Constitution Session I

SESSION 1

Introduction and Preamble

I. Introduction

• A. Who am I (Ron Cline)
• B. Review Session outline
• C. Review bibliography
• D. What we probably won’t cover
   1. Origin of ideas for Constitution
     a. Montesque, Machiavelli, etc.
   2. Court cases except for few most important

II. Introduction to Preamble

• A. Not part of Convention Debate
• B. Added by Committee on Style (Gouvernor Morris)
• C. Not part of body of Constitution

III. Preamble

• A. “We the people…”
    1. Nationalists, Federalists, and Anti-Federalists
• B. “…do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America”
• C. “…in order to…”
    a. “…form a more perfect union…”
      1) better than the Articles of Confederation
    b. “…establish justice…”
      1) federal courts
      2) specific legal rights
    c. “…insure domestic tranquility…”
      1) such as putting down rebellions (Shay’s)
    d. “…provide for the common defence…”
    e. “…promote the general welfare…”
      1) see also Article 1, Section 8
    f. “…secure the blessings of liberty…”

» Download a printable PDF of SESSION 1 here.

QUESTIONS? Please fill out the Constitution Question Form below. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

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