POL S 202: Intro to American Politics

1. POL S 202: Intro to American Politics “Forging a New Government” Week 2: April 6, 2010

2. “Most people are reevaluating whether there’s a way that the chairman can be sidelined so we can get through this without hurting our electoral chances ” • Top level RNC official • Will Michael Steele, chairman of the RNC, lose his job? • Steele’s chief of staff has resigned over the strip club expenses • High level consulting firm (On Message) has severed ties with RNC • Steele can only by removed with 2/3 vote of the RNC membership

3. “Seeking to set an example, the Obama administration said the United States would consider use of nuclear weapons only in "extreme circumstances" and committed to not developing any new nuclear warheads.”

4. Seattle Times: Light rail not likely to be part of Montlake As the Seattle City Council puts its blessing on a new Montlake interchange for Highway 520, the idea of adding light rail likely will be left on the cutting-room floor. - Monday April 5, 2010

5. Europe Discovers America

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7. Forging a New Government Important Dates in American Political History 1513 Ponce de Leon lands and claims Florida for Spain 1540 Spanish explorers claim New Mexico and Southwest for King of Spain – Nueva España 1565 Spanish set up first permanent settlement St. Augustine, FL 1570 Spanish set up a mission on the York River in Virginia 1585 English voyage to Roanoke, Virginia – now North Carolina 1598 Spanish set up system of government in San Juan Pueblo, New Spain (nowSanta Fe, New Mexico) 1607 Jamestown Settlement established in Virginia as first permanent British colony 1619 First representative legislative assembly in British America met at Jamestown 1620 Pilgrims land at Plymouth Rock, MA 1639 First “state” Constitution adopted in Connecticut

8. Forging a New Government Important Dates in American Political History 1667 Fundamental Constitution drawn up for the Carolinas 1701 Pennsylvania Charter of Privileges 1732 All 13 colonies are now established 1754 Colonial Congress in Albany, NY to discuss plans of Union 1765 Stamp Act passed by British parliament 1773 Tea Tax is levied 1774 First Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia 1775 Second Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia 1776 Declaration of Independence 1787 Constitutional Convention meets, signs Constitution in Philadelphia, PA 1789 George Washington inaugurated first U.S. President

9. Early Maps of America: http://www.henry-davis.com/MAPS/Ren/Ren1/391.html

10. The Continental Congress First Meeting – Philadelphia, 1774 - Delegates of 12 of 13 colonies - Resolution to send angry letter to King George - Resolution to boycott British goods - Resolution to start colonial army Second Meeting – Philadelphia, 1775 - Delegates of all 13 colonies attend (GA made it) - Main duty was to establish an army - Named George Washington commander in chief - Debated independence (Thomas Paine)

11. Declaration of Independence July 2, 1776: Resolution of Independence passed by the 2nd Continental Congress July 4, 1776: Thomas Jefferson writes an official “declaration” that is passed by the CC “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…” Based on John Locke’s 2nd Treatise on Government Natural Rights – Rights held to be inherent in natural law, not dependent on government Social contract – voluntary agreement among individuals to secure their rights through government

12. After the War • 1777, Articles of Confederation drawn up • 1781, Articles of Confederation adopted • Main institution of government was the national Congress, NO EXECUTIVE BRANCH • Each state had one vote so that all were equal. • Each state could send between 2 and 7 delegates. • No strong centralized government in Articles of Confederation • Congress could request funds from states, but no enforcement mechanism

13. The Articles of Confederation

14. Constitutional Convention • 55 men gathered in Philadelphia in 1787 for the Constitutional Convention • Wealthy, well educated, land owners, familiar with English/American history • Principles that guided the debates: (1) understanding of the English “constitution”; (2) experience with colonial and state government; (3) legal and political heritage from England; (4) ideas of Locke, Harrington, Montesquieu • Distrusted human nature – James Madison in the Federalists Papers said “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.”

15. Constitutional Convention • The Virginia Plan, outlined by James Madison called for a two-house legislature, with both houses having proportional representation determined by state population. Also provided for national law to override state law when in dispute • New Jersey Plan, small states were not happy, they countered with a one-house Congress in which each state would have equal representation. The basis for a strong national government in the supremacy clause that gave national government supreme law over states • Connecticut Compromise, authored by Roger Sherman, advocated a two-house Congress with one based on population and the other grounded in equal representation of each state. Some delegates left in protest but eventually the Connecticut plan was adopted.

16. Compromises in the Drafting of the U.S. Constitution • the Great Compromise (Connecticut) – resulted in a bicameral legislature, with one house based on equal representation, the other on population. • the Three-Fifths Compromise – resulted in slaves being counted as “3/5” of a person for the purpose of determining population for representation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

17. Separation of Powers – dividing governmental powers • legislative branch – is granted the power to make laws • judicial branch – is granted the power to judge laws • executive branch – is granted the power to administer laws. some delegates favored a plural executive, but a single chief executive was decided upon.

18. Separation of Powers

19. Figure 2-1: Checks and Balances

20. Ratification of the U.S. Constitution : • was supported by Federalists, who argued in favor of the ratification and supported a strong central government. • was opposed by the Anti-Federalists, who opposed a strong central government and argued for a Bill of Rights

21. The Federalist debates • Constitution did not go into effect after the convention, it needed to be ratified by 9 of 13 states to go into effect. • Some states ratified immediately, in others there was great debate. • George Washington lent his support to the Federalist which helped their cause. • Federalists had control or access to many newspapers and began to write letters of support in newspapers. Three men were key: John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison (Federalist Papers).

22. The Federalist debates • Federalists favored the trustee model of representation whereby the trustee is elected to act on behalf of the people and make decisions for them. • The trustee can go against the constituents, so long as they have their best interests in mind. The Senate, with longer terms is an example of the Federalists position. • Anti-federalists favored short-terms and term limits so that elites did not control the legislature. • This debate about who should hold power (masses vs. elites) lead to a debate about the separation of powers in Federalist 10.

23. The Federalist debates • Important contribution of the anti-Federalists was to add a Bill of Rights to the Constitution that would protect the freedom and liberties of all men, from a powerful government. • When the Federalists agreed to this position and proposed many liberties to be protected under a Bill of Rights, the opposition to a national Constitution was largely eliminated.

24. Changing the Constitution • Three ways to change the constitutions: (1) Amendment: 2/3 of each house in Congress will propose an amendment which is subject to ratification by ¾ of the state legislatures (2) Judicial Interpretation: The Supreme Court gave itself the power of judicial review – to strike down a law or change its meaning – in 1803, Marbury v. Madison (3) Actual practice: As the country changes, we continue to reinterpret the meaning of each amendment and how it applies to contemporary society. e.g. How does the First Amendment of free speech apply to the Internet?