Final answer:
The framers of the Constitution designed a flexible system of government that balanced national and state powers, known as federalism, and included a system of checks and balances to protect individual rights and liberties.
Step-by-step explanation:
The framers of the Constitution were motivated by the need to create a functional and enduring system of government following the failure of the Articles of Confederation. They aimed to design a government that would balance powers between the national and state levels—a principle known as federalism. In crafting the Constitution, the framers incorporated flexibility into the governmental framework to allow for both the nation and the states to effectively respond to the evolving needs of the people while also providing room for the expansion of the young nation.
To safeguard against the potential dominance of a single faction and to protect individual liberties, the framers introduced a system of checks and balances, mandatory separation of powers, and a process of ratification that sidestepped existing state governments, anticipating their reluctance to cede power.
When considering the Senate, the framers deliberately designed it to filter the decisions of the more hastily acting House of Representatives. This bicameral legislature was a result of the Connecticut Compromise, which sought to appease both larger and smaller states, giving states equal representation in the Senate regardless of size.
The process of ratification itself was also unique, as the framers required conventions rather than state legislatures to approve the new Constitution, ensuring that it was considered by delegates reflecting a federalist majority, which facilitated a more certain path to ratification.