The Great Constitutional Debate: Fed vs Anti-Feds

Federalists

• Wanted a strong central government

  - Led by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay

  - Wrote the Federalist Papers

  - Believed Constitution would protect individual rights

  - want to separate power vertically between state and national governments

- Anti-Federalists (Brutus):

- Feared losing individual and state rights

  - Believed a small republic best protects liberty

  - Concerned that powerful leaders would:

    * Pursue personal interests

    * Become unaccountable

    * Cause citizens to lose control of government

    * Overlook local interests

Debate Characteristics

- Primary method of debate: Newspapers and pamphlets

- Key debate points:

  * Size of government

  * Distribution of power

  * Protection of individual liberties

  * Balance between state and federal authority

  * Preventing potential tyranny

Resolution

- Compromise: Bill of Rights added in 1791 (won anti-Federalist support) 

- Allowed Constitution to be ratified

- Created a balanced system of government

- Established checks and balances

Representative Democracy

- System where citizens elect representatives to make political decisions

- Representatives make policy decisions on behalf of the people

1. Participatory Democracy

   - Emphasizes broad political participation

   - "The people" directly decide on policy

   - Politicians implement people's decisions

   - Example: Town hall meetings

2. Pluralist Democracy

 - Multiple interest groups compete for political influence

   - No single group dominates politics

   - Groups lobby and advocate for their interests

   - Example: Sierra Club vs. oil and gas groups

3. Elite Democracy

 - Limited political participation

   - Wealthy and well-educated individuals have most political influence

   - Small number of people make key decisions

   - Example: Pre-17th Amendment senator selection

Key Features

- Over 22,000 interest groups in the United States

- Electoral College reflects elements of elite democratic model

- U.S. system combines elements of all three models

The Constitutional Convention

Major Challenges

- Articles of Confederation proved too weak

- Delegates gathered to create new government system

Key Perspectives

- Small vs. Large State Interests

- Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

- Southern vs. Northern State Interests

Major Compromises

. Representation Compromise 

   - Virginia Plan: Representation based on population

   - New Jersey Plan: Equal representation for each state

   - Solution: Bicameral Legislature (Great Compromise) 

     * House of Representatives: Population-based (large states) 

     * Senate: Two senators per state (reflected small state needs) 

• Prevents concentration of legislative of power in one authority 

2. Slavery Representation

   - Three-Fifths Compromise 

   - Highlighted moral complexity of early democracy

3. Executive Branch

   - Compromise: Electoral College system

4. Bill of Rights

   - Added to protect individual liberties

Fundamental Principles

- Balancing national and state powers

- Flexible amendment process

- Demonstrated power of collaborative problem-solving

Federalist No. 51

Purpose of Government

- Protecting against tyranny and faction

- Preventing a single faction from controlling government

Key Principles

- Separation of Powers

  * Legislative, Executive, Judicial branches

  * Each branch limits others' powers

- Checks and Balances

  * Prevents concentration of power

  * Provides multiple safeguards

Madison's Perspective

- Quote: "If men were angels, no government would be necessary"

- Assumes humans are potentially selfish

- Designs systems to control human tendencies’

Larger Republic Advantage

- More diverse interests make broad coalitions difficult

- Prevents tyranny of the majority’

-Diverse interests make it harder for factions to dominate 

Lesson 10: Checks and Balances

Definition

- System preventing any single government branch from becoming too powerful

- Allows each branch to limit and control others' actions

1. Impeachment Process

   - House initiates investigation

   - Senate conducts trial

   - Requires specific voting thresholds

-requires cooperation between the House and Senate 

2. Interaction Between Branches

- Supreme Court can challenge laws

   - Congress can pass laws countering court decisions

   - President can veto congressional legislation

Real-World Application

- Multiple paths to influence policy

- Potential for both effective governance and political gridlock

- Protects individual rights through complex governmental interactions

-Oregon Employment Division v. Smith - example of how branches can challenge decisions 

-LULAC - provides multiple pathways to influence branches of government