PSC 2302 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Bicameralism, Supremacy Clause, Constitutionalism
18 Sep 2017
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A constitution does not have to be a single document. It can be placed on several documents, practices and precedents stated. 3 interconnected principles expected from a constitution: (1) rule of law: governed by written, legitimate laws that everyone, including the government, must abide by. Source of power: popular sovereignty/social contract (people, divine right or hereditary claim (monarchy, force (dictator) Exercise power (power by/from people does not mean democracy: monarchy (one, anarchy (few, republic (representative, democracy (everyone) Not all republics are structured the same way some work better for some countries than others. Power given can be taken away: federalism powers delegation/divided by constitution (ie. the us government, similarities among countries with federal structures: large populations, large geographic areas. (usa, canada, brazil, russia, australia, Colonial influence and preexisting governing: confederacy bottom up, similar to the un today, basic structure usa had in its first 10 years of existence. (2) separation within a particular level (division between several functions)
