Foundations of the American Political
System
Foundations of the American Political
System
Preface to the Constitution
Preface to the Constitution• Declaration of Independence (1776)
• Articles of Confederation
• State Constitutions: More Democratic
• Bills of Rights
• Gave legislatures great power
• Rhode Island: elections every 6 months
• Economic Crisis in middle 1780s
• “Democratic” response and Shay
• Declaration of Independence (1776)
• Articles of Confederation
• State Constitutions: More Democratic
• Bills of Rights
• Gave legislatures great power
• Rhode Island: elections every 6 months
• Economic Crisis in middle 1780s
• “Democratic” response and ShayDaniel ShayDaniel Shay
Founders: 55 of 74 attended
Wealthy, educated
Plans
Virginia (Randolph, Large State)
Separation of powers
Lower/Upper chambers representation based on population
Executive and Judiciary chosen by legislature
Founders: 55 of 74 attended
Wealthy, educated
Plans
Virginia (Randolph, Large State)
Separation of powers
Lower/Upper chambers representation based on population
Executive and Judiciary chosen by legislature
Writing The US Constitution I
Writing The US Constitution I
Plans (Continued)
New Jersey (Patterson, Small State)
Unicameral Congress with Equal State Representation
Plural Executive Chosen by Congress
Judiciary Appointed by Executive
Plans (Continued)
New Jersey (Patterson, Small State)
Unicameral Congress with Equal State Representation
Plural Executive Chosen by Congress
Judiciary Appointed by Executive
Writing the Constitution II
Writing the Constitution II
Plans (Continued)
Connecticut Compromise on Representation
Senate: state equality
House: state population
Plans (Continued)
Connecticut Compromise on Representation
Senate: state equality
House: state population
Writing the Constitution IIIWriting the Constitution III
Compromises
Three-fifths Compromise
Compromises
Three-fifths Compromise
Writing the Constitution IV
Writing the Constitution IV
Do you think the Founders envisioned a mixed government?
Do you think the Founders envisioned a mixed government?
Electorate: White, Propertied, MalesElectorate: White, Propertied, Males
House ofRepresentatives
House ofRepresentatives
StateLegislatures
StateLegislatures
SenateSenate
ElectoralCollege
ElectoralCollege
PresidentPresidentSupreme
CourtSupreme
Court
Democratizing the Constitution
Democratizing the Constitution
• Expansion of the franchise (vote): 15th, 19th, & 26th
• 1st Amendment: speech, assembly, press, petition
• 17th Amendment
• 12th Amendment
• Expansion of the franchise (vote): 15th, 19th, & 26th
• 1st Amendment: speech, assembly, press, petition
• 17th Amendment
• 12th Amendment
The U.S. Constitution
Federalist Paper No. 10
• What is a faction?
• What are the two methods of curing the problem of faction?– Destroy liberty that nourishes faction
– Give everyone the same interest/opinion
Federalist Paper No. 10
• What are the causes of faction?– Sown in human nature
– Attachment to political figures, religions, ideologies
– Property
– Arise in industrial societies
Federalist Paper No. 10• What are the three solution to factions?
– First• Enlightened statesmen
• Problem
– Second• Principle of majority rule
• Problem
– Third• Extend the sphere
Federalist Paper No. 10
• Extending the sphere– Geography of small democracies
• Homogenous
40%60%
Federalist Paper No. 10• Extending the sphere
– Geography of large republics• Heterogeneous
• Problem
40%20%
20%
20%
Federalist Paper Nos. 47 & 48
• Why is the separation of powers a solution to the problem of faction?– All governments make, enforce and adjudicate law
– Separation of power reduces the probability that a faction will control all three branches
House Senate
Congress President Supreme Court
Federalist Paper Nos. 48 & 51- What is the problem with merely separating powers?
– One branch may attempt to control other branches
– “a mere demarcation on parchment of the constitutional limits of the several departments is not a sufficient guard against those encroachments which lead to a tyrannical concentration of all powers of government in the same hands.”
• What is the solution to this problem?– Checks and balances
Federalist Paper No. 51
• Checks and Balances– Use human ambition and pride of office to motivate office
holders to protect their branch, the common good, and constitution
Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place.
It may be a reflection on human nature that such such devices should be necessary. . . If man were angels, no government would be necessary. If angel were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.
Checks & Balances
Congress
President
SupremeCourt
Override vetoImpeachmentReject proposed legislationSenate: confirm nominees
Informal ChecksHouse/Senate Different ElectionConstituenciesBill Passed in Same Language
VetoCall Special Session
Rule acts unconstitutional
Change number of justices/jurisdictionImpeach judgesConstitutional amendments to overturn rulings
Rule laws unconstitutional
Appoint JusticesRefuse to implement decision
Final Thoughts
• Constitution– Not a lot of good; not a lot of bad
– Preserve freedom
• Is this Constitution capable of avoiding tyranny? Do you agree with Frank and Ernest?
Has America become more democratic?
Has America become more democratic?
• First Amendment
• Freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly and petition
• 13th Amendment
• 15th, 19th, and 26th Amendments
• 24th Amendment
• 17th Amendment
• 12th Amendment
• First Amendment
• Freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly and petition
• 13th Amendment
• 15th, 19th, and 26th Amendments
• 24th Amendment
• 17th Amendment
• 12th Amendment
Real and Ideal Family Income2009
9%10%
13%17%
12%
10%10%
9%7%
% of AmericanFamilies
Trends in Family Income
Census Bureau
Why is there a growing gap between the highest income and lower income families?
Who Pays What in Taxes?
Sharing the Wealth. . .
The End!The End!