Unit 2 Town Hall Seminar

 The Federalist Papers were written and published during the years 1787 and 1788 in several New York State newspapers to persuade New York voters to ratify the proposed constitution.

 In total, the Federalist Papers consist of 85 essays outlining how this new government would operate and why this type of government was the best choice for the United States of America. All of the essays were signed "PUBLIUS" and the actual authors of some are under dispute, but the general consensus is that Alexander Hamilton wrote 52, James Madison wrote 28, and John Jay contributed the remaining five.

 The Federalist Papers remain today as an excellent reference for anyone who wants to understand the U.S. Constitution.

 an energetic government is crucial to the protection of individual liberty. The plan of government under the Articles of Confederation was unable to effectively protect individual liberties because it did not act directly upon the people, and had no authority to enforce its laws.

 One of the biggest problems resulting from the Articles of Confederation was that there was no means to enforce unity amongst the states. This led to competition between the states over land, commerce, and repayment of public debt. Over time, this would naturally lead to further competition, and an inability to provide for the common defense. Additionally, individual states would seek to increase their own military strength to defend themselves against foreign invasions and invasions by their neighbors, leading to more wars, and to the suppression of civil liberties by military despotism.

 The most important function of the government is to provide for the common defense, and the central government should be given as much power as necessary to match the responsibility of providing for the common defense. The confederacy failed to effectively provide for the common defense because the responsibility fell upon the central government, while the power rested with the states.

 The central government must be able to maintain standing armies, provide for a national militia, and be able to levy direct taxes to support its common defense and provide for national prosperity.

 Fears about the central government becoming too powerful and abusing its military authority or right to tax should be soothed by understanding the role of legislature, or the representatives of the people, in determining the central government's authority to raise an army and levy taxes. Allowing both the federal and state government to levy taxes will ensure that they both have enough funds to effectively plan to meet their different needs.

 "Federalism" is the process by which two or more governments share powers over the same geographic area.  In the United States, the Constitution grants certain powers to both the U.S. government and the state governments.  Madison presents the clearest exposition of what has come to be called "Federalism“ in Federalist Paper #39.

 Madison discusses the means of preventing rule by majority faction and advocates an extended republic – it is generally regarded as the most important of the 85 articles from a philosophical perspective.

 Madison takes the measure of the United States, declares it appropriate for an extended republic, and concludes with a memorable defense of the constitutional and political creativity of the Federal Convention.

 Hamilton makes the case that there is no need to amend the Constitution by adding a Bill of Rights, insisting that the various provisions in the proposed Constitution protecting liberty amount to a bill of rights

 Hamilton, lays the groundwork for the doctrine of judicial review by federal courts of federal legislation or executive acts

 presents Hamilton's case for a one-man chief executive.

 Madison distills arguments for checks and balances in a memorable essay often quoted for its justification of government as "the greatest of all reflections on human nature."

 the Constitution requires that the people, not the states, are needed to ratify the document and decide whether they will take the advice of the framers or not. The framers did the best within their abilities to provide a plan that would best ensure the happiness of the American people

 Each of the powers delegated to congress under the U.S. Constitution originate with the people themselves, are checked by the authority of other branches of government, or can be checked by the state governments. The powers delegated to the central government will best maintain the individual liberty of the citizens by providing for unified and enforced regulations and guidelines.

 Which ideas are mirrored by our current political parties?

 Democrats believe in rights of the individual citizen. These rights include life, liberty, dignity, security, equality of opportunity, justice, privacy, and private ownership of property.

 Democrats support a more complex version of the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would like others to do unto you.

 that the United States were founded on the fundamental principle that individuals have certain rights and freedoms which cannot be infringed upon and may be restricted only to the degree necessary to preserve the rights of others.

 Good government is based upon the individual, and each person's ability, dignity and freedom must be respected. The free enterprise system has given this nation a way of life second to none. Government taxation and regulation should be held in check. Government waste and over-spending must be eliminated. The United States Congress must reduce the national debt. The genius of our American system stems from basic Constitutional principles.

 Libertarian: somebody who believes in the principle that people should have complete freedom of thought and action  Independent: an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties.  Green Party: believes in social justice, reliance on grassroots democracy, nonviolence, and an emphasis on environmentalism. "Greens" believe that the exercise of these principles leads to world health.

 endorses reduced government spending, opposition to taxation in varying degrees,reduction of the national debt and federal budget deficit, and adherence to an originalist interpretation of the United States Constitution.

 There is no assignment for Unit 2.  The only requirements are the discussion board and the seminar.  Remember Tatiana is your peer tutor!