POLI 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Living Constitution, Federal Farmer, Bicameralism
Document Summary
British rule: low taxes, all benefits- colonies were free-riding off of the british, taxes go up, revolt begins. Revolution: lexington and concord (1775) mass. had most fighting while southerners tried to stay out of war. Eventually, confederate army brought all sections together and won: declaration (1776, france- bailed the colonies out during the revolution by assisting during the war. Articles of confederation: ratified in 1781, very weak. Quickly scrapped aoc because under aoc, they needed unanimous vote to edit that. How to strengthen government without compromising state and individual powers. Virginia plan: set up strong, bicameral legislature apportioned by population, favored large states, singular executive. New jersey: unicameral, favored small states. Connecticut compromise: bicameral legislature, house representation based on population. Slaves count as 3/5 a person: equal representation in senate. Senators elected by state legislatures: unitary executive. President as head of executive branch: elected by electoral college to 4-year term.
