POLI 2342 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Ancient Constitution Of England, Bicameralism, Political Philosophy
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liberty -> self-governing communities, series of towns!•
liberty has a strong connotation in American political thought!◦
freedom of oppression, very important theme!‣
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defines the actual circumstances under which Americans had been living -> charters set them •
up but they framed the government!
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general notions of American government!•
unusual set of circumstances that the British didn't enjoy overseas!◦
ancient constitution -> embraces the right to be defended!◦
the writ of habeas corps!‣
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political philosophy -> important to American readers, understanding religious tolerance!•
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William Penn -> Quaker founder!
this was a peaceful religion, endorses simplicity!•
Penn refused to obey the conventional act -> forbade religious acts!•
he was arrested for public worship!◦
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if jurors don't come up with factual answer, it was problematic!•
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Penn becomes famous because of this!•
the king gave him the colony of Pennsylvania!◦
maybe to get him out of the country !◦
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wrote constitution for the state!•
familiar ingredient of republican government!◦
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Penn gives protections of certain liberties to the free men and adventures who settled there!•
known as the Proprietor!◦
free men constituted the General Assembly and Council!◦
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sign of the power of these ideas, even someone with the opportunity to be a dictator became a •
governor!
fairly normal kind of constitutional order!•
18 in the council, 36 in the Assembly, this was a bicameral legislature that was being •
envisioned!
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electors to prevent hierarchy!•
how votes were going to be taken, this was an early constitution that was very detailed!◦
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General Assembly and the Council executed the law!•
constructed the towns!‣
schools!‣
public works!‣
this was a prototype of a typical kind of state government!•
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the governor needs the advice of the council -> imposed this on himself!•
