lecture 3: the american republic and constitution
DESCRIPTION
Lecture 3: The American republic and Constitution. Origins of Republicanism in the US. Republicanism = Idea that the people (through their representatives) can rule themselves. I. Models from Antiquity. The rise of Greek city-states (800-500 BC) Athens--small, turbulent, and “democratic” - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Lecture 3: The American republic and Constitution
Origins of Republicanism in the US
Republicanism = Idea that the people (through their representatives) can
rule themselves
I. Models from Antiquity• The rise of Greek city-states (800-500 BC)- Athens--small, turbulent, and “democratic”
• The Roman Republic- creation of the “Senate”--indirectly representative
govt.- large, powerful, lasted 100s of years- as American ideal--politics, art, architecture, legend
Washington in a toga
II. Experience of Self-rule
• A history of administering their own affairs for almost 150 years
Virginia House of Burgesses
Creation of a Republican national govt
• An “experiment” in republican govt--many expected to fail
• Americans’ sense of state identity, and fear of centralization
• First try: The Articles of Confederation (drafted in 1777)
Article I. The Stile of this Confederacy shall be "The United States of America."
Article II. Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence. . .
Features/Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
• No U.S. judiciary to settle disputes between states
• No real executive power to carry out or enforce federal (national) laws
• 9 of 13 states needed to approve legislation
• No power to collect taxes directly
• No power to raise an army directly
Shays Rebellion 1786
Another attempt at a federal (national) govt
• 1787 States agree to send reps to Philadelphia to amend Articles
• Debates and compromises:- Virginia Plan vs New Jersey Plan- Senate and House apportioned differently
- Slavery and direct taxation/representation- “the 3/5 compromise”
- Federalists vs Anti-federalists- Bill of Rights added
signing the Constitution
Madison and the Principles of the Constitution
• 1: Republicanism--not quite democracy“democracy is the most vile form of government... democracies have
ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention: have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property”
• 2: Federalist Papers 10 & 51• “ambition to counteract ambition” in checks and balances
• “cross-cutting cleavages” of a large republic
Review of U.S. Constitution (1789)• Preamble- “People” not “States”
• Article 1 (Article, Section, Clause)
• Congress- Sec 2--House of Representatives• Pg 3
• 3/5 rule
Article I, cont’d
- Sec 3--Senate• Pg 1
• --representing state, elected by state legislature
- Sec 8--Powers of Congress• raise taxes, raise army, regulate commerce among states, necessary
and proper
- Sec 9--Restraints on Congress• banning slave trade, suspend habeas corpus, create nobility
• Article 2--Presidency and electoral college
• Article 3--Federal Judiciary
• Article 4--Full faith and credit, fugitive slave
• Article 5--amendment formulas
• Article 6, Pg 2--”Supremacy Clause”
• Article 7--Ratification
Review of U.S. Constitution
Bill of Rights
• Amend 1--religion and speech• Amend 2--guns• Amend 4--search and seizure• Amend 5--double jeopardy, self-incrim, due process• Amend 6, 7--trial procedure--jury trial, counsel• Amend 8--Cruel and unusual, excessive bail• Amend 9,10--non-specified rights remain with the
states and people