Compromises of the Constitutional Convention
What did the Great Compromise address?
Establishment of a bicameral Congress that balances the representation of the states.
What is a PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY
Direct Democracy
People vote on laws directly
Broad participation in politics and Civil Society
Explain Federalist #10
Favored an elite democracy
Did not trust the majority to rule
Faction is inevitable so construct a government to control it
The protection of property is the main purpose of government
What is a federalist?
Alexander Hamilton
Wealthy Merchants, Landowners
Strong National Government >
Weak State Governments
Government by the elite
No Bill of Rights necessary
What is the Electoral College
Body to choose the President
The number of electors (members) is equal to the total number of Congressmen
Each state may decide how to choose their delegates who are sent to the Electoral College
What is a PLURALIST DEMOCRACY?
Interest Groups influence policy making
Explain Brutus #1.
Feared a pluralist and elite democracy
Republic would morph into power being held by a corrupt few
The people’s voices can better be heard by representatives who personally known them
Participatory democracy is desired
What is an Anti-Federalist?
Thomas Jefferson
Laborers, Small Farmers
Called Democratic-Republicans
Weak National Government < Strong State Governments
Government of the common man
Protection for Individual liberties necessary
Explain the three-fifths compromise.
When counting the population for representation in the House of Representatives, only 3 of every 5 slaves would be counted
What is an ELITE DEMOCRACY?
Elected Representatives act as trustees for the voters
Emphasizes limited participation
Power concentrated with few and often wealthy
What are some key features of The Articles of Confederation?
No power to tax people directly
No power to regulate commerce
No power to create and maintain an army
No President
No National Court
What are checks and balances?
Powers each branch has to check the power of another branch
Explain the compromise on the importation of slaves.
Congress could not interfere with the slave trade until 1808
What is Republicanism
a foundational ideology where citizens elect representatives to govern on their behalf
Explain the Founder's views on tyranny of the majority
Tyranny of the majority describes a scenario in democracy where the majority suppresses the rights of minority groups. It must be limited by the government to protect the rights of the minority.
What is the separation of powers?
Power is shared among 3 branches to prevent 1 branch from having too much power
Describe one method of proposing and ratifying an amendment
two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate (or a convention called by two-thirds of state legislatures) to propose, followed by ratification by three-fourths of the states (38 of 50).
a system of government that divides and shares power between a central national government and regional governments
What is Federalism?
What is the constitution?
Establishes a national government as the supreme law of the land
This 1819 supreme court ruling that maryland didn't have power to tax second bank of us and that congress did have power to create the bank under "necessary and proper" clause and "supremacy clause"
McColloch v. Maryland