September 15 (Monday):  The Constitution and American Politics

READ:    James Madison's letter to Thomas Jefferson, October 24, 1787
               Madison's record of the Convention debate, June 30, 1787
               David B. Robertson, Constituting American Politics,
drafts of Chapter 5 * Chapter 6 * Chapter 7 * Chapter 8
               Stephen Skowronek, The Politics Presidents Make, pp. 1-58

A. How would the Constitutional Convention have been different if the Connecticut Compromise had been defeated? How would the design of the policy-making process have differed if all the delegates remained after a defeat of the compromise?

B. Should the national government have been given the “tools of economic sovereignty” that Madison urged the Convention to adopt?

C. Should the national government have been given a veto over state laws?

D. How do you recognize a good president when you see one?

E. How does political time affect presidential leadership? How does it affect leadership in Congress or the courts? Political Parties?