🎪Intro to American Politics Unit 1 – American Politics: Constitutional Foundations

Key Constitutional Principles

• Popular sovereignty holds that the government's power is derived from the people who are governed
  • The people are the ultimate source of authority in a democracy
  • Governments are accountable to the will of the people through elections and public opinion
• Limited government restricts the powers of government to only those granted by the Constitution
  • Prevents arbitrary or excessive use of government power
  • Protects individual rights and liberties from government overreach
• Separation of powers divides government authority among three distinct branches: legislative, executive, and judicial
  • Each branch has specific roles and powers that serve as checks on the others
  • Prevents concentration of power in any single branch, reducing the risk of tyranny
• Checks and balances enable each branch to limit the powers of the others, maintaining a balance of power
  • Examples include the presidential veto, congressional override, and judicial review
• Federalism divides power between the national government and state governments
  • National government has authority over matters of national concern (national defense, foreign policy)
  • States retain powers not delegated to the national government (education, law enforcement)
• Individual rights are protections guaranteed to citizens under the Constitution
  • Bill of Rights enumerates specific rights (freedom of speech, religion, due process)
  • 14th Amendment extends many of these rights to protection from state governments

Framers and Founding Documents

• The Founding Fathers were the key figures involved in drafting the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution
  • Prominent Founders include Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington
  • Diverse group with differing political philosophies and regional interests
• The Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4, 1776, formally announced the colonies' separation from Great Britain
  • Asserted the principles of natural rights, popular sovereignty, and the right to revolution
  • Laid the philosophical foundation for the American political system
• The Articles of Confederation, ratified in 1781, served as the first constitution of the United States
  • Established a loose confederation of states with a weak central government
  • Proved inadequate in addressing national challenges (taxation, regulation of trade)
• The Constitutional Convention, held in Philadelphia in 1787, aimed to revise the Articles of Confederation
  • Delegates eventually decided to draft an entirely new constitution
  • Debates centered on representation, division of powers, and protection of individual rights
• The Federalist Papers, a series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, advocated for ratification of the Constitution
  • Argued for the benefits of a strong federal government and addressed concerns about centralized power
  • Provides valuable insight into the intent and interpretation of the Constitution
• The Constitution, ratified in 1788, established the framework for the U.S. government and political system
  • Created a federal system with a stronger national government while preserving state powers
  • Instituted separation of powers, checks and balances, and protection of individual rights

Separation of Powers

• The legislative branch, consisting of the bicameral Congress (House of Representatives and Senate), is responsible for creating laws
  • House members are elected based on population, serving 2-year terms
  • Senate members, two per state, serve 6-year terms
  • Powers include passing bills, declaring war, and impeachment
• The executive branch, headed by the President, is responsible for enforcing laws and conducting foreign policy
  • President is elected indirectly through the Electoral College, serving 4-year terms (limited to two terms)
  • Powers include vetoing legislation, commanding the military, and appointing federal officials
  • Executive agencies (State Department, Defense Department) assist in carrying out executive functions
• The judicial branch, consisting of the Supreme Court and lower federal courts, interprets laws and determines their constitutionality
  • Supreme Court Justices are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, serving lifetime tenures
  • Powers include judicial review, interpreting the Constitution, and resolving disputes between states
• Each branch has checks on the others to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful
  • Congress can override presidential vetoes and impeach federal officials
  • President can veto legislation and nominate federal judges
  • Courts can declare laws and executive actions unconstitutional

Federalism

• Federalism is the division of power between the national government and state governments
  • National government has authority over matters of national concern (foreign policy, national defense)
  • States retain powers not delegated to the national government (education, law enforcement)
• Dual federalism, prevalent in the early republic, viewed national and state governments as separate and distinct spheres of authority
  • Each level of government had its own responsibilities and rarely interacted
• Cooperative federalism, emerging in the 20th century, involves greater collaboration between national and state governments
  • National government provides funding and guidelines for programs implemented by states (Medicaid, highway construction)
  • Allows for more coordinated and efficient policymaking
• Fiscal federalism refers to the division of revenue and spending between levels of government
  • National government collects more revenue and provides grants to states
  • States have autonomy in spending decisions but must comply with national guidelines
• Devolution, a trend starting in the 1980s, involves the transfer of power from the national government back to the states
  • Reflects a shift towards decentralization and greater state autonomy
  • Examples include welfare reform and education policy
• Federalism allows for policy experimentation and innovation at the state level
  • Successful state policies can be adopted by other states or the national government
  • Failures are contained within individual states, minimizing national impact

Civil Liberties and Rights

• Civil liberties are individual freedoms protected from government interference, primarily found in the Bill of Rights
  • Examples include freedom of speech, religion, and assembly
  • Protect individuals from arbitrary or excessive government power
• Civil rights are guarantees of equal protection under the law, regardless of race, gender, or other characteristics
  • Addressed in the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause
  • Prohibit discrimination by government and, in some cases, private entities
• Freedom of speech protects the right to express opinions without government censorship
  • Includes symbolic speech (flag burning) and political expenditures (campaign finance)
  • Limited exceptions for obscenity, defamation, and imminent lawless action
• Freedom of religion prevents the government from establishing an official religion or prohibiting religious practices
  • Free Exercise Clause protects the right to practice one's religion
  • Establishment Clause prohibits government endorsement or favoritism of religion
• The right to privacy, though not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution, has been recognized by the Supreme Court
  • Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) established a right to privacy in the context of contraception
  • Roe v. Wade (1973) extended the right to privacy to include a woman's decision to have an abortion
• The 14th Amendment's Due Process Clause prohibits the government from depriving individuals of life, liberty, or property without due process of law
  • Procedural due process requires fair legal proceedings before government action
  • Substantive due process protects certain fundamental rights from government interference
• The 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause requires the government to treat all individuals equally under the law
  • Strict scrutiny is applied to discrimination based on race, national origin, or religion
  • Intermediate scrutiny is applied to discrimination based on gender
  • Rational basis review is applied to most other forms of discrimination

Constitutional Amendments

• The amendment process, outlined in Article V, allows for changes to the Constitution
  • Proposal by 2/3 vote in both houses of Congress or by a national convention called by 2/3 of state legislatures
  • Ratification by 3/4 of state legislatures or state ratifying conventions
• The Bill of Rights (1st-10th Amendments) was added in 1791 to protect individual rights and limit government power
  • 1st Amendment protects freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition
  • 2nd Amendment addresses the right to bear arms
  • 4th Amendment prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures
  • 5th Amendment provides due process rights and protection against self-incrimination
• The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, known as the Reconstruction Amendments, addressed issues of equality and civil rights after the Civil War
  • 13th Amendment abolished slavery
  • 14th Amendment granted citizenship to all persons born in the U.S. and guaranteed equal protection under the law
  • 15th Amendment prohibited denial of the right to vote based on race
• The 17th Amendment, ratified in 1913, provided for the direct election of U.S. Senators by popular vote
  • Previously, Senators were chosen by state legislatures
  • Increased democratic accountability and reduced corruption
• The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, granted women the right to vote
  • Culmination of the women's suffrage movement
  • Increased political participation and representation of women
• The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, limited presidents to two full terms in office
  • Response to Franklin D. Roosevelt's unprecedented four terms as president
  • Prevents excessive concentration of power in the executive branch
• The 26th Amendment, ratified in 1971, lowered the voting age from 21 to 18
  • Driven by the argument that those old enough to be drafted should be able to vote
  • Increased youth participation in the political process

Landmark Supreme Court Cases

• Marbury v. Madison (1803) established the principle of judicial review
  • Supreme Court has the power to declare laws unconstitutional
  • Solidified the Court's role as the ultimate interpreter of the Constitution
• McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) affirmed the supremacy of the national government over the states
  • Established the doctrine of implied powers, expanding the authority of the national government
  • Prohibited states from interfering with the legitimate activities of the national government
• Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine
  • Allowed for the continuation of Jim Crow laws and segregation in public facilities
  • Overturned by Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
• Schenck v. United States (1919) introduced the "clear and present danger" test for restricting speech
  • Speech that poses a clear and present danger to public safety can be limited
  • Applied in the context of anti-war protests during World War I
• Brown v. Board of Education (1954) declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional
  • Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson and the "separate but equal" doctrine
  • Landmark decision in the civil rights movement, paving the way for desegregation
• Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) established the right to legal counsel for criminal defendants
  • Required states to provide attorneys for defendants who cannot afford them
  • Expanded the 6th Amendment right to counsel to state criminal proceedings
• Roe v. Wade (1973) recognized a constitutional right to privacy that includes a woman's decision to have an abortion
  • Prohibited states from banning abortions in the first trimester
  • Allowed for increasing state regulation in later stages of pregnancy
• United States v. Nixon (1974) limited the power of the president and reinforced the principle of checks and balances
  • Rejected Nixon's claim of absolute executive privilege in the Watergate scandal
  • Affirmed that the president is not above the law

Modern Constitutional Debates

• Abortion rights, established in Roe v. Wade, remain a contentious issue
  • Some argue for a woman's right to choose, while others advocate for the protection of fetal life
  • Debate centers on the balance between individual liberty and state interests
• Gun control measures have been met with opposition from those who view them as infringing upon 2nd Amendment rights
  • Proponents argue for the need to address gun violence and ensure public safety
  • Disagreement on the interpretation of the 2nd Amendment and the scope of gun rights
• The tension between national security and individual privacy has been heightened in the digital age
  • Government surveillance programs, such as NSA data collection, have raised concerns about privacy rights
  • Debate on the proper balance between security needs and protection of civil liberties
• Campaign finance regulations, aimed at limiting the influence of money in politics, have faced legal challenges
  • Citizens United v. FEC (2010) struck down limits on independent political expenditures by corporations and unions
  • Disagreement on whether such spending is protected free speech or enables corruption
• The rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly in the areas of marriage equality and anti-discrimination protections, have been a focus of recent constitutional debates
  • Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) legalized same-sex marriage nationwide
  • Ongoing debates on the balance between religious liberty and protection against discrimination
• The scope of executive power, particularly in the areas of foreign policy and immigration, has been a source of controversy
  • Presidents have asserted broad authority to take action without congressional approval
  • Critics argue for the need to maintain checks and balances and prevent executive overreach
• The role of the federal government in healthcare, as exemplified by the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), has been a point of contention
  • Proponents argue for the government's responsibility to ensure access to healthcare
  • Opponents view it as an overreach of federal power and a violation of individual liberty
• The interpretation of the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause has been central to debates on affirmative action and racial justice
  • Disagreement on whether race-conscious policies are necessary to address past discrimination or if they constitute reverse discrimination
  • Supreme Court has upheld affirmative action in higher education, but with limitations