Us_Constitution

Abstract In this paper I will read the 1787 Constitution and pick at least three interesting facts that I did not know about the Constitution of the United States. The facts will be contained in the Constitution. I will list and summarize/explain these facts. I will also Pick one founding father and give a brief summary of his biography. I will discuss the role he played at the constitutional convention of 1787. Explore the US Constitution Assignment I had always known that we had three branches of government but as to why, how and who said we did, I did not know. I will start my paper at where the constitution started, Article 1 Section 1 “All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.” where our Founding Fathers created a three-branch system of government. They created the executive, legislative, and judicial branches where each branch is checking each other’s actions, with the legislator giving the people representation. Article 1 Section 1, in a small, simple paragraph, describes how this Legislator is broken down into two separate branches, or as it is known, a bicameral legislature. So, our brilliant Founding Fathers gave us the roadmap for a bicameral legislator, the House and the Senate. Since the House contained more representatives per populace of their state, their job is to listen to the people’s needs and desires. The Senates job is to make sure the House does not reach too far, and cut them back if needed. James Madison, Known as the father of our Constitution, the oldest of 10 children, born in 1751, and in 1780 was chosen to represent Virginia in the Continental Congress (1780-83 and 1786-88). Although originally the youngest delegate, he played a major role in the deliberations of that body. He thought it of great importance to review all past republics that failed, in order not to repeat their mistakes, and also, to have written Constitution. Like France, who ended up in horrible bloodshed and under a ruthless dictator Napoleon, followed a different path. Although they had a written constitution, it did not have the same checks and balances that we did. James Madison, while waiting for the other delegates to arrive at the convention, etched out the Virginia Plan, where he writes about his plan for the government. There was to be a bicameral legislature, but their financial contributions or their populace would represent the number of delegates to a state. When James Madison introduced this plan to his fellow delegates, it did not sit well with the representatives from states like Connecticut or Rhode Island, the smaller states. This argument ended in the Connecticut Compromise, or the Great Compromise of July 29, 1787. This new compromise still excepted the plan of having a bicameral legislature, but only one branch would the number of delegated be based on population, “The House”, and the “Senate” would then have an equal amount of delegates, two per state. The next fact I saw that I did not know was in the Constitution was the one containing the “Electoral College” process. This is found in Article 2, Section 1, Clause 2. This Clause describes in detail a very important process in our Presidential Elections. It states “Each state shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.” What exactly is an “Elector” I asked myself. Our founding fathers wanted to provide America with a Presidential Election process like no other. With this in mind, they created the “Electoral College”. On election day, many Americans believe that they are voting directly for the candidate whom they want too become President. This, in technical ways, is incorrect. The President is elected by a body called the Electoral College, which is made up of representatives from each state, who votes for the candidate who received the majority vote on their state. The Electoral College is very important to Americas Election System, and sadly many Americans are uneducated about the Colleges role. Our Founders wanted the College in place to prevent Texas, New York, and California, from dominating the elections, These state still do contain more electorates the smaller states, but the playing field is lowered from a gap of millions of votes, to a gap of only tens of votes. The final fact I did not know that was written into the Constitution was the compensation “Paycheck” for the President. Article 2, Section 1, Clause 7, states, “The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his service, a Compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall be elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United Stated, or any of them.” This clause deals with the issue of the President’s salary. The President’s salary is on a fixed rate, meaning it does not and will not rise and fall during his Presidency. It was also interesting to see that “States” do not pay our President, as to help preserve the system of federalism by preventing on states form seeking undue favor through payments to the President, like a “Bribe.” It is also interesting that the Constitution does not mention the payment of the Vice President. However, our Founding Father did agree to pay a small sum to the VP. I will end my paper with the start of the Constitution, which was also the last to be written, and probably the most known part of the Constitution “The Preamble.” Pennsylvanian Gouveneur Morris composed the Preamble, who, in this short paragraph sums up what the Constitution and the Government it created was meant to accomplish. Gouverneur Morris leaves us with the phrase “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Prosperity,” reminding us that we have uphold our duties in order for the next generation to enjoy the freedoms we enjoy today. Works Cited National Archives. (2013, Sept 15). Constitution of the United States. (T. N. Administration, Editor) Retrieved Sept 15, 2013, from The Charters of Freedom: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.html National Constitution Center. (2013, sept 15). Explore the Constitution. Retrieved sept 15, 2013, from National Constitution Center: https://angel.spcollege.edu/section/content/default.asp'WCI=pgDisplay&WCU=CRSCNT&ENTRY_ID=35092B9F6BEC472F93213FB49650251A The Regents of the University of California. (2012, Sept 15). US Goverment & Politics. Retrieved Sept 15, 2013, from The Constitution: https://angel.spcollege.edu/section/content/default.asp'WCI=pgDisplay&WCU=CRSCNT&ENTRY_ID=3341F8A200114F68AFD96FB58FA2F10A Bibliography National Archives. (2013, Sept 15). Constitution of the United States. (T. N. Administration, Editor) Retrieved Sept 15, 2013, from The Charters of Freedom: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.html National Constitution Center. (2013, sept 15). Explore the Constitution. Retrieved sept 15, 2013, from National Constitution Center: https://angel.spcollege.edu/section/content/default.asp'WCI=pgDisplay&WCU=CRSCNT&ENTRY_ID=35092B9F6BEC472F93213FB49650251A The Regents of the University of California. (2012, Sept 15). US Goverment & Politics. Retrieved Sept 15, 2013, from The Constitution: https://angel.spcollege.edu/section/content/default.asp'WCI=pgDisplay&WCU=CRSCNT&ENTRY_ID=3341F8A200114F68AFD96FB58FA2F10A