Small Republics

1
Small Republics
2
Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776

• Low suffrage qualifications
• Single district representation
• Annual elections
• Term limitations
• Regular census
• Plural executive dependant upon legislature
• Judiciary with no judicial review

3
The Anti-Federalist Opposition

• Feared a large, consolidated, national government
  as a threat to liberty
• Admired simplicity in government
• Supported legislative supremacy
• Believed that only independent landholders of
  equal means could remain virtuous
• Dreaded commerce, industry big cities
• Trusted to a non-professional military

4
Problems with the Pennsylvania supreme legislature

• Disenfranchised suspected Tories without trial
  and confiscated their property
• Disenfranchised Quakers (conscientious objectors)
• Interfered with the judiciary by overriding
  unpopular decisions
• Proved to be ineffective in providing policy or
  carrying through long term measures