The American Constitution: The American Constitution and the Party System

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The American Constitution The American
Constitution and the Party System

• Mr. Phipps
• U.S. History

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Objectives

• 11.1 Students analyze the significant events in
  the founding of the nation and its attempts to
  realize the philosophy of government described in
  the Declaration of Independence.
• 11.1.2. Analyze the ideological origins of the
  American Revolution, the Founding Fathers'
  philosophy of divinely bestowed unalienable
  natural rights, the debates on the drafting and
  ratification of the Constitution, and the
  addition of the Bill of Rights.
• 11.1.3. Understand the history of the
  Constitution after 1787 with emphasis on federal
  versus state authority and growing
  democratization.

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The Great Debate

• Constitution continued debate within the states
  over states rights, individual rights, and
  functional organization
• Broke United States into TWO political parties
  Federalists and Anti-Federalists

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Chronology

• 1774 First Continental Congress
• 1775 Battle of Lexington, Battle of Concord,
  Second Continental Congress
• 1776 Declaration of Independence written and
  sent
• 1777 Third Continental Congress, Articles of
  Confederation drafted
• 1781 Articles of Confederation signed
• 1783 Treaty of Paris signed, ending war
• 1787 Committee to revise Articles of
  Confederation --gtConstitutional Convention
• 1788 Constitution ratified

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On paper Draw a T-Chart to describe what you
see. Whose perspective is this from?
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The Birth of Political Parties The Players

• Federalists
• Alexander Hamilton
• Beliefs in Government
• Rule by rich and well educated
• New government should favor merchants,
  manufacturers, and lawyers
• Strong central government with a strong president
• Favored industry
• Wanted strong alliance with Britain
• Centralized banking and create debt spending
• Cynical
• Loose interpretation of the Constitution
• The North

• Anti-Federalists
• Thomas Jefferson
• Beliefs in Government
• Rule by everybody
• New government should favor farmers, artisans,
  and poor classes
• Weak central government, power given to the
  states to reflect individual interests
• Favored agriculture and farming
• Wanted strong alliance with France
• Low taxes, small tariffs
• Idealistic
• Strict interpretation of the Constitution
• The South

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Match the quote with the Party Federalist or
Anti-Fed?

1. Your people, sir, are beastsTake mankind in
   general, they are vicious.
2. The sheep are happier of themselves, than under
   the care of wolves.
3. Rich should be in charge, because they cant be
   bribed.
4. Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.
5. All societies need a governing class.
6. All men are created equal.

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Who are you?

• Consider the times and these beliefs What
  political party would you support? The
  Federalists or the Anti-Federalists? Explain
  your answer.

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Political Vocabulary

• Ratify To agree to, To sign
• Amend To add to
• Veto To refuse to sign
• Bill Proposed law
• Suffrage Right to vote
• Bicameral Two house congress
• Impeachment Removal from office
• Cabinet Advisors to the President

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The American Constitution

• Constitution divided into two parts
• Articles--rights of government (7 Articles)
• Amendments--rights of individual (27 Amendments)

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Government and Man

• Articles I-III
• Separates power into three branches of government
• Art. I-Leg. Art. II-Exec. Art. III-Judic.
• Articles IV-VII
• Power of Law
• Power of Constitution

• Amendments I-X
• Bill of Rights
• Amendment XI-XII
• Organization of Government
• Amendment XIII-XV
• Civil Rights Amendments
• Slave Amendments
• Amendments XVI-XIX
• Progressive Amendments
• Amendments XX-XXI
• New Deal Amendments
• Amendments XXII-XXVII
• Great Society Amendments

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Article I The Legislature

• A.K.A. Congress, The Legislative Branch, The
  Lawmakers
• Bicameral
• Upper HouseSenate (2 per state, 100 total)
• 6 year term
• Led by Speaker of the House
• Lower HouseHouse of Representatives
  (proportional to population, 435 total--CA has
  54)
• 2 year term
• Led by Speaker of the House
• President of CongressVice President of the
  United States of America

The U.S. Capitol Building, Washington, D.C.
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Legislative Powers

• Make laws
• Collect taxes
• Borrow and coin money
• Establish immigration policy
• Declare war and raise armies
• Approves treaties
• Control interstate activities (trade, marriage,
  etc)
• To do ANYTHING NECESSARY AND PROPER (The
  Elastic Clause)

Congress works at the Capitol Building in
Washington D.C.
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• Why is the power to do anything necessary and
  proper called the Elastic Clause?
• What are the benefits and problems of this power?

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Californias Contribution

• Barbara Boxer, Democrat

Diane Feinstein, Democrat
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How YOU can be a Congress-person!

• Age 25 (H. of R.) 30 (Senate)
• Live 7 years (H. of R.) 9 years (Senate) in your
  state
• Have a lot of money for campaign
• Be independently wealthy
• Have people contribute money/support campaign

What would make you run for a political office?
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Article II The Executive

• A.K.A. The President, The Commander-in-Chief, The
  Pres.
• Term 4 years, 2 term limit
• President
• Vice President
• Cabinet (Sec. of State, etc.)

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Executive Power

• Commander-in-Chief of American military
• Execute law, sign/veto law
• Make treaties
• Appoint judges

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How YOU can be the Pres.

• Be at least 35 years old
• Be a natural born citizen
• Live in the U.S. for at least 14 years
• Have even more money for campaign than
  Congress-person

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• What other qualifications should their be to be a
  president? List as many attributes/abilities as
  possible (min. 10).
• What would it take for you to take the job of
  being president?

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Article III The Judicial

• A.K.A. The Bench, The Courts, The Judiciary
• Term Life
• Organization
• Constitution
• Supreme Court
• Federal Courts
• State Courts

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Judicial Power

• Interprets law
• Reviews constitutionality of laws
• Reviews lower court cases
• Preserves balance against political parties

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Interpretation

• Loose Interpretation
• A.K.A. Loose Construction of Constitution
• Interpretation of Constitution must be flexible
• People change, society changes, technology
  changes--gtConstitution must adapt
• What the Constitution doesnt say EXPLICITY, the
  branches of government can do
• Federalists Liberals

• Strict Interpretation
• A.K.A. Strict Construction of Constitution
• Constitution should remain the constant
• The Constitution must be the measure of social,
  ethical, and moral change
• Government can ONLY do what the Constitution
  EXPLICITLY says
• Anti-Federalists Conservatives

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Separation of Power
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Checks and Balances
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The Political Spectrum