Constitution

1
Constitution

• U.S. Government

San Joaquin Delta College
2
Constitution

• Constitution is a political document
• Consider who wrote it
• Charles Beards interpretation
• Consider political conflict between large small
  states

3
Constitution

• Features of the Great Compromise
• Virginia Plan versus New Jersey Plan
• Bicameral legislature
• House - Proportional Representation - chosen by
  voters
• Senate - Equal Representation (2 from each state)
  - chosen by state legislatures originally

4
Constitution

• Two chamber approval of bills
• Money bills must originate in House
• One person executive

5
Constitution

• Indirect Election of President
• Popular Vote
• Electoral College
• Electors appointed by state legislatures
• Winner take all format
• Electors are not bound by vote of majority in the
  state, although in almost all cases they follow
  popular vote

6
Constitution

• Electoral College created out of fear of mass
  democracy
• Problems with Electoral College
• Often inflates the victory margin for winner
• Candidate can win majority of popular vote, but
  not the Electoral College vote

7
Constitution

• Example of Electoral College Problem
• Vote Vote Elec. Col.
• State Repub Dem Vote
• A 52 48 10R
• B 52 48 10R
• C 30 70 10D
• Total 134 166 20R-10D

8
Constitution

• Problem Elections
• 1800 (70) Pop Vote EC
• Jefferson (D-R) n/a 73
• Burr (D-R) n/a 73
• 1824 (131)
• John Q. Adams 108,740 84
• Andrew Jackson 153,544 99

9
Constitution

• Problem Elections
• 1876 (185) Pop. Vote EC
• Rutherford Hayes 4,036,298 185
• Samuel Tilden 4,300,950 184
• 1888 (201)
• Benj. Harrison 5,439,853 233
• Grover Cleveland 5,540,309 168

10
Constitution

• Problem Elections
• 2000 (270)
• George W. Bush 50,456,062 271
• Albert Gore 50,996,582 266

11
Constitution

• Veto Power for President
• Veto Override - 2/3 vote in both chambers of
  legislature can override Presidents veto,
  allowing a bill to become law

12
Constitution

• Underlying Principles in Constitution
• 1. Republicanism - power to govern resides in the
  people, but power is exercised by representatives

13
Constitution

• 2. Federalism - power to govern is divided
  between a central government (national) and
  smaller units of government (state local)

14
Constitution
Source Barbour Wright, Keeping the Republic,
109.
15
Constitution

• 3. Separation of Powers - power should be
  separated across 3 branches of government
  (legislature, executive, judiciary)

16
Constitution

• 4. Checks Balances - each branch of government
  should have power to check or scrutinize the
  actions of other branches.