Constitution And Federalism Flashcards
Context
§773- boston tea party- rebels against british rule from westminster- no tax without rep
17760 declaration of independance- independent from gb
1775-83 war of independence
1787- philadelphia conference- main debate fed v state gov
1789 presidential election 1791 bill of righst ammendments 1-10
Aim of founding fathers
Not have autocractic regime- limited gov
Locke- inalienabel rights0 liberty
Rousseau- all men made equal
Principle
Fundemental belief or deal
Constitutional pricniples may not be named in constitution nut underpins entire document and can be seen throughout
Principles of constitution
Sops- montesquie unspired, cant be in more than one, diff elections, obama gave up senate seat
Check s and blanaces- power of one branch to directly prvenet the action of another branch, madison ‘constitution must be made to counterract ambition’ ‘compromise, compromise, compromise’
Limited gov/dispersal of power- prevent tyranncial ruler and rights protected
Nature of constitution- factors/qualities
Condificiation
Entrenchment
Vagueness of document
Necessary and proper clause
Bipartisanship
Codification
Single written document contains all the constitutional rules and principles
Makes it judiciaible- contains a higher form of law, otehrs can be decided if constitutional or not
Entrenchmet
Constitution that is protected through change of a legal process- ammendment process
Vagueness of document
Allowed for compromise of delegates and agreements ofthe states
Roberts- all down to interpretation
Necessary and proper clause
Clasue within article 1 allowing congress to assume any powwers which are necessary for it. To be able to carry out enumerated powers- elastic clause§
Bipartisanship
Both party role to ensure constitution is a cmpromise
Hailton- we are attempting by this constition to absolve factions and to unite all parties for the same welfare
Some powers congress and ammendments supermajorities- require compromise
2nd ammendment
Right to bear arms
Article 1
Legislative rbranch
Article 2
Exec branch
Article 3
Judicial branch
Hamilton- weaksest branch, jefferson despotic branch
Etv us constition enhances democracy and effective gov
Loa- no
Ammendment process
Sc
Sob/c+b/representation
Constition enhances democracy and effective gov- ammendment process- yes
Requires broad support for change- bipartisanship= more rep of public
2nd ammendment repealed after school shooting yet only 26% would support according to yougov poll 2018
Constitition enhances democracy and effective gov- no codified
To be democratic needs to remian up to date
Only 27 ammendments passed
Evolution not occured doesnt relfect population increasing technology ect
Hindrance effective gov- 72 attempts campaign finance ammendments since 1998 would enhance democracy as money dictate campaign- $14bn 2020 presidential congressional
Former sc justice stevens current sustem ensures richest not best leader
Equal rights ammendment ensure equal rights men and women not passed as 38th state 2020- 50 y after proposal
Constitution enhances democracy and effective gov- sc yes
Powers article 3
Ensures codified constitition upheld
Overturn roe v wade- uphold states determined, fed
Constitution enhances democracy and effective gov- sc no
Not independent - ideological appt
Trump amey coney barret con- 6v3 led to roe v wade
Role for life- svadato argues min retirement age- too powerful, judiciail review
Us constition enhances democracy and effetcive gov- principles yes
Prevents tyranny of larger states and singlular parties with ammendments, each state individ and equal- if proportional 5 most populaous states 37% pop
Choice of parties- 2020 presiden 10 - jo jorgenson libertarians , kaney west birthday party
C and b president propose treaty, senate ratify
Us constitution enhances democracy and effective gov- no principeles
Mann and ornstein- its even worse than it looks, sops have grown, more limited with extreme partisanship gridlock- 2018-2019 gov
In reality 2 party sustem with fptp
Threatened pwoer of pressue groups= nra
Ammendments process aims and context
Ensure constitution not outdates
Madison hoped process would ‘gaurd equally against that extreme difficulty, which might perpretude its discovered faults
Importance not changed v easily
Over 12000 proposed only 27 passed
1-10 bor eg protect free speech
Formal ammendment process effective today= arguments for
Broad support-0 supermajority in diverse nation, 2018 poll 26& rpeeal 2nd despite mass shootings
Prevents short lived trends- except prohibition, only one in 200 years, politicians cant use for own gain
Protects ocnstitional pricnples- sops and bipartisanship
Prevent tyrnanny of large states- most populous 5 tsates 37% pop, bidne wom california by 5 mill votes 2020, otherwise large states could dominate
Few changes but working- 27
Formal ammendments process- effectove today- no
Diff to ensure stay up to date- era, camapign reform act
Outdated aspect- pop bigger, technology developed, political and cultural change, sc justice stevenss 6 areas reform- 2nd amendment only in malitia, remove electoral college to porpular vote
Ignore minority interests- high threshikd, defence of marriage act 1996- obergefell
Power to sc- unelected and unaccountable, interpet constitional meaning
Mistakes- prohibition 18th
Reform to constitution needed
Yes
Ammendment process formal
Sc
State power and independence
Reform needed yes- formal ammendment process
Jefferson- constitiono should be ‘of the living not ofthe dead’
Necessary ammendments blocked- cmapiagn finance 72 times since 1998, presidential over $14bn- challenges view of one man one vote
2nd ammendment needed
Balanced budget 134 times since 1998
Reform not needed- formal ammendment procesa
Gun reform not wanted yougov poll 2018= 1/5th
Ensure broad support needed to prevent large states dmoniating- 5 largest states- 37% of population
Reform needed- sc
Dahl- us constition is undemocratic and needs to be reformed
Too much power 9 unelected judges- appt similar ideology, shifted right
Vagueness great scope for interpetation
May opose thos ein public interest- reject biden moratorium on evicting when hiigh interest rates in covid
Supreme court refrom not needed constition
Congress does have to approve appt- obama garland,
Sc uphold states rights- carpenter v us 2018- fed gov myust obtain a waarant for citizens cell phone location record
Bor individ rights upheld- snyder v phelps 2011 right to free speech of westbroo baptist church
Reform needed- federalism
States undermined- welfare
Rights for individ removed- dobbs case
Helatdhcare- each state- vaccine rules dangeours as varied so much
Constition reform- fed no
States lagrley indepndent- 10th ammendment allow dispersal of power on laws, culture practises,
Commerce clause-e marajuana cole memo- fed not enocfrec
Roe v wade upheld