American Political System Chapter 2

Focus of the first month of the Constitutional Convention

Evaluating the Virginia Plan point-by-point through collaborative debate rather than direct small vs. large state conflict.

Early consensus among delegates at the Constitutional Convention

Creating a stronger central government with distinct legislative, executive, and judicial powers, a bicameral legislature, and population-based seats in the lower house.

Pinckney Plan

Proposed by Charles Pinckney; featured a bicameral legislature that chose the executive and included early concepts of the Three-Fifths Compromise.

Hamilton Plan (British Plan)

Proposed by Alexander Hamilton; famously suggested lifetime appointments for the executive (Governor) and senators on good behavior.

New Jersey Plan (Origins & Author)

Introduced by William Paterson on June 15, 1787, as an alternative designed to revise and expand the Articles of Confederation rather than replace them entirely.

Key provisions of the New Jersey Plan

Expanded federal powers over commerce/taxation, a multi-person executive elected by Congress, equal state representation, and a federal judiciary with a supremacy clause.

Connecticut Compromise (Great Compromise)

Established a symmetrical bicameral legislature with two equal-power chambers: the House based on population and the Senate based on equal state representation.

Originator of Senate equal state representation

Roger Sherman, who proposed it on June 11, 1787 (four days before the New Jersey Plan was introduced).

Why the Electoral College was created

To select the president independently from the legislature, establishing true separation of powers and checks and balances.

Federalist 51 (Main Theme)

James Madison's argument that institutional design must counteract ambition with ambition through internal checks and balances to prevent tyranny.

Madison's famous quote on human nature and governance

'If men were angels, no government would be necessary.'

Double Security in a Compound Republic

Power is divided first between national and state governments (federalism), and then subdivided among separate branches (separation of powers).

Unique US Institutional Mix

A rare global combination of presidentialism, federalism, and symmetrical bicameralism with equal state representation in the upper house.

Effect 1: Institutionalized Tension

Federalism inherently creates ongoing structural tension between national authority and state power.

Effect 2: Small State Over-Representation

Equal Senate representation gives low-population states disproportionate legislative power per capita.

Effect 3: Electoral College Distortions

Senate population representation disparities carry directly into presidential elections via elector allocations.

Effect 4: Presidentialization of Parties

Political parties prioritize winning the presidency over simply building legislative majorities.

Effect 5: Transactional Governance

Presidential systems allow divided government, requiring continuous inter-branch bargaining rather than strict party discipline.

Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)

Article I, Section 8 provision granting Congress implied powers to execute its enumerated responsibilities.

Tenth Amendment

Reserves all powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or to the people.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Landmark Supreme Court case affirming federal implied powers (chartering a national bank) and establishing that states cannot tax federal entities.

Unconsidered Choice 1: Electoral System

While popular vote was set for the House, specific voting mechanics, processes, and voter eligibility were left to the states.

Unconsidered Choice 2: Party System

The founders failed to anticipate the emergence, stability, and institutional dominance of organized political parties.

Unconsidered Choice 3: Bureaucracy

The Constitution did not outline administrative details beyond 'public ministers,' missing the future growth of a massive federal bureaucracy.

Unconsidered Choice 4: Scope of Policy

The framers expanded federal authority in key areas but could not foresee modern policy debates or the expanded scope of government.

Symmetrical Bicameralism across plans

Supported by Virginia, Pinckney, and Hamilton plans; rejected by the New Jersey Plan in favor of a unicameral legislature.

Executive Selection across all original convention plans

All four major plans originally proposed having the national legislature select the chief executive.

Council of Revision

A body proposed in the Virginia and Pinckney plans combining the Executive and Judiciary to review laws prior to enactment; ultimately rejected.

Representation in the Virginia Plan

Proportional to population in both chambers, creating a weak state/strong central framework.

Direct accountability in the original 1789 Constitution

Only members of the House of Representatives were directly elected by voters.

Original selection method for US Senators

Chosen directly by State Legislatures (changed by the 17th Amendment in 1913).

Unfaithful (Faithless) Electors

Electors who vote differently than their state's popular vote instructions because the Constitution grants them no binding legal obligation.

Parliamentary vs. Presidential Delegation

In parliamentary systems, voters delegate to parties who choose the executive; in presidential systems, delegation to the executive is independent of the legislature.