U.S.+Constitution

__**EXCELLENT INFORMATION!!!!! LOTS OF EXAMPLES ON CHECKS AND BALANCES!!!!**__

__**WHY CHANGED THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION????**__

-Wanted to amend the articles, but instead rewrote a whole new constitution. Reasons why articles were bad -No president or executive branch --> no one to enforce laws -National Court System --> too many interpretations -No officials to enforce laws --> No point -Power to tax --> NO $ for govt. -Power to regulate trade --> trade deficits, inflation, confusion between states -The New Jersey and Virginia Plan --> GREAT COMPROMISE! -Plan for congress layout -New Jersey Plan: Weak executive, controlled by legislative, unicameral, equal representation, Supreme Court, Levey Taxes, Regulate Trade -Virginia Plan: Strong executive, chosen by legislature, carries out laws, bicameral legislative, Supreme Court, Lower Courts, Levy Taxes, regulate trade -Great Compromise -Bicameral government -2 senators for each state, house of reps. based on pop. -electoral college -interstate commerce** -Strong National Government -Constitution that was vital -Anti Federalist Wanted... -Modification of articles -Create council to check president powers -Military t be handled by the states** -Narrow jurisdiction by supreme court -No congressional power to tax -NOT THE BEST IDEA, BUT THEY DID GET A BILL OF RIGHTS! Checks and Balances
 * Constitutional Convention
 * Federalist v. Anti federalist**
 * -Federalist Wanted...
 * Legislative Branch**
 * **Checks on the Executive**
 * **Impeachment power (House)**
 * **Trial of impeachments (Senate)**
 * **Selection of the President (House) and Vice President (Senate) in the case of no majority of electoral votes**
 * **May override Presidential vetoes**
 * **Senate approves departmental appointments**
 * **Senate approves treaties and ambassadors**
 * **Approval of replacement Vice President**
 * **Power to declare war**
 * **Power to enact taxes and allocate funds**
 * **President must, from time-to-time, deliver a State of the Union address**
 * **Checks on the Judiciary**
 * **Senate approves federal judges**
 * **Impeachment power (House)**
 * **Trial of impeachments (Senate)**
 * **Power to initiate constitutional amendments**
 * **Power to set courts inferior to the Supreme Court**
 * **Power to set jurisdiction of courts**
 * **Power to alter the size of the Supreme Court**
 * **Checks on the Legislature - because it is bicameral, the Legislative branch has a degree of self-checking.**
 * **Bills must be passed by both houses of Congress**
 * **House must originate revenue bills**
 * **Neither house may adjourn for more than three days without the consent of the other house**
 * **All journals are to be published**
 * Executive Branch**
 * **Checks on the Legislature**
 * Veto power
 * Vice President is President of the Senate
 * **Commander in chief of the military**
 * **Recess appointments**
 * **Emergency calling into session of one or both houses of Congress**
 * **May force adjournment when both houses cannot agree on adjournment**
 * **Compensation cannot be diminished**
 * **Checks on the Judiciary**
 * **Power to appoint judges**
 * **Pardon power**
 * **Checks on the Executive**
 * **Vice President and Cabinet can vote that the President is unable to discharge his duties**


 * Judicial Branch**
 * **Checks on the Legislature**
 * **Judicial review**
 * **Seats are held on good behavior**
 * **Compensation cannot be diminished**
 * **Checks on the Executive**
 * **Judicial review**
 * **Chief Justice sits as President of the Senate during presidential impeachment**