Constitution Powerpoint

1. The United
States
Constitution
The following questions will be answered:
When was the Constitution written? Why? By who? And where?
What events led to the Constitution being written? And what documents it was modeled
after?
What problems did the Constitution solve and what are some of it’s limitations?
Mackenzie
Gibson

2. What is the United States Constitution?
The Constitution is the framework that was to be used for the US
government, in order to make it run as smoothly as possible. It explains
checks and balances, popular sovereignty, limited government, judicial
review, federalism, and separation of powers. It also outlines ways to keep
everything in check and equal to everyone in the country.

3. Who? When? Where?
The Constitution was written in Philadelphia in 1787, by the Delegates of the
Philadelphia Convention:
Governor Morris of Pennsylvania, John Dickinson, John Adams Thomas
Jefferson, James Madison, James Wilson and more.
Note that all above worked on it and that the Constitution was not written
by one person only

4. The Constitution was written in order to accomplish six different goals. The
Preamble states these goals to create “a more perfect union”, “establish justice”,
“ensure domestic tranquility”, “provide for the common defense”, “promote the
general welfare”, and to “secure the blessings of liberty”. They wanted to accomplish
these goals for several reasons; to create a stronger relationship between the national
and state governments, to create fair and reasonable laws, to create and keep peace,
to defend against foreign attacks, to create a strong government that can protect the
nation, and to protect the liberties just recently won in the American Revolution.
It was also written to be the framework for the United States Government and how it
should work. It also explains the three branches of government: the Legislative,
Executive, and Judicial branches. And it explains how to keep the power equal
throughout.
WHY?

5. Events Leading to the Constitution
The American Revolution
The United States wanted to be free of King George III
The American Revolution really pushed the US into wanted to establish its’ own form
of democracy that would work well in their country. The Revolution made them
very weak, so change was needed. Many also wanted to be independent of Britain’s
King George III. During this time, the US gained many new liberties that they wanted
to protect, they wanted freedom and equal rights. Without the Constitution it was
likely that the government could suppress the citizens from their liberties.
Therefore, those who were in charge and wrote the United States Constitution
looked at Britain and the American Revolution to have a starting point in which to
create an equal society where nobody could have too much power.

6. What documents was the Constitution modeled after?
The Magna Carta, which outlined the liberties in England in 1215
The Articles of Confederation, which was written during the Revolutionary war and
served as the United State’s first constitution
The Declaration of Independence, written in 1776 declaring independence of the king
and stated that the US was now an independent nation

7. What problems in our society did the
Constitution solve?
The Constitution solved the problem of power. It showed a way in which
government could run with power distributed evenly in order to prevent any one group
or leader to become to powerful and possibly create some sort of dictatorship. The
Constitution solved this problem through the creation of the three branches of
government and creating the idea of checks and balances. Those involved in making the
Constitution found a way to make sure every right is protected and all people are equal,
including the president who has to follow the same laws.

8. LIMITATIONS
Some limitations that were created in the Constitution were created due to the fact
that some parts and points of it could have different interpretations. Therefore, it
makes it hard to create punishments or going against something that is considered
to be unconstitutional. In other terms of limitations, the Constitution, like
mentioned before, created different limitations on the government, that kept the
people in charge and prevented any one person from becoming too powerful for
too long. These types of limitations are completely different, one is sort of a
problem, the other an answer. The fact that some of the Constitution is open to
interpretations can create some problems today, especially in court cases, where
the judges have to use their interpretation of the Constitution and what is
considered unconstitutional.

9. How would I improve the US Constitution?
I’m not sure that I can really think of anything to improve the US Constitution.
Yes, some parts may be out of date, but that’s why there have already been 27 changes
to it. The Constitution was created as a framework for a reason, to be something that
can be interpreted in different ways, in order to work for newer generations. This
makes the constitution genius and therefore hard to think of what change could
improve it.

10. Is the Constitution as relevant today as it was when
it was first created?
I feel that the Constitution is as relevant today as it possibly can be.
Obviously it is not as relevant because it was not written during this time period, it’s
been over 200 years since it was originally written. However, I still feel that it is very
relevant because it CAN be modified due to different societal interpretations of the
Constitution and what it means. It is still used very much today because we still have
the three branches of government and keep the power equal between them and the
president and do not allow the power to get out of hand.