20-21 1.3 AP Gov - Governmental Power and Individual Rights

The following are some of the objections against the Constitution by the Anti-federalists and as articulated through Brutus 1, however, what is considered the main objective?

• The dissolution of the sovereignty of the states to form one great republic which require people to sacrifice their liberties

• The proposed Constitution is incompatible to the U.S. because of the size of the country and the number of inhabitants

• State laws would be nullified and declared void if they were inconsistent with the Constitution

• Under the "Necessary and Proper Clause" Congress would be able to repeal state fundraising laws

Which of the following represented the dangers of factionalism as stated by Madison in Federalist 10?

• A written constitution lacked the basic framework to control factions

• A representative democracy would not properly protect citizens from tyranny

• A group of self-interested citizens might restrict the rights of others

• Well-regulated militias would take power away from state governments

Which of the following best represents the ideas described in Brutus 1?

• Separation of powers and checks and balances will prevent tyranny of the government and render a Bill of Rights unnecessary

• The Constitution gives too much power to the federal government which will take away the powers of the states and fail to protect personal liberties

• Powers delegated to the Constitution are very few and defined and as a result do not threaten the powers of the states that are many and indefinite

• Factions can threaten a government, but a large republic would allow many different views to be heard and would not threaten the rights of the minority

In Federalist No. 10 James Madison argued

• in favor of counting slaves as three-fifths of a person for purposes of apportioning representation among the states

• that the addition of a Bill of Rights to the Constitution would dangerously imply that all rights not listed could be infringed

• that a bicameral national legislature promoted the security of the people by constraining the branch of government that was historically most powerful

• that the people were better protected in a large republic against the evils of "factions" because in such a republic it was more difficult for any one narrow interest to exercise unjust power

It might be here shewn, that the power in the federal legislative, to raise and support armies at pleasure, as well in peace as in war, and their control over the militia, tend, not only to a consolidation of the government, but the destruction of liberty.

• Articles of Confederation

• Federalist No. 10

• Brutus No. 1

• Federalist No. 51

Extend the sphere, and you take in a greater variety of parties and interests; you make it less probable that a majority of the whole will have a common motive to invade the rights of other citizens; or if such a common motive exists, it will be more difficult for all who feel it to discover their own strength, and to act in unison with each other.

• Federalist No. 10

• Federalist No. 51

• Brutus No. 1

• Federalist No. 70

“In a republic of such vast extent as the United-States, the legislature cannot attend to the various concerns and wants of its different parts. It cannot be sufficiently numerous to be acquainted with the local condition and wants of the different districts, and if it could, it is impossible it should have sufficient time to attend to and provide for all the variety of cases of this nature, that would be continually arising.”

• Articles of Confederation

• Brutus #1

• Federalist #10

• Federalist #51

"But remember, when the people once part with power, they can seldom or never resume it again but by force. Many instances can be produced in which the people have voluntarily increased the powers of their rulers; but few, if any, in which rulers have willingly abridged their authority."

• Brutus 1

• Fed 10

• Fed 51

• Declaration of Independence

"In a republic, the manners, sentiments, and interests of the people should be similar. If this be not the case, there will be a constant clashing of opinions; and the representatives of one part will be continually striving against those of the other. This will retard the operations of government, and prevent such conclusions as will promote the public good."

• Brutus 1

• Fed 10

• Fed 51

• Declaration of Independence