Decision Making: Constitution of 1787

Name: ______Date:______

Problem

(PART 1)Read STUDENT HANDOUT 1: Problem. Answer the questions below just using the information provided in the reading. As a member of the Constitutional Convention, you are considering ways to revise the Articles of Confederation. How will you answer these questions?

Characteristics of the new government: YOUR view (what you think is best):

  1. Will there be a president (a governor for the national government)—yes or no?
  1. If yes, who will elect the president—the people, state legislatures, or a group of educated people themselves selected by the people?
  1. Should there be one vote per state, or should states have votes based on population (e.g., one for every 50,000 people, meaning that more-populous states would have more representatives)?
  1. How many votes will be needed to pass a law—a simple majority, ⅔ majority, or unanimous decision?
  1. How many votes will be needed to revise the Constitution—a simple majority, ⅔ majority, or unanimous decision?
  1. Who should be allowed to vote in elections—all adults, men only, or property-owning men only?
  1. Which of the following powers should the national government have? (Remember, any power you don’t give to the national government could still be given to the states.) Yes/no for each.

a. Taxation—states would be allowed to tax, but so would the national government

b. Defense—the government would be able to raise and direct an army, which it is already doing at this point

c. Ability to regulate trade—to prevent states from instituting tariffs against other states or countries

d. Negotiate treaties with other countries

e. Enforce one currency (one type of money) for all 13 states

OUTCOMES

(PART 2)Read STUDENT HANDOUT 2: Outcomes. Answer the same questions as before using the information provided in the reading. The new Constitution created a strong central government that possessed many more powers than the national government had under the Articles of Confederation. Answer the questions about the changes that were made.

Characteristics of the new government:Actual Characteristics:

  1. Will there be a president (a governor for the national government)—yes or no?
  1. If yes, who will elect the president—the people, state legislatures, or a group of educated people themselves selected by the people?
  1. Should there be one vote per state, or should states have votes based on population (e.g., one for every 50,000 people, meaning that more-populous states would have more representatives)?
  1. How many votes will be needed to pass a law—a simple majority, ⅔ majority, or unanimous decision?
  1. How many votes will be needed to revise the Constitution—a simple majority, ⅔ majority, or unanimous decision?
  1. Who should be allowed to vote in elections—all adults, men only, or property-owning men only?
  1. Which of the following powers should the national government have? (Remember, any power you don’t give to the national government could still be given to the states.) Yes/no for each.

a. Taxation—states would be allowed to tax, but so would the national government

b. Defense—the government would be able to raise and direct an army, which it is already doing at this point

c. Ability to regulate trade—to prevent states from instituting tariffs against other states or countries

d. Negotiate treaties with other countries

e. Enforce one currency (one type of money) for all 13 states

Read the excerpt below and answer the questions at the bottom.

Student Handout 3: Primary Source

The Constitution of the United States (excerpt)

Preamble

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establishJustice, insure domestic Tranquility, providefor the common defence, promote thegeneral Welfare, and secure the Blessingsof Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, doordain and establish this Constitution for theUnited States of America.

Article. I—The Legislative Branch

Section 8: Powers of Congress

The Congress shall have Power to lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts andExcises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

To borrow money on the credit of the United States;

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with theIndian Tribes;

To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject ofBankruptcies throughout the United States;

To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;…

To declare War;…

To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government ofthe United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

QUESTIONS:

  1. What does the Preamble say are the goals of the Constitution?
  1. How well does the Constitution meet the goals listed in the Preamble? Explain.
  1. What are the powers of the legislative branch? Are these powers too much or too little? Explain.
  1. If the Congress can make laws which are “necessary and proper” for carrying out its other powers, what are the limits on Congress’s powers? What laws can it not pass?

Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use only. ©2009 Social Studies School Service.