Foundations of the
American Political System
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
Daniel Shay
Writing The US
Constitution I
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 Constitution II
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 III
Plans (Continued)
Connecticut Compromise on
Representation
Senate: state equality
House: state population
Writing the Constitution IV
Compromises
Three-fifths Compromise
Do you think the Founders
envisioned a mixed government?
Electoral
College
President
Supreme
Court
Senate
State
Legislatures
House of
Representatives
Electorate: White, Propertied, Males
Democratizing the Constitution
•
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
60%
40%
Federalist Paper No. 10
• Extending the sphere
– Geography of large republics
• Heterogeneous
• Problem
20%
20%
20%
40%
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
Congress
House
Senate
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
President
Override veto
Impeachment
Reject proposed legislation
Senate: confirm nominees
Rule acts unconstitutional
Veto
Call Special Session
Congress
Informal Checks
House/Senate Different Election
Constituencies
Bill Passed in Same Language
Appoint Justices
Refuse to implement decision
Rule laws unconstitutional
Supreme
Court
Change number of justices/jurisdiction
Impeach judges
Constitutional amendments to overturn rulings
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?
•
First Amendment
•
Freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly and
petition
•
13th Amendment
•
15th, 19th, and 26th Amendments
•
24th Amendment
•
17th Amendment
•
12th Amendment
% of
American
Families
9%
10%
13%
17%
12%
10%
10%
9%
7%
Real and Ideal Family Income
2009
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!