ملاحظات دراسة الدستور الأمريكي

U.S. Constitution Study Notes

• Constitution Writing:

  • Written in 1787.
  • Written in Philadelphia.
  • James Madison is known as the "Father of the Constitution."

• U.S.A. Problems (1780s):

  • States were largely independent, acting as separate countries rather than a unified nation.

• Branches of Government:

  • Executive: Enforces the law.
  • Legislative: Involves the Governor and General Assembly at a state level.
  • Judicial: Interprets the law.

• President:

  • Minimum age for U.S. President: 35 years old.

• Supreme Court: -Current Chief Justice: John Roberts.

  • Justices serve lifetime appointments.

• West Haven City Council:

  • Number of members: 13.

• House of Representatives: -Terms: Two years.

• Senate:

  • Number of Senators: 100 (2 per state).

• Government Structure:

  • Separation of Powers: Division of governmental power among branches (Executive, Legislative, Judicial)).
  • Federalism: Division of power between national and state governments.

• Preamble:

  • First three words: "We the people."
  • Key Goals:
    • Form a more perfect union
    • Establish justice
    • Ensure domestic tranquility
    • Provide for the common defense
    • Promote the general welfare
    • Secure the blessings of liberty

• Constitutional Articles:

  • Article VI (6): Supremacy Clause. Federal laws and the Constitution are supreme to state laws.
  • Article IV (4): Full Faith and Credit Clause. States must respect laws and rulings of other states.

• Powers:

  • Taxation: concurrent power (shared by national and state governments).

Constitutional Principles

• Popular Sovereignty:

  • Government power comes from consent of the governed.

• Limited Government:

  • Government's power is restricted by the Constitution.

• Separation of Powers:

  • Division of power among three branches: Legislative, Executive, Judicial.

• Checks and Balances:

  • Each branch can limit the power of the others.

• Federalism:

  • Power shared between national and state governments.

• Judicial Review:

  • Courts can declare laws unconstitutional.

Electoral College

• Pros:

  • Small states have a voice in presidential elections.
  • Candidates campaign across the country.

• Cons:

  • A candidate can win the presidency without the popular vote.
  • Focuses campaigns on swing states.

• Should it be eliminated?: Potential reform or reconsideration is warranted, though debate continues.

Impeachment Process

• House:

  • Simple majority vote to approve articles of impeachment.

• Senate:

  • Two-thirds majority vote to convict and remove from office.

Amendment Process

• Proposal:

  • Two-thirds vote in both House and Senate.

• Ratification:

  • Three-fourths of state legislatures.

Primary Documents

• Declaration of Independence:

  • Written by Jefferson.
  • Declares independence from Great Britain.
  • Outlines fundamental principles of liberty and equality.

• Articles of Confederation:

  • First national government framework.
  • Weaknesses: weak national government, lack of enforcement power for laws, difficulty in enacting laws, and amendment ratification.

• Brutus No. 1:

  • Anti-Federalist viewpoint.
  • Fear of a too-powerful national government and reduction of state power.
  • Critique of large republics.

• Federalist No. 10:

  • James Madison.
  • Addresses dangers of factions in a republic.
  • Argues the Constitution mitigates these through its structure.

• Federalist No. 51:

  • James Madison.
  • Importance of checks and balances and separation of powers to prevent abuses.

• Federalist No. 70:

  • Alexander Hamilton.
  • Argues for a strong, single executive.

• Federalist No. 78:

  • Alexander Hamilton.
  • Advocates for an independent judiciary with life tenure.

Federalism: Cake Diagrams

• Layer Cake: Separate responsibilities for levels of government.
• Marble Cake: Overlapping responsibilities between levels of government.

تتناول هذه الملاحظات كتابة الدستور الأمريكي والتحديات التي واجهت الولايات المتحدة في الثمانينيات. كما تتضمن معلومات عن فروع الحكومة، مثل التنفيذية والتشريعية والقضائية، وأدوارها. تعرف على متطلبات الرئيس والمحكمة العليا وتفاصيل أخرى عن هيكل الحكومة.