US Government Structures and Ideologies

  • Plans for Representation in Congress

    • New Jersey Plan:
    • Proposed that each state would have the same number of representatives, regardless of population or size.
    • Favored smaller states who were concerned about being overshadowed by larger states.
    • Virginia Plan:
    • Advocated for representation based on population.
    • Larger states, such as California and Arizona, would have more representatives because of their larger populations.

  • Three-Fifths Compromise:

    • Addressed the issue of counting slaves for representation and taxation purposes.
    • Each slave would count as three-fifths of a person in terms of representation in Congress, though they were considered property and not citizens.
    • This compromise was an attempt to balance the interests of Southern states, which relied heavily on slavery, with the moral opposition to slavery.

  • Separation of Powers:

    • The U.S. government is divided into three branches:
    1. Legislative Branch (Congress): Responsible for making laws.
    2. Executive Branch (President): Responsible for enforcing laws.
    3. Judicial Branch (Court System): Responsible for interpreting laws.
    • The design aims to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

  • Checks and Balances:

    • A system designed to prevent the concentration of power and ensure that each branch can limit the powers of the others.
    • Examples:
    • Executive over Legislative: The President can veto legislation passed by Congress.
    • Legislative over Executive: Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds majority.
    • Judicial over Executive: Courts can rule executive actions unconstitutional.
    • Legislative over Judicial: Congress can impeach judges and set jurisdiction of federal courts.
    • Judicial over Legislative: Courts can strike down laws passed by Congress if deemed unconstitutional.

  • Montesquieu and Separation of Powers:

    • Philosopher Montesquieu emphasized the need for separating governmental powers to prevent tyranny.

  • Electoral College:

    • Established as a compromise reflecting distrust in direct democracy.
    • Voters elect state legislators, who choose electors that ultimately select the President.
    • Created after the federalists expressed concerns about the mob mentality of larger voting populations.

  • Property Requirements for Voting:

    • Historically, many voters were required to own property to participate in elections, limiting the electorate.
    • Changes came with the 1828 election, which significantly increased voter turnout by removing such restrictions.

  • Federalism and Tensions of Governance:

    • The Federalists favored a strong central government, while Anti-Federalists were concerned about overreach and loss of individual rights.
    • The addition of the Bill of Rights addressed some fears and concerns of Anti-Federalists, enhancing protections for individuals against government encroachment.
    • The Bill of Rights includes amendments addressing critical rights such as freedom of speech, religion, trial rights, and protection against unreasonable searches.

  • Judicial Review:

    • The power of courts to evaluate the constitutionality of legislative acts and executive actions, which was solidified in the landmark case of Marbury v. Madison.

  • Political Power Dynamics:

    • The Constitution was a product of compromise between differing interests, often reflecting the desires of the elite while attempting to prevent tyranny from the majority.
    • Ongoing struggles and changes indicate a shift in how power is balanced among branches, with the executive increasingly gaining influence at the expense of checks designed to limit that power.