1. John Adams’ Presidency
Defining the Boundaries of the Constitution

2. Alien Act: Allowed the president to have foreign residents removed from the country
If suspected involvement in treasonable plots
Alien Act

3. Sedition Act: U.S. citizens could not join any plots against the government’s policies
Cannot write, print, utter or publish any false or hostile words against the government
Sedition Act

4. Constitutionality? Do these two acts seem constitutional?
FIRST AMENDMENT: Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right … to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
FIFTH AMENDMENT: No person shall be held to answer for a capital…crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury… nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law
SIXTH AMENDMENT: In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial
Constitutionality?

5. Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
Written by James Madison and Thomas Jefferson
State governments could ignore any federal laws that they found to be unconstitutional
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

6. Is it constitutional for states to not follow federal laws?
ARTICLE 6: “the Laws of the United States…and all treaties made…under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby”
Constitutionality?

7. National Security Scenario
Should limits be placed on freedom of speech in a time of national emergency?
Should the United States be able to deport suspected traitors in a time of national emergency?
National Security Scenario

8. Right before his presidency ended, John Adams appointed several judges
Some of the appointments weren’t sent before Adams left office
Jefferson refused to fill these appointments when he replaced Adams as President
William Marbury demanded his appointment be filled
Marbury took Jefferson’s cabinet member, James Madison, to court
Marbury v. Madison

9. Judicial Review John Marshall was the Chief Justice
Marshall decided it would be unconstitutional to force Jefferson to fill the appointments
IMPORTANCE OF MARBURY v. MADISON: Through this court case Marshall established Judicial Review
The Supreme Court’s power to declare an act of Congress unconstitutional
Judicial Review