The impact of constitutional compromises on us today | US government and civics | Khan Academy | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

The compromises made during the Constitutional Convention in 1787 have a significant impact on modern-day America, affecting representation and the electoral process.

Key Insights

• 🏈 The compromises made during the Constitutional Convention continue to impact and shape modern American politics, exemplified by debates around representation and the electoral college.
• 😃 The Great Compromise resolved the tension between big and small states by establishing a two-house system that balanced population-based representation with equal representation for each state.
• 😀 The electoral college was created to ensure a deliberative process in electing the President, though it has faced criticism for distorting the popular vote.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: How did the Great Compromise resolve the population disparities among states in terms of representation?

The Great Compromise established two houses - the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate with equal representation for each state. This compromise allowed for both proportional and equal representation.

Q: What was the purpose of creating the electoral college?

The electoral college was created by the Federalists as a means to temper the "passions of the crowd" and ensure a more deliberative process in electing the President. It allowed for a filter in the voting system.

Q: What was the 3/5 Compromise, and why was it controversial?

The 3/5 Compromise counted slaves as 3/5 of a person for determining representation. This compromise was controversial as it reinforced the institution of slavery and devalued the humanity of enslaved individuals.

Q: How did the compromise on the importation of slaves play out?

The compromise stated that Congress would not pass laws prohibiting the importation of slaves for 20 years. After this period, Thomas Jefferson and Congress officially banned the importation, although it still continued to some extent.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The Great Compromise resolved the population disparity among states by establishing two houses, the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate with equal representation for each state.

• The creation of the electoral college was a compromise between those who favored a participatory democracy and those who wanted to temper the "passions of the crowd."

• The 3/5 Compromise addressed the issue of representation and slavery, counting slaves as 3/5 of a person for determining population-based representation.

• The compromise on the importation of slaves prohibited Congress from passing laws against the importation for 20 years.