Living Constitution, The: Federalist Strategies in the Public Debate
The Constitution, crafted during the summer of 1787, now makes its public debut. Would the plan for a central government strong enough to govern this large nation be accepted by its citizens? The strategies to gain acceptance were remarkably similar...
Living Constitution, The: Focus of Conversation and Debate, A
The Constitution was the focus of conversation and debate in late 1787 and 1788 in almost every church, meeting house, roadside inn, and town square. Some of the most remarkable political literature ever published grew out of this political debate, ...
Living Constitution, The: Amending and Interpreting the Constitution
The Constitution changes more through interpretation than through the formal amendment process, although there have been periods when numbers of amendments have been passed in a short period of time. The language of the Constitution tends to be very...
Living Constitution, The: Bill of Rights, The
There are strong Federalist majorities in the House and Senate when the first Congress convenes in the spring of 1789. Madison submits a draft of ten amendments to the House, even though he does not believe the Constitution needs a Bill of Rights. ...
Living Constitution, The: Anti-Federalist Arguments Against the Constitution
Opponents of the Constitution raised arguments against it that still echo in American politics. Concern over such issues as federal taxation, the potential oppressiveness of a national army, and the state-federal relationship still exist today. The ...
Living Constitution, The: Limitations on the Power of the People
The very basis of government as it is established in the United States suggests that people have the power to govern themselves. The Framers agreed that the majority should rule but that all voices should have a chance to be heard. In order to prote...
Living Constitution, The: Way of Limiting Power, A
The Framers confined the scope of government to Constitutional grants of power. Authority not granted to government by the Constitution is, in theory, denied to it. The national army is an example of how power was constrained. The powers of governme...
Living Constitution, The: Dividing Sovereign Powers Between State and Federal Governments
Power was divided not only among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government, but between federal and state governments. Federalism is a kind of political competition where the national government and the states vie to attract th...
Living Constitution, The: Close Call, A
As the state ratifying conventions continue results are not as predictable. A number of states like Massachusetts are closely divided; several had Anti-Federalist majorities. Rhode Island rejects the Constitution by popular referendum. What happens ...
Living Constitution, The: Concept of Judicial Review, The
Another factor that keeps government officials and institutions within the boundaries of the Constitution is the concept of judicial review. It is the principle mechanism for resolving disputes over federalism. Jack Rakove calls the idea that judici...