...The Constitution of the United States of America The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of America. It consists of seven articles all created to make sure each member in the court of law is being honest and it states what their exact job in the courtroom is. They are expected to follow these exact laws as they are written from how many congressmen are elected per state down to how they would be elected. The Constitution is the oldest and the shortest written constitution in the entire world. In creating the Constitution, the states were both defensive and understanding. Although the document provided rights that were very much needed to the American citizens of this world it pointed out all of the problems That were wrong with our country. The United States of America has been ran under two different constitutions, the first being the Articles of Confederation. With the way the Articles of Confederation was created the Constitution was very much needed. The Articles of Confederation was put in effect on March 1, 1781 due to the Continental congress who were acting on behalf of the Americans which they had no right to do. Not too long after came the Constitution which has been in place since June 21, 1788. The Constitution was developed in order to replace the Articles of Confederation and fix a few issues the founding fathers found needed to be corrected over the short time it was established. There was a ton of weaknesses in the Articles of...
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...In recent events, the delegates and I found the existing document, the Articles of Confederation, very problematic. With no executive or judicial branch, the Articles of Confederation is proving to be extraordinarily restrictive. In addition, the Articles of Confederation is preventing us from taxing and regulating interstate as well as foreign commerce. Moreover, we need nine out of thirteen states to enact laws and thirteen out of thirteen votes to make amendments to the Articles. The problems with the Articles and with our ongoing controversies between states force us into many difficult situations and we delegates have come to a mutual agreement. One thing all thirteen of us share in common is our need for change. Slavery, slave trading,...
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...US constitution, Fulfillment or Betrayal of the ideal of the American Revolution The American Revolution is often portrayed as something that it is not. For example it did little to almost nothing when it came to social matters, like the topic of slavery or women’s rights. What the colonist wanted in the beginning of this revolution was simple, they asked for the restoration of English liberty, equal representation, and equal English values that English men had in Great Britain. The idea of breaking away from the crown started to emerge in the 1770’s. After the French and Indian war, Great Britain started to tax the colonist heavily, and in 1772 Samuel Adams wrote The Rights of the Colonist which move the colonist towards a more Lockean way...
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...be addressed if a new government was to be formed. • Even though it was written in the declaration, the Constitution did not say a word about everyone being equally protected under the law. o Representation- The first issue discussed was how to set up the new Congress so that all states have an equal voice. New Jersey Plan- The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of the state’s population. Virginia Plan- The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for representation of each state in Congress in proportion to that state’s share of the U.S. population. • It is obvious to...
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...The Constitution Cafe focuses what are defined and codified as rights, what implications both rights and responsibilities hold when speaking of the constitution and how the constitution framework surrounding these two topics has evolved since the Revolution. “As dysfunctional as people of most political persuasions believe our government is, they are just convinced that the constitution still works. But does it?”(Phillips, pg. 3) .Thomas Jefferson believed that every generation of Americans should rewrite the constitution from scratch. The main reason to have the constitution was to have rights, freedom, and responsibility people wanted. Since the time of the founding fathers till now, it seems like people are trying to take that away. “Even with all our country’s defects, we already have the best democracy,” says Stuart , who proposed the question after reading, and taking umbrage with, a passage in The Audacity of Hope in which Barack Obama makes the jarring confession that it's “hard to shake the feeling these days that our democracy has gone seriously awry,” its best days behind us.” (Phillips, pg.4) We're bringing what we fought for and in “The Constitution Cafe” we were fighting for rights...
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...University of Phoenix Material Influences on the Constitution Table Complete each section below. Include citations for your sources. |Documents |Summary |What was its influence on the Constitution? | |Magna Carta |Magna Carta is a document that King John of England was forced |Magna Carta served to lay the foundation for the evolution of parliamentary clause | | |into signing. The document was a succession of written promises|of the United States Constitution and enforced by the Supreme Court. | | |made between the king and his subjects that he would govern | | | |England and its people in accordance with the customs of feudal| | | |law. ("History Learning Site ", 2000-2013). | | |Mayflower Compact |Mayflower Compact is one if the first governing document of |The Mayflower Compact called for equality amongst people and...
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...document, which was to explain why the American people were declaring independence from the government of Great Britain. The second part is a theory of good government and individual rights generally accepted by Americans from the 1770s until today. In this theory, all individuals are equal in their possession of certain immutable rights. These rights are not granted by the government. Rather, they are inherent to human nature. Therefore, the first purpose of a good government is to secure or protect these rights. Further, a good government is based on the consent of the governed -- the people -- who are the sole source of the government's authority. If their government persistently violates this theory of good government, then the people have the right to overthrow it. The third part of the document is a list of grievances against King George III, who was singled out to represent the actions of the British government. These grievances are examples of actions that violated the criteria for good government stated in the second part of the Declaration of Independence. These grievances, therefore, justify separation from the King's bad government and establishment of a good government to replace it. The fourth and final part of the document is an unqualified assertion of sovereignty by the United States of America. It proclaims the determination of Americans to defend and maintain their independence and rights. The Six Basic Principles of the U.S. Constitution are: 1. Popular Sovereignty-...
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...UNIT 1 Answer Key CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 1 Section 1 Prereading and Vocabulary 2 Reading Comprehension 3 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. oligarchy citizen democracy constitution state two basic levels; certain decisions; only the federal government; each of the states Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between a central government and several regional, or state, governments. 1. Population; the people who live within the boundaries of the state 2. Territory; land with known and recognized boundaries 3. Sovereignty; the supreme and absolute power within a state’s territory to decide its own foreign and domestic policies 4. Government; the institution through which society makes and enforces public policies 5. Force theory; the state was born of force, when one person or a small group gained control over people in an area and forced them to submit to that person’s or group’s rule. 6. Evolutionary theory; the state evolved from early families that united to form clans. Later, clans united to form tribes. As tribes settled into agricultural groups over time, they formed states. 7. Divine right theory; God created the state and gave a chosen few the right to rule. 8. Social contract theory; people voluntarily agreed to create a state and give to the government just enough power to promote the safety and well-being of all. Government exists to serve the will of the people, and the people are the sole source of political...
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...Einstein, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. It is easy to see from this list how immigrants have changed the face of the United States. All of these famous people contributed to the United States, giving a bright future for innovative contributions to the young nation. c. The most important change in the United States ‘ involvement in foreign affairs from 1789 to 1877 was expansion of its territory. Marked by a treaty with France buying Louisiana territory doubling the United States, and other treaties with France, and Britain. The Treaty of Guadalupe added more territory and Texas being annexed. d. In the period 1789 until 1877, the signs that signs that the United States had developed a state constitutional democracy were such as the constitution and the bills of rights ratified, although women rights to vote were denied Elizabeth Candy Stanton continued the fight. Major democratic...
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...unchanged Blueprint Creates and limits govt Fundamental law that sets up rules for how other kinds of laws can be made What isn’t in the Constitution? Democracy Separation of church and state Right to privacy Right to education One-person one vote Political parties God Articles of Confederation -1777 Loose association States retain sovereignty One house Congress Every state one vote Needed 9 to pass Couldn’t tax Problems Congress little power No taxes State sovereignty Own paper money States could sign foreign treaties No natl army No executive No national courts Shays Rebellion Final spark for constitutional convention Constitutional Convention Philly 1787 Signed in Sept 39 out of 55 delegates Undemocratic Elements Slavery: 3/5ths compromise, no ban on slave trade till 1808 Fugitive Slave clause article IV, fed govt helps slates put down insurrections Senators chosen by state legislators No right to suffrage. Qualifications left to states President chosen by electors selected by state legislators Representation in Senate Ratification 9th State (NH) signed in 1788 Ri didn’t agree til 1790 Ny refused until bill of rights promised 9/9/15 Article I Creates Congress Makes laws House of representative and Senate 17 specific powers Elastic clause Art I Sec 8 Clause 18 Article II Executive Branch...
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...Houston Community College Homework 1-5 Presented To: Lloyd W. Gaddis By Yushana Ford Government 2305 8:00A.M- 9:30A.M Mon/Wed 09/20/2015 Chapter 1: The More Things Change…The More They Stay the Same 1. Analyze current problems and issues in American Government by applying Historical perspectives: -History Repeats Itself +A new Communication medium paves the way to Electoral Victory- Meaning the internet and social media have revolutionized American politics. Campaign advertising is the use of an advertising campaign through the media to influence political debate and ultimately voters. Political advertising has changed drastically over the last several decades. Harry S. Truman was proud of his accomplishment of shaking approximately 500,000 hands but his accomplishment was soon pale compared to the next presidential election with the advent of television, war hero and presidential candidate D.W Eisenhower created commercials to get votes and so on and it different with different elections and different decades. +The Power of Incumbency- It is usually used in reference to elections where races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbents. Incumbents have easier access to campaign finance and government resources that can be indirectly used to boost a campaign. Incumbency is any elected official who is already in office and seeking re-election. 2. Explain the Philosophical underpinnings of American Political System through...
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...UNIT ONE INTRODUCTION TO CIVIC AND ETHICAL EDUCATION 1. INTRODUCTION 2. MEANINGS OF CIVICS AND ETHICAL EDUCATION The Notion of Civics The subject field of civics originates from the nature of human being itself i.e. from the natural behavior and level of interaction of human beings it self. One basic nature of human beings related with this statement is the fact that “man is a social animal” whose life is closely related to each other. Almost all instincts, demands and progresses of human beings are fulfilled in society. The superiority that human beings try to achieve over nature and other living things is the result of the social bond among human beings. If such bond is a requirement for the survival of human beings, then what should be the pattern of social interaction that exist among human beings is closely related with the subject matter of civics. In this regard civics is considered as a subject field which is mainly concerned with teaching citizens as to how they can live harmonious and peaceful life with other citizens and as to how they can resolve conflicts peacefully among them selves. The other basic nature of human being is the political view of philosophy by Plato that, “Man is a political animal”, which means no human being can escape from the deeds of politics and its dayto-day life is either directly or indirectly affected by it. For this reason human beings have to know the workings of politics, institutions that affect their day to day life, norms, principles...
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...more importantly: background information about some of the critical ways in which the American legal system is unique, and differs from legal systems elsewhere in the world. This is hard: often you will find that your professors or fellow‐students will make assumptions or presuppose certain ways of doing things that aren’t explained in class. A large goal of this course is to explain those assumptions, and make them explicit. >> UNIQUENESS OF AMERICAN LEGAL SYSTEMS Briefly, there are four aspects of the American legal system that set it apart: 1) Inherited common law, existing out of three components: (a) judicial power; (b) civil jury trial; (c) law‐equity ; 2) Written Constitution and Bill of Rights; judicial...
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...FOREWORD CHAPTER I page 7 The Terms Used to Define the Commonwealth CHAPTER II page 11 Equality CHAPTER III page18 Autonomy CHAPTER IV page 26 Autochthony CHAPTER V page 37 Membership CHAPTER VI page 42 Co-operation CHAPTER VII page 48 Symbols CHAPTER VIII page 56 Members of the Commonwealth REFERENCES page 61 FOREWORD The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and previously as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organization of fifty-four independent member states. All but two of these countries were formerly part of the British Empire. The member states co-operate within a framework of common values and goals as outlined in the Singapore Declaration. These include the promotion of democracy, human rights, good governance, the rule of law, individual liberty, egalitarianism, free trade, multilateralism and world peace. The Commonwealth is not a political union, but an intergovernmental organization through which countries with diverse social, political and economic backgrounds are regarded as equal in status. Its activities are carried out through the permanent Commonwealth Secretariat, headed by the Secretary-General, and biennial Meetings between Commonwealth Heads of Government. The symbol of their free association is the Head of the Commonwealth, which is a ceremonial position currently held by Queen Elizabeth II. Elizabeth II is also monarch, separately...
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...Research Paper Series Paper No. 09-12 ~and~ University of San Diego – School of Law Legal Studies Research Paper Series Paper No. 09-008 Reconciling Originalism and Precedent John O. McGinnis Northwestern University – School of Law Michael B. Rappaport University of San Diego – School of Law Northwestern University Law Review, Vol. 103, No. 2, 2009 Copyright 2009 by Northwestern University School of Law Northwestern University Law Review Printed in U.S.A. Vol. 103, No. 2 RECONCILING ORIGINALISM AND PRECEDENT John O. McGinnis∗ & Michael B. Rappaport** INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................... 1 I. PRECEDENT, ORIGINALISM, AND THE CONSTITUTION ................................................... 4 A. B. C. II. A. B. C. D. E. F. The Supposed Conflict Between Originalism and Precedent ............................ 5 A Short History of Precedent ............................................................................... 7 The Consistency of Originalism and Precedent ............................................... 21 The Supermajoritarian Theory of Constitutional Originalism........................ 28 The Relative Benefits of Original Meaning and Precedent ............................. 29 Precedent Rules .................................................................................................. 34 Factors Relevant to Beneficial Precedent Rules ...........................
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