v   Chapter 2b Learning Objectives – The Constitution

Ø      (9). Describe core provisions of the U.S. Constitution and its key articles.

Ø      (10). Examine Constitution's effect on protecting individual rights, the inherent persistence of the status quo, Constitution's political flexibility.

Ø      (11). Analyze Federalism & its role in US government (See Chapter 15)

Ø      (12). Contrast Confederal, Unitary, & Federal government structures.

Ø      (13). Examine conflict between National Supremacy & States Rights.

Ø      (14). Examine key developments and Supreme Court’s role in expanding national

    government powers, including: “necessary & proper” & McCulloch v. Maryland.

Ø    The Core Provisions of the Constitution:

§       Establishes basic rules, procedures, & relationships

§       2-3a  Congress:

·       Article I: Government’s structure for representation

·       Basic procedures for Congress:

¨     Election & member qualifications

Ø    Role of state => own election rules (w/condition)

¨     Members decide who they accept (or won’t accept)

·       Rules for how a bill becomes law:

¨     Identical language

¨     Concurrent majority

¨     Presidential approval or veto

Ø    Pocket veto?

·       Congressional powers (section 8)

¨     Delegated (or enumerated) powers

¨     Necessary & proper (or elastic) clause

Ø    Implied powers

¨     Constitutional limits on powers  

§       2-3b The Presidency & Executive Branch (Article II):

·       Election procedures & the role of electoral college

¨     Determining states’ electoral votes

Ø    Number of votes per state?

Ø    Method for selecting electors (state’s call)

·       Basic qualifications – (citizenship?)

·       “Executive” powers  (explicit vs. implied):

¨      Impact of ambiguous language over time

Ø    Expansion of presidential powers  (FDR’s role)

§       Great Depression & WWII

Ø    Title: Commander in Chief => implications?

§       Job description or Implied power?

¨     Specified (delegated=enumerated=explicit) powers:

Ø    Negotiate treaties (w/Senate’s advice & consent)*

Ø    Appoint executive officials & judicial members*

Ø    Grant pardons

Ø    Receive ambassadors

Ø    Provide State of Union address to Congress

Ø    Recommend legislation

Ø    Call Congress into session or adjourn it

§       (Required provision?)

¨     Role of shared powers & checks & balances   

§       2-3c  The Federal Judiciary (Article III):

·       Rules & powers of Federal Judiciary

¨     Judges’ tenure: good behavior (?)

·       Article III establishes the Supreme Court

·       Grants powers to Congress => lower Federal Courts

·       Rules for removal (impeachment)

·       Type of cases heard?

¨     Original jurisdiction

§       2-3d  Interstate Relations (Article IV):

·       Rules for Federal & State government relations

·       State to state relations (respect, honor, cooperation)

¨     No discrimination against citizens of other states

·       Rules for admitting new states to Union

·       Federal guarantee of aid against invasion or rebellion  

§       2-3e  Other Constitutional Provisions

·       Article V -  Amending Constitution:

¨     Various methods & rules germane (Figure 2-3)

Ø    Most used method (26 out of 27 times)

Ø    Least used methods & why

¨     Time limits for amendment ratification (ERA)

·        Article VI – National Supremacy:

¨     Federal laws trump state laws (most of the time)

¨     Oath required to preserve, protect, and defend…

¨     No religious test for any government office

·       Article VII – Ratification (nine of thirteen states)

Ø    Three Consequences of the Constitution:

§       2-4a  The Protection of Individual Rights:

·       Individual rights outweigh majority preferences

¨     Balance tilts in favor of protective individual rights

·       Measures to prevent majority’s threat to individual

¨     Separation of powers and checks & balances

¨     Federalism

¨     Bill of Rights:

Ø    1st Amendment freedoms

Ø    4th through 8th  Protections

¨     13th Amendment – expand citizenship rights

¨     15th, 19th, 24th, 26th Amendments - voting rights

¨     14th Amendment (2nd Bill of Rights)

Ø    application of freedoms & protections to state   

·       Establishment clause:

¨     Significance & relevance to what contentious issue?

¨     How does it protect individual rights?

 

§       2-4b  A Bias in Favor of the Status Quo:

·       Obstacles to change? (Flag Bill & ERA)

¨     Process for getting a bill through Congress

Ø    Status quo only has to win once (block)

Ø    Change has to win every time

·       Impact on majority’s desires?

¨     Winners vs. losers (School prayer)

§       2-4c  Political Flexibility:

·       Amending Constitution difficult but not impossible

¨     Only 27 adjustments have been made thus far

·       General language facilitates changing interpretations

¨     Adjusted in accordance with changing modern times

¨     Ambiguity allowed expansion of Presidential powers

¨     Reliance on good judgment of future elected officials 

·       Silence on practical aspects of government

¨     Specific details on structure of executive omitted

¨     Political parties never mentioned (now essential)

·       Founders enabled future leaders to adapt Constitution

¨     Needs & expectations of governed in changing times

 

Ø    Federalism: The Vertical Dimension to the Constitution

§       2-5a  Confederal, Unitary, and Federal Governments

·       Contrast different types of government structures:

¨      Illustrated differences (See figure 2-4)

¨      Central & state government relationships

Ø    Different sources of power?

·       Power denied, granted, & shared (See figure 2-5)

§       2-5b  Establishing National Supremacy

·       Chief Justice John Marshall pivotal role

¨     McCulloch v. Maryland =>

Ø    Description & significance?

§       2-5c  The Assertion of States’ Rights:

·       Earlier precedence of asserting states rights?

¨     Doctrines of interposition & nullification (Fig. 2-6)

·       Chief Justice Taney’s role reasserting state’s rights

¨     Dred Scott (1857) & its significance

Ø    Overturning Missouri Compromise

¨     Failed attempt to avoid Civil War

§       2-5d  Civil War and Reassertion of National Supremacy

·       Significance of 14th Amendment

 

§       2-5e  Dual Federalism:

·       Maintaining separate spheres of power & influence

¨     Separation of Federal & State governments

¨     “Layer Cake Federalism” (Figure 2-7)

§       2-5f  National Supremacy as Fiscal Federalism:

·       The Great Depression & FDR’s New Deal

·       War on Poverty & LBJ’s Great Society

§       Recent reassertion of states rights:

·       Challenging absolute National Supremacy over states

·       Supreme Court rulings favoring states in recent cases:

¨     Limiting application of state commerce clause

¨     Ruling against Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938

¨     Age Discrimination in Employment Act

·       Congress’s Family & Medical Leave Act under attack

¨     Significant implications for civil rights enforcement

Ø    Study Chapter Review Questions in preparation for Quiz

Ø    The Constitution of the United States:

§       Read Articles I => VII  & Bill of Rights

·       (Note Article I section 8 especially)

§       Compare & contrast 14th Amendment with 5th