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The Constitution in Action: Article II (Lab Team 3)

Focusing on Details: Discussion Topic

All documents and text associated with this activity are printed below, followed by a worksheet for student responses.

Introduction

Carefully examine the document on the screen. As you analyze the document, think about how it connects to Article II of the Constitution and what big idea is contained in it by answering the questions below. Use the magnifying glass icon in the blue menu bar at the bottom of the document to zoom in and get a closer look and/or click on "View Entire Document" for more information.

 



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Worksheet

The Constitution in Action: Article II (Lab Team 3)

Focusing on Details: Discussion Topic

Examine the documents included in this activity and write your response in the space provided.


  • What names do you see in this document?
  • Are there any dates contained in this document? If so, what are they?
  • Are there any locations (cities, states, offices) specified in this document?
  • What is the main idea of this document? What is it about?
  • Why was this document created?
  • How does this document connect to Article II of the U.S. Constitution?
  • What big idea of the Constitution is contained in this document?

Your Response




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Activity Element

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Conclusion

The Constitution in Action: Article II (Lab Team 3)

Focusing on Details: Discussion Topic

Now that you have carefully examined the document, connected it back to the Constitution, and selected a big idea, write the following information:

  • Identify and describe the document.
  • Identify the specific article and section that connects to the document.
  • Quote the actual wording of the Constitution from the article and section identified.
  • Identify the big idea you chose and explain why this document is a good example of that idea.


Your Response




Document

Senate Journal of the First Congress

5/14/1789

In April of 1789, the First Congress of the United States of America met to count the electoral votes for our first President and Vice President. George Washington was elected President and John Adams Vice President. Washington was the only man ever elected President with a unanimous vote.

When a person votes for a Presidential candidate in the popular election, they're actually voting for the slate of electors representing their choice for President. Those electors meet in their state and vote for President. They send their state's electoral votes to the President of the United States Senate and Congress counts the electoral votes in a joint session of Congress.

Transcript

[in center] 7.

1789
April 6th

George Washington Esq.
New Hampshire 5
Massachusetts 10
Connecticut 7
New Jersey 6
Pennsylvania 10
Delaware 3
Maryland 6
Virginia 10
South Carolina 7
Georgia 5
[total at bottom] 69

John Adams Esq.
New Hampshire 5
Massachusetts 10
Connecticut 5
New Jersey 1
Pennsylvania 8
Delaware _
Maryland _
Virginia 5
South Carolina _
Georgia _
[total at bottom] 34

Samuel Huntington Esq.
New Hampshire _
Massachusetts _
Connecticut 2
New Jersey _
Pennsylvania _
Delaware _
Maryland _
Virginia _
South Carolina _
Georgia _
[total at bottom] 2

John Jay Esq.
New Hampshire _
Massachusetts _
Connecticut _
New Jersey 5
Pennsylvania _
Delaware 3
Maryland _
Virginia 1
South Carolina _
Georgia _
[total at bottom] 9

John Hancock Esq.
New Hampshire _
Massachusetts _
Connecticut _
New Jersey _
Pennsylvania 2
Delaware _
Maryland _
Virginia 1
South Carolina 1
Georgia _
[total at bottom] 4

Robert H. Harrison Esq.
New Hampshire _
Massachusetts _
Connecticut _
New Jersey _
Pennsylvania _
Delaware _
Maryland 6
Virginia _
South Carolina _
Georgia _
[total at bottom] 6

George Clinton Esq.
New Hampshire _
Massachusetts _
Connecticut _
New Jersey _
Pennsylvania _
Delaware _
Maryland _
Virginia 3
South Carolina _
Georgia _
[total at bottom] 3

John Rutledge Esq.
New Hampshire _
Massachusetts _
Connecticut _
New Jersey _
Pennsylvania _
Delaware _
Maryland _
Virginia _
South Carolina 6
Georgia _
[total at bottom] 6

John Milton Esq.
New Hampshire _
Massachusetts _
Connecticut _
New Jersey _
Pennsylvania _
Delaware _
Maryland _
Virginia _
South Carolina _
Georgia 2
[total at bottom] 2

James Armstrong Esq.
New Hampshire _
Massachusetts _
Connecticut _
New Jersey _
Pennsylvania _
Delaware _
Maryland _
Virginia _
South Carolina _
Georgia 1
[total at bottom] 1

Edward Telfair Esq.
New Hampshire _
Massachusetts _
Connecticut _
New Jersey _
Pennsylvania _
Delaware _
Maryland _
Virginia _
South Carolina _
Georgia 1
[total at bottom] 1

Benjamin Lincoln Esq.
New Hampshire _
Massachusetts _
Connecticut _
New Jersey _
Pennsylvania _
Delaware _
Maryland _
Virginia _
South Carolina _
Georgia 1
[total at bottom] 1

Whereby it appears that George Washington, Esq. Was unanimously elected President;_ And John Adams Esq. Was duly elected Vice President, Of the United States of America.

Mr. Madison came from the House of Representatives with the following verbal message:_

Mr. President,
I am directed by the House of Representatives to inform the Senate, that the House have agreed, that the notifications of the election of the President and of the Vice-President of the
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. Senate.
National Archives Identifier: 1943527
Full Citation: Senate Journal of the First Congress; 5/14/1789; (SEN 1A-A1); Journals and Minute Books, 1797 - 1968; Records of the U.S. Senate, ; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/senate-journal-of-the-first-congress, March 28, 2024]


Senate Journal of the First Congress

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