User:Atcovi/AP Government/Constitutional Convention, Constitution Breakdown

Background
After winning the Revolutionary War, a new government was set upon the US by the Articles of Confederation. This government failed for many reasons: the national gov't failed to negotiate with the states as they acted based on their own desires rather than the country's, issues with commerce and trade, failure to gather a federal army when need be, etc. This raised issues amongst the federal government officials as it seems the Union was collapsing based on an non-functionable government. The Annapolis Convention (1786) was a political meeting that attempted to only "revise the Articles", but the meeting failed as some states failed to send delegates on time while other states did not participate at all. The only delegates that attended were from NY, NJ, Delaware, Pennsylvania and VA. A new convention, the Philadelphia Convention of 1787, was set in stone a year later - this time, proving to be successful.

Resolving Issues
The issues that needed to be addressed:


 * Strong central gov't vs. Strong state gov't
 * Large states vs. Small states
 * Slave states vs. Free states
 * Agrarian vs. Industrial vs. Merchants
 * Wealthy vs. Poor

American Revolution/Chapter 9: Articles of Confederation and American Revolution/Chapter 10: Constitutional Convention- see for the VA/NJ/Hamilton Plans, ordinances, 3/5 compromise, conclusion, etc.

Constitution Breakdown

 * Impeachment - Only the president and judges can be impeached, which is when they're accused of committing unlawful activity.

Article I, Section 1 - Purpose and the structure of the Legislative Branch

 * 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.

Article I, Section 2 - House of Representatives

 * The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.
 * No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.
 * [Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New-York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three].
 * Changed by 14th Amendment
 * When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.
 * The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.

Article I, Section 3 - The Senate

 * The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, [chosen by the Legislature thereof], for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.
 * Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second Year; [and if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies.]
 * Changed by 17th Amendment
 * No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.
 * The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.
 * The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the Office of President of the United States.
 * The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.
 * Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.