Explain the key features of the Constitution:
The Great Compromise -
Limited government -
Three-Fifths Compromise –
The Great Compromise refers to an agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 in the United States to establish a bicameral legislature, consisting of two separate chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. This compromise was crucial in reconciling the competing interests of small and large states by ensuring equal representation in the Senate (with two senators per state) and proportional representation in the House (based on each state's population).
Limited government is one of the fundamental principles of the Constitution. It seeks to restrict the powers of the federal government to prevent it from infringing upon the rights and liberties of individuals. The Constitution establishes a system of checks and balances, separating powers among the three branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial) to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.
The Three-Fifths Compromise was another significant provision in the Constitution. It dealt with the issue of counting slaves in determining population for representation and taxation purposes. Under this compromise, each slave was to be counted as three-fifths of a person for these purposes. This compromise appeased Southern states, as it gave them increased representation in the House of Representatives and thus greater power in the government. However, it also perpetuated the institution of slavery and the unequal treatment of African Americans.