Political Science 1100, Introduction to American Politics, August 26, 2009
What were the Founders Thinking?
Key choices: Who makes the laws? (legislative power)
Who puts the laws into effect and enforces them? (executive power)
Who settles disputes over the laws? (judicial power)
What is government not permitted to do to its citizens? (civil liberties)
2. Who wrote the Constitution and why?
Politicians wrote the Constitution for politicians to use
Who was James Madison?
Madison's political tactics for the Constitutional Convention: The Virginia Plan
3. What did the Revolution teach Americans about government?
The States managed public policy in 1787
But they could not deal with the nation's mounting problems
State rivalries
Rhode Island & Shays's rebellion
Foreign threats
The Confederation government was very weak
Madison's dilemma:
4. How did the framers resolve this dilemma?
Roger Sherman of Connecticut: a different vision for the new national government
Sherman's political tactics
The Convention then played out as an unexpected series of compromises that no one anticipated.
Unexpected Compromise #2: Slavery
Unexpected Compromise #3: The presidency
Two Results that we have inherited
The Constitution
is a political weapon, used as both a shield and a
sword
The Constitution created a government that is potentially very strong, but that is very hard to use