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!