U.S.+Constitution+Activity

Everyone is required to record the answers for this activity. Use your textbook Ch.5 section 3 as well as p. 183, 184, 201.

Part 1 What is a compromise? An agreement in which all sides give up something in order to come to terms. For the three compromises below, identify the sides involved and what they gained and gave up in order to make an agreement. 1. What were the terms of the Great Compromise? 2. What were the terms of the Three-Fifths Compromise? 3. What were the terms of the Commerce Compromise? 4. For the compromises above, did any side get the better part of the agreement? If so, why did the other side agree to those terms? 5. What were possible reasons the northern states opposed slavery?

Part 2 A. Separation of Powers - Explain how the following works (or doesn't) under the US Constitution: 1. The president declares war on North Korea. 2. The Supreme Court reviews a law and determines it is unconstitutional and then creates it a new law for the country. 3. Congress wants to improve the economy so it works out a free-trade agreement with Kazakhstan.

B. Checks and balances - Explain how other branches could check the authority of the branch that initiates 1. The current Secretary of Defense (cabinet position) resigns and the president decides to appoint his university friend, who has no military or government experience. Since it is the president’s authority to appoint cabinet members, who can prevent such an abuse of power? 2. The Congress decides they are overworked and underpaid. To remedy this, they vote (250 in favor, 185 against in the H. of Reps and 55 to 45 in the Senate) on a bill to raise their salary 100% beginning in the next month. Congress has the right to pass laws so what can be done to prevent this abuse of power? (refer to Amendment 27 ) 3. After the Supreme Court rules a law is unconstitutional, what can be done to implement something that most of the country favored?

Part 3 For homework, continue working on your essay outline. We will work on rough drafts next class.