, and apportioned to the states based on the real property values of each.
9. Defines the powers of the central government: to declare war, to set weights and measures (including coins), and for Congress to serve as a final court for disputes between states.
10. Defines a Committee of the States to be a government when Congress is not in session.
11. Requires nine states to approve the admission of a new state into the confederacy; pre-approves Canada, if it applies for membership.
12. Reaffirms that the Confederation accepts war debt incurred by Congress before the Articles.
13. Declares that the Articles are perpetual, and can only be altered by approval of Congress with ratification by all the state legislatures.