Lecture 15+16 Flashcards
The 3 branches of gov’t: what do they consist of and how do they relate with each other?
- Legislative branch: upper house and lower house (Senate and House of Representatives respectively). Executive branch: President and his or her cabinet and advisers. Judicial branch: the federal court system and the supreme court.
- Legislative branch writes laws; the President can veto these laws but a 2/3 majority in Congress can override the veto. SCOTUS may also declare any laws unconstitutional. Only Congress can declare war.
- Executive branch enforces the law; President appoints Supreme Court members although they must be approved by Congress; Pres is the commander+chief of the military, and Pres can also propose legislation.
- Judicial branch: interprets the law; may declare Presidential actions illegal.
How does impeachment of the President work?
- It takes a majority vote in the House of Representatives to impeach the President if he/she breaks the law.
- Trial in the Senate will take place, and chief justice will preside over the trial. Must have 2/3 majority.
Explain the Federalist/Anti-Federalist debate regarding ratification of the Constitution.
- Federalists supported the Constitution; anti-federalist thought the gov’t would be too powerful.
- To compromise, Federalists guaranteed the Bill of Rights—the first 10 amendments to the Constitution—in order to satiate the fear of a tyrannical gov’t.
- 2/3 of the states had to agree to ratify the Constitution, which they did on September 18, 1787.
Why was George Washington picked as the first US President and what did he do to relegate his authority?
- He did not seek office but was unanimously selected in 1789 by the Constitutional Congress.
- Washington set the precedent of appointing a cabinet and of voluntarily serving only two terms—both have been (almost) universally adopted by successor Presidents.
John Adams, Edmond Randolph, Alexander Hamilton, Henry Knox, and Thomas Jefferson—what roles did these individuals serve in George Washington’s Presidency?
• Vice Pres. was John Adams; Henry Knox was the secretary of war; Edmond Randolph was the attorney general; Thomas Jefferson was the secretary of state; Alexander Hamilton was the secretary of treasury.
Judiciary Act of 1789
- Established Supreme Court with 6 members (John Jay=first Chief Justice).
- Also established the federal court system: 17 district courts, with the idea being that the Supreme Court had the right to review state cases.
The Bill of Rights: why, when, and what were the key points? Also who authored it?
- To appease the anti-feds.
- 1791 was when they were adopted.
- 1st amendment is about freedom of religion/expression/etc.; 2nd amendment is about militia and volunteers as the structure for the military as opposed to a standing army; BoR prohibits unreasonable search, guarantees trial by jury, and delegates all power not specifically granted to the gov’t to the states.
What were the issues that Alexander Hamilton faced as the secretary of treasury?
- Worthless currency.
- War debt.
- Economic decline (specifically, economic hardships from the British boycott on American goods).
On the issue of debt, how did Hamilton want to solve this, what were the conflicts that arose from his proposals, and what ended up happening?
- Hamilton wanted to concentrate American debt to the national gov’t: the national gov’t would adopt all state debts.
- This would link success of private investors with the success of the US federal gov’t.
- A divide arose, as states with minimal to no debt opposed this action, while states with massive debt supported it.
- Compromise is reached where US gov’t assumes all debt but places the US capitol on the Mason-Dixon line in the south. Southern slave owners would have more influence if the capitol was in the South.
Hamilton’s proposition for creation of the Bank of the US—how would it be controlled? What authority would it have? What purpose would it serve? How was it criticized? Why did Washington sign off on it?
- National bank jointly owned by private investors and the fed.
- Had the authority to make/regulate currency.
- Gold/silver were the only currencies so they issued paper currency.
- Helped to manage tax revenue; goal was to keep federal taxes here.
- Would provide credit to the public and the US gov’t.
- Wouldn’t cost the fed anything.
- Passed by Congress but Jefferson was a critic based on his “strict interpretation” of the Constitution.
- George Washington ends up signing off on it, agreeing with Hamilton on the basis of the “elastic clause.”
- Bank of the US doesn’t last.
What is the “elastic clause”?
- In the Constitution; says the national gov’t can pass any law that is “necessary and proper.”
- Has since been used to justify a lot of stuff…
Explain Hamilton’s excise tax and its effects and results.
- Hamilton put a 25% “sin tax” or excise tax on liquor; sin tax=taxation on “socially unaccepted” or “improper” things.
- Hurts western farmers. Previously they found grain was an unprofitable product due to transportation costs, so made it into liquor, rye, etc. The tax on liquor further hurt their already frivolous business and lead to the Whiskey Rebellion.
The Whiskey Rebellion—what happened, how did the US gov’t respond, and what were the results?
- Violent farmers rebelled from Hamilton’s excise tax on liquor.
- Washington raised a 13,000 militia in Pennsylvania and put them down.
- 20 were arrested and 2 were put on trial for treason but were pardoned.
