Political Science 3300     
The American Presidency       Wednesday, January 16, 2008

 

Survey

 

 

I. An executive for the new Iraqi Constitution

Imagine you have been hired as an advisor to the authors of a new Iraqi constitution?,
 
•    What would you tell them to remember about designing the executive?
 
•    What would they tell you they would worry about in designing the executive?
 

 

 

II. The Presidency in the U.S. Constitution

 

1. James Madison:
  
    a.  How a professional political strategist prepares for a constitutional convention

 

  

    b.  Madison's political views

       

    c. Madison's political diagnosis

        - state government powers are the central problem

 

    d. Madison's blueprint for fixing America's political problems

        - extensive national sovereignty

 

        - a national veto over state laws

 

        - representation in Congress based on population

 

        - the executive: an afterthought

 

    e. Madison's political tactics

        Expected  allies: the large states and the southern states

 

2. Madison's Convention opponents

    a. economically vulnerable  states between Massachusetts and Virginia

   

    b. they wanted a few specific national powers and equal representation in Congress

 

    c. the central role of Connecticut and Roger Sherman

        - Sherman as a politician

 

        - what Sherman wanted

           

            dominance by a legislature with equal representation for each state

         

     protection for most state policy powers

 

3. How the presidency evolved

    a. Early uncertainty as the delegates battled over Congress

 

    b. The Connecticut Compromise

 

    c. Madison makes the presidency the vehicle for the national interest

       

            - while Sherman battles for a strong Senate

 

    d. The Grand Compromise on the Presidency