Th C
The
Constitution
tit ti
I. Revolution and
I d
Independence
d
II. Articles of Confederation
III. Constitutional
Convention
IV. Constitutional Basics
V. Ratification
VI. Constitutional Change
R l i andd Independence
Revolution
d
d
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„
„
„
„
„
„
Life in colonial America
Seven Years (French
(
h andd Indian)
d ) War,
W 17561756-63
British demand for higher taxes to pay war debt
(Stamp Act, Tea Tax)
“No taxation
x
without representation”
p
Continental Congresses, 1774 and 1775
Declaration of Independence
Independence, July 4,
4 1776
Trials and Victory
Types of Governmental
Systems
„
„
„
FEDERAL: A system in which power is
divided between the central government and
several regional (sub(sub-national) governments
(i.e., states).
CONFEDERAL: A highly decentralized
governmental system in which the national
government derives limited powers from the
states rather than directly from citizens.
UNITARY: A centralized system in which
regional and local governments are subordinate
to and gain authority from the national
government.
A i l off Confederation
Articles
C fd i
„
„
„
„
„
„
Unicameral Legislature; One State
State--One Vote
No nationall Executive or Judiciary
d
Could not raise taxes directly (‘request from states’)
Unanimity Required on Major Changes to Articles
((e.g.,
g , abilityy to taxx directly)
y)
Could not control foreign affairs, national economy
(state currencies) , or directly tax (‘request
( request through
states’).
Annapolis Convention (1786)
(1786), then…..
then
Sh ’ Rebellion
Shays’s
R b lli
„
„
Uprising of indebted
far r iin western
farmers
tr
Massachusetts led by
former Continental army
Captain Daniel Shays
National government
unable to respond
C
Constitutional
i i l Convention
C
i
„
„
Annapolis, 1786 (only five delegations show up)
Philadelphia,
h l d l h May
May--September
b 1787
C
Competing
i Plans
Pl
Virginia Plan:
Plan: representation New Jersey Plan:
by population
representation by states
Constitutional Disputes
C
p
and
Compromises
Representation in Congress (Big States v. Small States)
G t (or
Great
( Connecticut)
C
ti t) Compromise
C
i
House = proportional representation, directly elected
Senate = equal representation, indirectly elected
Slaveryy (North
(
v. South))
Three--Fifths Compromise; import
Three
import ban after 20 years
Election of President (Direct or by Congress)
Electoral College
C
Constitutional
i i l Basics
B i
„
Separation of Powers
– Congress (Article I, Section 8)
„
„
Checks
C
k and Balances
Federalism -- Layers of Government
– Exclusive
E l i P
Powers (held
(h ld only
l by
b Feds)
Fd)
– Reserved Powers (reserved to states)
– Concurrent Powers (shared, EX: Taxation)
The Federalist Papers
„
„
Written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and
John Jay under pseudonym “Publius”
Publius
‘Op--Ed’ pieces to gain support for new Constitution
‘Op
Madison, Federalist 10
10:: “Liberty is to factions what air is to fire, an
[element] without which it instantly expires. But it could be no
less a folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life,
because it nourishes factions, than it would be to wish the
annihilation
hl
off air, which
h h is essentiall to animall life,
l f because
b
it
imparts to fire its destructive agency.”
The Federalist Papers
„
Madison, Federalist 51:
51: “If men were angels, no
government
gov
nm nt would be
b necessary.
n c a y. Iff angels
ang l were
w to govern
gov n
men, neither external nor internal controls on
government would be necessary. In framing a
government, which
h h is to administered
d
d by
b men over men,
the great difficulty lies in this: you must first oblige the
government to control the governed; and in the next
place oblige it to control itself. A dependence on the
ppeople
p is, no doubt, the primary
p
y control on government;
g
but experience has taught mankind the necessity of
auxiliary precautions.” (Underline added)
C
Constitutional
i i l Amendments
A d
T
TwentyTwenty
-Seventh
S
h Amendment
A d
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„
„
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„
Limits congressional pay raises until an intervening
election;
l ti Proposed
Pr
d in
i 1789;
1789 passed
a d 6 states
tat
Gregory Watson, University of Texas undergrad
wrote paper saying
i amendment
d
still
ill valid
lid
Got a ‘C’!!!
Began letter writing campaign
to get amendment passed
Became 27th Amendment
in
i May
Ma 1992
Gregory Watson showed his
Political Science Prof!!!
Marbury
M b v. Madison
M di (1803)
„
„
„
„
Marbury appointed as Justice of the Peace for DC
by
b Adams
d
Jefferson
ff
administration (and
(
Sec off State James
Madison) refuse to fulfill
Marbury sues
sues, goes to SS. Court under John Marshal
(Adams appointee)
Denied
i d Marbury
M b his
hi job,
j b but
b established
bli h d principle
i i l
of JUDICIAL REVIEW