GVPT 170 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Edmund Randolph, Supremacy Clause, Bicameralism
20 Sep 2016
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Document Summary
Articles of confederation (1781-89): served as nation"s first constitution: loose construction-governing body had no power. Congress was only governing body-could not finance itself or the fast growing nation. No common currency, no outside countries would trade with us. No means to enforce rules of the articles of confederation. Power controlled by the states: each state-one vote, major laws: 9/13 states, amendments: unanimity. Constitution (1789): set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. Heavily influenced by john locke and his ideas of popular sovereignty, isaac. Newton and montesquieu on their ideas of balancing the power between the three branches: established a central government, highlight of document was the bicameral legislature/separation of powers. Lower chamber elected by the citizenry; upper chamber, executive and courts elected by lower house. Legislature can make any law and veto any state legislation.
