POL SCI 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Long Term Ecological Research Network, Connecticut Compromise, Fugitive Slaves In The United States
25 Jun 2018
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Friday, September 8, 2017
Lecture 05: The Constitution
Postwar Problems !
-Huge debt — no taxing authority (under the Articles of Confederation)!
-Trade / economic opinion varies from state to state!
•At this point: states are more like mini independent nations!
-Threat of internal chaos — debtor rebellions (Shay’s Rebellion)!
•Basically: states need money so they try to tax!
-Ex: farmers return from fighting in the war and are asked to pay back the money
they were given to try and cover state debts — these farmers have the majority
vote so debt relief laws are able to pass despite the the need for taxing!
Constitutional Convention
-Remember: in order to amend the Articles of Confederation, all states must agree!
•This did not happen but it was amended anyway!
-James Madison’s Virginia Plan:!
•Bicameral legislature — both apportioned by population!
-Lower chamber = directly elected!
-Lower chamber elects ups chamber from lists generated by the state legislature!
•Wide authority to legislate (every problem becomes a national problem)!
•Veto over state laws (can use military if state fails to comply)!
•Executives are selected by the lower chamber!
-New Jersey Plan:
•One chamber (looks a lot like our senate)!
-Reps selected by state legislatures !
-Equal number of reps per state!
-Give power to tax and regulate!
#1
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Friday, September 8, 2017
-What we end up with?!
•Virginia and New Jersey Plan = Connecticut Compromise !
-House: by population!
•Reps directly elected (2 year term)!
-Senate: two per state!
•More distant from “the people” — selected by state legislatures (until 17th
amendment)!
-6 year term!
•Malapportioned:!
-WY (580k people) vs. CA (38M people)!
•66:1!
•Why do we keep it? !
-It’s in the constitution — therefore not unconstitutional!
-Supremacy Clause replaced veto over state laws!
-Enumerated Powers (Article 1, Sec. 8) instead of broad grant!
•Tax, spending, regulate commerce, and declare war!
-Discussion over slavery!
•Why did South accept commerce power?!
-A log roll . . . !
•I agree to give you something (that I don't care much about), you give me
something (you don't care much about)!
-Slaver concession key!
•3/5th compromise (whose friction results in Civil War)!
•No ban on importing slaves until 1808!
•Fugitive slave clause!
#2
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Huge debt no taxing authority (under the articles of confederation) Trade / economic opinion varies from state to state: at this point: states are more like mini independent nations. Threat of internal chaos debtor rebellions (shay"s rebellion: basically: states need money so they try to tax. Remember: in order to amend the articles of confederation, all states must agree: this did not happen but it was amended anyway. James madison"s virginia plan: bicameral legislature both apportioned by population. New jersey plan: one chamber (looks a lot like our senate) What we end up with: virginia and new jersey plan = connecticut compromise. House: by population: reps directly elected (2 year term) Senate: two per state: more distant from the people selected by state legislatures (until 17th amendment) It"s in the constitution therefore not unconstitutional. Supremacy clause replaced veto over state laws. 8) instead of broad grant: tax, spending, regulate commerce, and declare war.
