THE MAKING
OF THE
AMERICAN CONSTITUTION
The American Constitutional Conference
CONSITUTION (1789)
timeless words &
living principles **
Constitutional Convention
(May,1787)
Continental Congress
(1774~89)
Articles of Confederation (1777)
Colonist in the New World
(Self-governing)
Religious Reform
*
Mayflower
Compact
(1620)
?Magna
Carta (1215)
Bill of Rights (1791)
Amendment 21st (1933)
(repeal of Prohibition of
alcoholic beverage)
Amendment 26th (1971)
(all citizens of 18 years or
older have right to vote)
Amendment 27th (1992)
(no law shall take effect
on the compensation of
house service
or compensation of service
need a fresh election)
Root
of
C
on
stit
uti
on
?Common law
(judge-made law)
?Law statutes BRITISH
HERITAGE
?Virginia (1607) *
(primitive form of
confederation)
?New England *
(Puritan/ May-
flower Compact)
?Maryland *
(Catholic/freedom
of worship)
?Pennsylvania *
(Quaker/church
relation with
government)
COLONIAL
HERITAGE
(spirits of industrial
self-reliance for
later economic
development)
INTELLECTUALS HERITAGE
?religious
reformation
(away from
Mid-Age
church rules so
as to break the
tie with the
secondary God -
- the church)
?ideological introduction of
intellectuals
(philosophers + politicians)
Thomas Hobbes (1588~1679) *
John Locke (1632~1704) *
Charles de Moutesquieu *
(1689~1755)
Jean-Jacque Rousseau *
(1712~1778)
Set the
power
of
governing
the
country
by 3
branches
LEGISLATIVE
(congress)
Senate headed by Vice-President
House of Representatives
EXECUTIVE
President appoints chief justice
with consent/advice of Senate
JUDICIAL Chief Justice
Supreme Court
5 principles at the heart
of
that living Constitution
?Rule of law
?Republicanism
?Separation of powers
?Check & balance
?National Supremacy
(Article VI) *
THE MAKING OF THE AMERECAN CONSTITUTION
The phrase derives from the line,And this be our motto,'In
God is our trust,',in the battle song that later became the
U.S,national anthem,“The Star-Spangled Banner.”* The
phrase first appeared on U.S,coins in 1864 and became
obligatory on all U.S,currency in 1955,In 1956 it was made
the national motto by act of Congress.
In God We Trust
National Motto of the United States
The United States Seal is
the official seal of the
U.S,government,The
dominant figure is the
American Eagle shown
with its wings spread,
The eagle carries in its
beak a scroll on which
appears the Latin motto
E pluribus unum (“From
many,one”),E pluribus
unum is the United
States motto,appearing
on the nation's coins and
paper money,and on
many of its public
monuments.
The Legislature can,The Executive can,The Judiciary can:
Po
we
r o
f g
ov
er
nm
en
t
leg
isl
ati
ve
Ju
dic
ial
?Make laws
?Confirm
executive
appointments
(Senate)
?Override
executive
veto
(2/3presented)
Ex
ecu
tiv
e
?Impeach
?Veto legislation
?Recommend
legislation
?Enforce laws
?Grant Pardons
?Review
legislative
acts
?Review
executive acts
?Issue injunctions
?Interpret Laws *
BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT
for
the study of American Constitution
http://www.constitution.org/
useful website
for more knowledge of American National
Anthem
http://www.bcpl.net/~etowner/anthem.html
useful website