American Government: Constitutional History and Federalism

The Road to the Constitutional Convention of 1787

• Major political and historical developments that led to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 included:
  • Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
  • Shays' Rebellion
  • Nationalist sentiment
  • Economic instability

Federalism and National Power

• Federalism is a system of government that divides power between a central authority and smaller units (states, provinces, etc.)
• Federalism limits national power by:
  • Distributing authority among multiple levels of government
  • Ensuring that power is not concentrated in one entity
• Evolution of federalism in the United States:
  • From the Founding to the twentieth century, federalism oscillated between national and state-centric approaches
  • Shift towards increased national power since 1937

The US Constitution

• Major provisions of the US Constitution:
  • Separation of powers
  • Checks and balances
  • System of federalism
  • Representative democracy
  • Protection of individual rights

Balancing Representation and Governance

• The framers attempted to balance representation with effective governance by:
  • Creating a bicameral legislature
  • Establishing a system of checks and balances
  • Ensuring that power is distributed among multiple branches of government

The Amendment Process

• The amendment process allows the Constitution to evolve over time by:
  • Providing a mechanism for change
  • Ensuring that the Constitution remains relevant and adaptable

The Bill of Rights

• Origins of the Bill of Rights:
  • Response to anti-Federalist concerns about individual rights
  • First 10 amendments to the Constitution
• Purpose of the Bill of Rights:
  • Protect citizens from improper governmental actions
  • Ensure individual liberties and freedoms

The Fourteenth Amendment and Nationalization of the Bill of Rights

• The Fourteenth Amendment (1868) nationalized the Bill of Rights by:
  • Extending federal protections to state citizens
  • Ensuring that states cannot infringe on individual rights

Precedent and Interpretation

• Precedent and interpretation continue to shape the Bill of Rights by:
  • Informing judicial decisions
  • Evolving the understanding of individual rights

Civil Rights and Collective Action

• Civil rights relate to collective action in the United States by:
  • Ensuring equal protection and opportunities for all citizens
  • Facilitating social and political change through collective action

The US Congress

• Diverse views and interests represented in Congress:
  • Geographic, ideological, and demographic differences
• Organization of the US Congress:
  • Bicameral legislature with Senate and House of Representatives
  • Committee system and leadership structures

The Presidency

• Constitutional origins and powers of the presidency:
  • Established in Article II of the Constitution
  • Includes executive, legislative, and judicial powers
• Formal and informal resources of the presidency:
  • Executive powers, such as veto authority and executive orders
  • Informal powers, such as persuasion and negotiation

Bureaucracies and Effective Governance

• Bureaucracies facilitate effective governance by:
  • Implementing laws and policies
  • Establishing rules and regulations
  • Settling disputes and providing public services

The Executive Branch

• Structure of the executive branch:
  • Includes executive departments and agencies
  • Organized to facilitate implementation of laws and policies

The Judiciary

• Organization of America's courts:
  • Hierarchical system with Supreme Court at the apex
  • Includes federal and state courts
• Role of judges in shaping public policy:
  • Interpreting laws and the Constitution
  • Establishing precedents and influencing policy decisions

Common Law and Precedents

• Common law and precedents shape judicial decisions by:
  • Providing a framework for legal interpretation
  • Informing judicial rulings and opinions

Judicial Review

• Significance of judicial review:
  • Ensures that laws are consistent with the Constitution
  • Provides a check on legislative and executive power

Public Opinion and Elections

• Public opinion can be understood at:
  • Aggregate level (collective attitudes and opinions)
  • Individual level (personal attitudes and beliefs)
• Elections in the United States function as:
  • Formal institutions for making collective decisions
  • Mechanisms for holding elected officials accountable