1. The Role of Political Parties in the Constitutional System
Unit Three Lesson 16

2. Judicial Review Practice
In 4 groups, you do the following
Read the case study you were given
Identify the CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE
Answer the questions at the end of your paper
(work together but each turns in own copy)
Explain the
* MAJORITY OPINION * DISSENTING OPINION
* YOUR OPINION

3. What the Framers thought about Political Parties
Some believed “factions” or political parties were evil and should be eradicated (A. Hamilton)
Others believed that political parties were inevitable and were a result of diverse interests
Madison and others believed open opposition express through political parties was a good thing as they fostered open debate
Most colonists were used to political factions voicing their differing political views
But a party system where two or more parties competed against each other for elected office was not even addressed

4. Ideas and Events that led to the Development of Political Parties in the 1790’s
The Power of the National Government
Constitution created to take on national problems
A. Hamilton believed the Constitution gave the government the power to deal with any national problem that came up
T. Jefferson believed the government only had the powers laid out in the Constitution. Unlimited power was what Jefferson feared
Economic Vision
Hamilton, as Secretary of the Treasury, proposed creating a National Bank under the “necessary and proper” clause
Jefferson disagreed. Believed the “necessary and proper” clause should mean only if “absolutely and indispensably necessary.”

5. Ideas and Events that led to the Development of Political Parties in the 1780’s
Foreign Policy
Jefferson believed the US should come to the aid of France in the war between France and England because they had supported us in the Revolutionary War
Hamilton wanted the US to back England because we had more in common with them. We also had trade deals with them.
Washington, trying to keep our government from dividing into two camps, declared the US neutral
Those in favor of France created the “Democratic-Republican Clubs which met to plan on how to block the government’s neutrality. Madison, Jefferson and others subsidized newspapers who printed articles on their side. This became the first “political party”
Hamilton then formed the Federalist party as a counter to the DR clubs
Each saw the other as a threat to our national government, not as an opposition party

6. Ideas and Events that led to the Development of Political Parties in the 1780’s
The Alien and Sedition Act
Many were concerned that aliens would incite SEDITION against the authority of the national government
ALIEN ACT (1798) signed by President Adams, gave him the power to force aliens to leave of he considered them dangerous
SEDITION ACT (1798) made it a crime for editors, writers, or speakers to attack the government
These laws outraged the DR’s after Federalist judges fined and jailed several DR newspaper editors and a member of Congress was accused
Madison and Jefferson wrote the Kentucky and Virginia resolutions, which claimed that the states had a right to decide if the national government had exceeded its powers, claiming state legislatures had the power to declare an act of Congress null and void.
Other states did not agree
The Alien and Sedition Acts helped mobilize support for the Federalists

7. The “Revolution of 1800” and its aftermath
1800 first election where political opponents who were from different political parties. Federalists supported John Adams and the DR’s supported Thomas Jefferson
The candidates did not campaign themselves (considered undignified) but their parties battled and the election highlighted their political disagreements
Both accused the other of trying to destroy the Constitution
Jefferson won and power was handed over as a result of an “electoral” revolution rather than by heredity or violence
Electors had voted for 2 DR’s so the vote ended in a tie and the House of Representatives had to break the tie
The 12th Amendment was ratified to give each elector 1 vote for president and 1 vote for vice-president (ticket)

8. Jefferson never believed political parties would be a permanent feature of the government
“ We are all republicans – we are all federalists.” t. Jefferson
* He believed the nation would come to a consensus, HIS

9. How parties grew and what function they served
The next generation of Americans began to see political parties as a positive influence on politics
A political party with clear principles offered voters a clear choice
Political parties could bridge the distance between various groups
Between Central government and the people it represents
Between the President and Congress
Patronage system developed: local/state/federal
Soon, a two party system had developed
Rather than hoping the other side would fade away, the 2 parties would compete for support
Once installed in power, a party would pursue its agenda
The opposing party would challenge their agenda and hold them accountable
The two parties became another level of “checks and balances”