Key Principles of the Constitution

Federalism and the Separation of Powers

Madisonian Principles of Gov’t in the Constitution

Popular Sovereignty – • power to govern belongs to the people, gov’t based

on the consent of governed Separation of Powers –

• division of gov’t between branches: executive, legislative and judicial

Checks and Balances – • a system where branches have some authority over

others Limited Government –

• gov’t is not all-powerful, and it does only what citizens allow

Federalism – • division of power between central government and

individual states

Federalism What is federalism?

• How was it established?

How is federalism different from the separation of powers?

How is this different from the principle of checks and balances?

British Colonial Rule

Powerful British Government

Political Subunits (Colonies)

Unitary System – all power flows from one central government

Articles of Confederation

1781 – 1789 – RIP

Confederate System – power concentrated in political subunits (states) with a weak central government (typically unite for a common goal)

The US Constitution

Central US government

State governments

Federal System – powers are divided and/or shared between state and central governments (Current gov’t designed by framers)

Analyzing our Federal System

What advantages does the federal system provide our nation?

What problems exist because of our federal system?

What is the difference between the states’ rights position and the nationalist position with regard to government power?

Madison’s Arguments in Federalist 39 What is the topic addressed by Madison in

this essay? 

Explain how Madison claims that the nature of the government is indeed not wholly federal, or wholly national, but rather a composition of both.• Foundation: • Sources of power• Extent• Amendments

Separation of Powers Montesquieu credited with the original theory

Excerpt from The Spirit of the Laws

“In every government there are three types of power; the legislative (lawmaking); the executive (law-enforcing), and the judiciary (law-interpreting).

When the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person, there can be no liberty; since the monarch could enact tyrannical laws, and execute them in a tyrannical manner.

Again, there is no liberty if the power of judging is not separated from the legislative and executive powers. If it were joined with the legislative power, the liberty of the people would be exposed to arbitrary control, for the judge would then also be the legislator. If it were joined to the executive power, the judge might behave with all the violence of an oppressor.

There would be an end of every thing were the same man, or the same body (whether of the nobles or of the people) to exercise those three powers: that of enacting laws, that of executing these laws, and that of judging the crimes of individuals.”

The US system of Separated powers

The Japanese system

Madison’s Arguments in Fed 47, 48 and 51

In your own words, what principle of the Constitution does Madison address in this series of essays?

  Explain his argument that in fact a “blended”

separation of powers is more desirable than a “distinct” separation.• Each will have some control over the others, and

can check them  How does the phrase, “Ambition must be made

to counteract ambition” apply to this argument?

Madison in Federalist 51“If men were angels, no government would be

necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on

government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by

men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself. A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government;

but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions.”

Separation of Powers Purposes?

Criticisms?