1. The Political Systems of the U.S. The Political Systems of the U.S.

2. The Constitution The Articles of Confederation Constitution The Bill of Rights Illustration of Some Amendments Main Principles Political Parties

3. Illustration of Amendments Freedom of Speech The Right to Bear Arms Rights of Criminal Defendants State Interference vs. Personal Privacy

4. Philosophy On human Nature Political Conflict Objects of Government Views of Government Equality and Representation of the states Equality and Slavery/Tariff Individual Rights Separation of Powers and Checks and BalancesSeparation of Powers and Checks and Balances

5. James Madison(3) Ambition must be made to counteract ambition…. If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls 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 then in the next place oblige it to control itself.

6. James Madison(2) “Ambition must be made to counteract ambition” Power should be set against power, so that no one faction would overwhelm the others.

7. James Madison(1) “The most common and durable source of factions has been the various and unequal distribution of property.” “Those who hold and those who are without property have ever formed distinct interests in society.”

8. Benjamin Franklin “There are two passions which have a powerful influence on the affairs of men: the love of power and the love of money”

9. Background Weakness of the government Tendency to anarchy

10. Principles of the U.S. Federalism Rule by law Separation of power Judicial review

11. Political Parties Formation of the two –party system Why a two-party system? Traditional images of the two parties

12. Discussion Questions What influence did John Locke have on the principles of the American Constitution? What were the main objectives the framers of the Constitution had in mind?

13. Books Recommended 1. ＜＜美国政治中的道德争论＞＞． 吴念等 译．重庆出版社．２００１ 2. ＜＜历史深处的忧虑＞＞．林达著．生 活．读书．新知三联书店．１９９７ 3. ＜＜总统是靠不住的＞＞．林达著．生 活．读书．新知三联书店．１９９８ 4. ＜＜我也有一个梦想＞＞．林达著．生 活．读书．新知三联书店．１９９９